Diana Dominicus’s face turns unreadable—cold, calculating. His voice carries the weight of certainty as he says, “There’s a traitor in the Council.” Billy and I both stiffen. Dom’s eyes narrow slightly. “Maybe more than one. But one thing is for sure—the Elder behind Magnus is working with the witches.” He tilts his head slightly. “Magnus is just a pawn.” Billy goes pale. He shakes his head vehemently. “No way.” His voice is hoarse, disbelieving. “Ain’t no damn way anyone on the Council would do somethin’ like that…” He trails off, swallowing thickly before shaking his head again, more forcefully. “No. I don’t believe it.” Dominicus regards him with something almost like pity. Billy scoffs, rubbing his face with a trembling hand. “The Council—workin’ with witches? Dark witches, at that?” His hands drop to his sides, clenching into fists. “That’s high treason.” His disbelief is evident, but I feel it too—the slow, creeping horror of it. Yes, the Council is corrupt. Power-hungr
Diana Dom seems to be done contemplating. His gaze flicks to Billy. “Billy.” His voice is calm but firm. “If you were the Council, what would you tell Magnus to convince him that Diana would be safe… while I was being taken out?” Billy frowns, thinking. “Well,” he begins slowly, “Magnus was adamant that Diana not bring you with her. And he didn’t seem like he was lying. He really doesn’t want you on his territory.” His expression darkens slightly. “But that clashes with the Council bringing an entire army. That means either they’re expecting you to show up. Or at least, they’re making they are ready for you in case you happen to show”. Dom nods. Billy exhales. “exhales. “So… if it were me, I’d tell Magnus to lure Diana to the Zervos pack alone. I’d use somethin’—somethin’ she can’t resist—as bait.” His brows furrow. “And then, I’d tell him that while she’s there, the Council warriors will head to your territory to take ya out. That way, you two are separated. You’re dead. And Di
Diana At the northern border of the Zervos pack stands a towering black wrought-iron gate, its intricate design serving as both a deterrent and a symbol of authority. This entrance functions as the official entrance into the territory, the only way permitted for guests to enter. My car rolls to a smooth stop in front of it, the engine purring beneath my fingers- a stark contrast to the tense anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. I glance at the sleek black asphalt road leading into the pack—clean, well-maintained. A stark contrast to the last time I left this place. Back then, I had snuck out through the dense woods like a fugitive. And now? Now I’m driving in through the front gate, in the open. The irony isn’t lost on me. A guard approaches the driver’s side window, his expression serious. His sharp gaze sweeps over me through the glass, assessing. I don’t recognize him. Which isn’t surprising. The Zervos pack is massive, its population even larger. And back when I was sti
DianaI step out of the car with deliberate ease, my movements slow, controlled.The moment my boots hit the ground, I feel the shift in the air.The wolves standing outside the packhouse—high-ranking members of the Zervos pack—are staring at me. Not just staring. Gawking. Their expressions flicker with disbelief as their eyes dart between me and the sleek silver sports car I just arrived in.I don’t miss the way they school their expressions a second later, but it’s too late. I already saw it.They weren’t expecting me to pull up in something like this.Too expensive? Too luxurious? Too powerful for the girl they discarded?I fight back a smirk.New present from my mate. Do you like it?But it isn’t the car that truly stuns them.It’s me.I can see it in their eyes the moment they take me in—black jeans, black tank top, leather jacket, boots. Hair straightened and pulled into a high, sleek ponytail. Smoky eyeshadow that makes my gaze sharp, dangerous.Cliché? Maybe.Effective? Absolu
Diana“As I said, Alpha Magnus, tell me what you made me come all the way here for and do not waste my time.”I feel the weight of his gaze, sharp and unwavering, but I don’t flinch. Instead, I surreptitiously scan the area, looking for the familiar faces I had been expecting. The Council elders should be here—shouldn’t they?Nothing. Not a single one of them.I let out a quiet breath, keeping my expression neutral. So, they’re not here yet? Or maybe they’re hiding inside, waiting for their cue to emerge?I glance back at Magnus. He doesn’t know that I know the Council is here, so I’ll just have to wait and see how he plays it. There’s no rush to reveal anything. Not yet.Magnus swallows, his throat working as he tries to keep his composure. His voice is steady but firm. “What I want to tell you is private, Diana. I don’t want anyone to overhear it. It’s best we go inside to my study. It’s soundproof.”I raise an eyebrow, my lips curling slightly. “You could order all your wolves to s
Diana I stop dead in my tracks, my gaze shooting back to Magnus. His voice is apologetic now, his entire demeanor crumbling. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave.” Out the corners of my eyes, I notice that some pack wolves are slowly gathering and are staring, obviously curious as to what is happening. After all, we’re standing in front of the pack house, the busiest place in the pack. “You’re under the thrall of that abomination,” he spits the words, expression then twisting into something far more sinister. “I’m going to save you, Diana”, and then in a softer voice, persuading, “And then we can start over.” My full attention snaps back to him. There it is again. That word. Abomination. Until not too long ago, I had been called that too. An abomination. A freak of nature. And now, here Magnus is, calling my mate—Dominicus—my wonderful, strong, perfect mate, the same thing. For what? For suffering from a condition beyond his control? A growl rises in my chest, deep and pr
Diana Like an arrow shot from a bow, I launch myself to intercept them. One of the Gamma wolves lunges, aiming for my throat, but I’m faster. Time seems to slow. I see it all happening in slow motion—the vicious flash of claws, the rippling muscles beneath skin, the taut tension in the air before the attack lands. With a swift sidestep, I grab his wrist, twisting it behind his back before slamming my knee into his ribs with a sickening crunch. He crumples to the ground, gasping for air as I spin, already shifting my weight to the next wolf. The second Gamma tries to come at me from the left, claws flashing. I pivot, a spinning kick landing squarely in his chest, sending him flying backward. He crashes into the stone pillars of the packhouse’s entrance with a sickening thud, his body folding in on itself. He doesn’t get up. The next moments blur in a whirl of fists, feet, and claws. Behind me, I hear another wolf charging. Without even looking, I swing my fist backward, th
Diana “I’m sorry. But you’ll understand all this someday. But for now, I’m going to need you to come inside with me.” The Elders all look smug and arrogant. The Zervos wolves surrounding me all look tense and ready. As though they’re just waiting for the command before they attack. The tension in the air is palpable. The heavy silence stretches before me, everyone waiting with bated breath for what I’ll do next. My voice is low, “Let me leave,” I say, “Or you’ll regret it”. It’s the last warning I will give. But Magnus just steps forward, his wolves each taking a corresponding step closer blocking me in. The circle is tighter now. I can feel the aura radiating from them—the anticipation, the expectation that I’ll submit. Billy bristles, a warning growl rumbling out of his chest. His eyes are sharp and alert as he keeps an eye on the wolves surrounding us. Well… I already anticipated all this happening before I even got here, but still, I can’t help feeling unhappy.
DianaMagnus’s shoulders hunch as the weight of it all hits him. His legs nearly faltering beneath him. I’m guessing he had somehow been consoling himself with the fact that though the Council had changed their minds and decided to kill, they had also sent the Army there to kill Dominicus. And in his mind, all he had to do was save me, and everything would still go as planned. Dominicus would be dead and the bond between us would grow back and reconnect.But now, not only is Dominicus obviously safe and sound back home. But the Army is here instead, meaning he couldn’t save me even if he wanted.He understands now. He’s been thoroughly played.Fendel then address Brodik, however, he makes sure to keep his gaze on me, his eyes never leaving my face, “Where is Dominicus Amadeus now?” he asks, his tone casual.Brodik responds promptly, his voice cool and measured, “The man stationed there reported back that the Alpha hasn’t left his territory.”“So he’s still in there now?” Fendel asks.
Diana The earth rumbles beneath our feet, a low vibration that starts slowly but grows with intensity. Everyone pauses, their eyes darting around in confusion and trepidation. The noise builds, a deep, ominous rumble that seems to come from all directions. It grows louder, the sound of it vibrating through the earth itself. My eyes narrow, my senses sharpening. I can feel the air shift- something is coming. Fendel stands still, looking smug, as if he’s anticipating something. The sound grows louder—footsteps—heavy, deliberate. The sound of hundreds of boots marching in unison. The noise draws closer, and the ground shakes with each passing second. And then—suddenly—they appear. From all around us, figures emerge. They’re clad in black soft armor, sleek and menacing, each one carrying an array of weapons strapped to their bodies. They move with military precision, their movements sharp and fluid. Hundreds of them. Maybe more. They don’t speak. They don’t need to. Their presence
Diana For a moment, the entire place is silent as a graveyard. And then- Elder Lyra, her face drained of color, screams. “Impossible!” She sounds like she’s on the verge of losing control. “No Alpha is able to use the command on a wolf that does not belong to their pack!” I shrug nonchalantly. “Well, Alpha Magnus here was being all dazed and shit, so I had to do it myself.” She screams again, this time in fury, “Stop this rubbish and answer me!” she demands, but I just shrug with a smile. The air is thick with disbelief. The wolves and Elders stare at me, wide-eyed, as though they’ve just seen a monster come to life. “Who the hell are you?” Elder Lyra demands, her voice trembling with disbelief. “What pack did you come from?” All eyes are on me. They all know I was raised in the Zervos pack, but for me to have this kind of power, they all now understand that my bloodline must come from an Alpha of another pack. I shrug, my face casual. “Beats me.” But inside, I’m closely watc
Diana Suddenly, one wolf steps forward from the crowd. I watch closely, my interest piqued. It’s the newly appointed Beta. Oh? I narrow my eyes as I study him more carefully. Werewolf healing really is a beautiful thing. The man had been injured only moments ago, but here he is now, stepping forward with a strong posture, his muscles taut and ready. This is the first time I’m taking a real look at him. He’s tall and lean, with a sharp crew cut and a severe expression that makes him seem even more intimidating. Attractive, if I’m being honest, but then again, most wolves are. Magnus’ eyes widen in shock. “You…” His voice cracks with disbelief. The Beta meets Magnus’ gaze with a calm, almost apologetic expression before he speaks. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” he says, his tone respectful. “But as the Council has said, this woman is mated to the dangerous Feral Alpha who was responsible for my predecessor’s death. It will be for the greater good if she is taken out. Therefore, I volunte
Diana It is at this moment that I gain a true appreciation for the depths of the Council’s cunning. They know exactly how to manipulate the desires of others to get what they want. They’ve played on the greed and lust for power lurking in the hearts of every man, turning them into pawns in their scheme. This makes me once again wonder who the traitor is among them. Because the traitor, I realize, must be the most cunning of them all. Whoever it is has clearly figured out who I am—my connection to the Castellanos pack. They’ve engineered this whole situation to try to force me to shift into my wolf form, to expose myself fully so they can be certain of my true identity. And then to kill me. Their true goal isn’t to take down Dominicus. It never was. Sure, if they’re able do it, then that’s killing two birds with the same stone. But that person’s real aim has always been me. And if that person is truly working with the witches as we suspect, then they must be aware that Dominic
Diana I look away from Magnus and glance at the four Elders still standing before me, their combative stances making it clear they are ready to pounce at any moment. “So,” I say, my voice icy and unwavering, “your plan of ridding the world of evil… you plan to do it yourselves? Okay” “Let’s get it over with”. I crack my knuckles and get back into a fighting position. Elder Fendel’s brow furrows looks to his fellow Elders before saying “No. That won’t do”. The four Elder halt before glancing at him. “There’s no precedent where the Council personally carries out punishments”. “Fendel!” Elder Lyra cries out. “No, Lyra. You’re letting your emotions sway you here”, he says with an admonishing tone, “That’s why there is more than one Elder, to keep each other in check”. Lyra glares at Diana, clearly dissatisfied before looking away. Elder Fendel then says, “Fall back please”, He waves his hand, and the other Elders fall back, stepping out of the way. But not before Elder Rothgar
Diana “The Elders never planned to let me go,” I say, “Killing me was always the plan”. Magnus stares at me for a long moment and I see it in his eyes—the flicker of understanding. His head whips back to them, eyes wide with horror. “No! This is not what we discussed!” I look away from Magnus, my gaze sweeping over the Council. My eyes narrow, lips curling into a cold smile. “Enough of the games. Lay it all out. Now.” I can feel the tension tightening in the air as I speak. I tilt my head slightly, my voice steady as I continue, “You’ve obviously planned to kill me from the very beginning. What I don’t understand is why. After all, aside from that sham of a trial, I haven’t committed any crimes. There shouldn’t be any irreconcilable differences between us, should there?” It’s obvious to me that the invisible hands of the traitor is behind the scenes, manipulating things. I know what that person’s goal is, but I am wandering what reason he or she used to get the Elders to go al
Chapter 226 (TFA)Diana“I’ll talk.”He says, voice strained and reluctant.I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And you’ll let me go after?” I ask, my voice clipped.He hesitates for a moment, the silence thick between us, before he nods, albeit with visible reluctance.But the calm is short-lived.Elder Lyra’s shrill voice pierces the air. “Alpha Magnus!” She practically spits his title with disgust, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. He flinches, his gaze snapping to the Elders, who are silently watching the exchange.A seething rage rises in my chest like a furnace, burning hotter with every second. My eyes narrow and my face hardens. These bastards think they can control everything, twist the situation as they please. I’ve had enough of their games.I glance at them from the corner of my eye, barely concealing the disgust that surges up from deep within.This entire ruse… I’m tired of it. I can’t take it anymore. I just want to go home and snuggle with my mate.I take a deep breath.
Diana I don’t give him time to think. I spring again, my feet skimming the earth like lightning, as I deliver a devastating series of slashes to his flank. The sickening sound of claws scraping against muscle and bone fills the air. Magnus’s growls turn to snarls, full of frustration and anger. He swings a massive paw toward me again, but I duck, my body twisting in a perfect arc. I roll to my feet and dash around him, using my agility to slip in and out of his reach. He tries again, swinging his powerful paws at me, but I’m already behind him, landing a brutal strike to the back of his legs. He buckles, and for a moment, he stumbles. I seize the opportunity. My claws rake through his side, digging deep. I hear the sharp, satisfying crunch of ribs cracking beneath the force of my strike. He yelps, but it’s not enough to stop him. With an enraged howl, he turns on me, his huge wolf body spinning. His mouth opens wide, and he lunges, aiming for my throat. But I’m faster. I duck, s