Diana When I wake up the next morning, I am alone in bed. I stretch languidly and curl up in satisfaction. The events of last night begin to replay in my mind and a grin splits my face. I have another mate! Better than the other one too! And he actually wants me. He LIKES me! I cover my mouth and giggle out loud. He says that not even the gods can make him let me go. I squeal and roll in bed, making a mess out of my hair and tangling myself in the sheets, but I’m too giddy to care. He had held me so tenderly too, his words of unwavering devotion echoing in my heart. The memory of his fierce declaration - that he would never reject me, that I was his and his alone - sends a delightful shiver down my spine. He’s so handsome… and strong… and dominant… a dreamy sigh escapes me and I’m glad that I’m alone because I can imagine how silly I must look right now. When I finally force myself to calm down. I sigh again… but this time in disappointment… I miss him already… I look
DianaMy heart racing, I turn towards the voice. A young man stands at the entrance, holding a box that immediately draws gasps and whispers from the patrons. The air in the diner seems to thicken with curiosity and anticipation.Carefully, I make my way to the counter, trying to maintain a calm, collected facade despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach and my hands shaking. Each step feels deliberate, as if I'm walking through a dream."I... I'm Diana," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying my nervousness.The delivery man's eyes light up, a friendly smile spreading across his face. "Great! These are for you." He hands me a medium-sized box, wrapped in simple brown paper. The package itself is unassuming, but it's what sits atop it that catches my eye - a single flower, its delicate petals a stark contrast to the plain wrapping.This time, it's a white flower that sort of reminds me of a rose. However, it has smaller petals, more rounded and layered, creating
DianaFootsteps come closer, and a figure appears. "Everyone's whispering about how you received a gift. I had to come see it for myself," Ellen's voice rings out, curiosity and excitement evident in her tone.I flush as I look up to see her grinning face. Her eyes land on the flower in my hand, and they round before she clasps her hands in front of her chest."Oh my! A white camellia," she gushes, her excitement infectious. "That's so cute!" She giggles, and I feel a mixture of embarrassment and pride swelling within me.She then looks at me with an excited glimmer in her eyes. "You know what a white camellia means in the language of flowers, right?"I shake my head in a daze, my mind struggling to keep up with this new information. Flowers have a language?"It means that the person who sent them thinks you're adorable," Ellen explains, sighing dreamily. "Young love," she murmurs before walking away, leaving me to process this new revelation.I look at the flower, this time with new e
DianaSometimes, when I go out, I'm stopped by random strangers with a gift, "from Dominicus." I'd go for a walk, and when I pass a bakery, the owner would rush out with a smile and hand me a box of freshly baked macarons or artisanal chocolates.When I go to the markets for groceries, they never take my money. Always, it's a knowing look with a, "It's been paid for, Miss Diana," and I find myself at a loss for words.Once, I was walking by a park when I was stopped by the most adorable little boy with missing teeth. With the most serious face he could muster, he said he was given a job to pass a message to Miss Diana. He handed me a beautifully crafted wooden puzzle box. With it came a note in a handwriting I would recognize anywhere now: "Use this to amuse yourself. Don't only be focused on working all the time."That day, I broke down in the park and sobbed my heart out. Not from sadness, but from a deep, overwhelming joy. I have never been so touched in my life.I've received the m
Alpha Magnus I stand before the full-length mirror in my spacious bedroom, adjusting my tie with practiced precision. The silk slides smoothly through my fingers as I tighten the knot, a perfect Windsor. Today is no ordinary day; we're expecting a delegation from another pack, and appearances matter.As I shrug on my tailored suit jacket, a sharp knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. "Enter," I command, my voice steady and authoritative.A young Gamma steps in, bowing his head slightly. "Alpha, the delegation from the Plena Luna Pack has arrived. Alpha Darius is among them."I nod, my face impassive. "I've heard. I'll be there shortly."Without another word, I stride out of my bedroom, my footsteps echoing through the halls of the pack house. The Gamma scurries after me, struggling to keep pace with my long strides.As I approach the conference room, I can sense the tension in the air. I push open the heavy oak doors, revealing a room filled with my most trusted pack members. My
Alpha Magnus The world around me blurs as I struggle to comprehend what just transpired. Natasha Silvanus, the woman I had chosen to stand by my side, had just uttered a word that shattered everything I had planned. Mate. The word echoes in my mind, a cruel taunt that mocks my carefully laid plans. I've known Natasha for years. Daughter of Alpha Lucien Silvanus, she comes from a bloodline of powerful Alphas. Her beauty is matched only by her strength and intelligence. I've seen her take on pack warriors twice her size and emerge victorious, a feral grin on her face. She exudes confidence and raw sexuality that draws others to her like moths to a flame. In my mind, she was the perfect Luna. Strong enough to lead my men, but not strong enough to challenge me. The only reason she wasn't next in line to be Alpha of her own pack was the cruel twist of fate that saw her born after her elder brother, who manifested the Alpha gene first. But in every other way, she was an Alpha thro
Alpha Magnus The cool night air does little to soothe the inferno raging within me. I stand on the balcony, my hands gripping the metal balustrade so tightly that it bends under my strength. The conference room I left ten minutes ago lies in ruins, a testament to the fury that had consumed me. Now, as I stare out into the darkness, my mind races with thoughts of betrayal and vengeance. The sound of the office door opening breaks through my brooding. Footsteps approach, and I don't need to turn to know who it is. Her scent, once a comfort, now only serves to stoke the embers of my anger. My jaw clenches, muscles working beneath the skin as I fight to maintain control. Natasha comes to stand beside me, her presence a mix of familiar and foreign. The nervousness and uneasiness radiating from her are palpable, filling the space between us with an uncomfortable tension. "Magnus," she begins softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you're angry, but we need to talk about th
Alpha Magnus The night air suddenly feels colder as my words hang between us. I watch her face carefully, searching for any sign of wavering, any hint that she might be receptive to my suggestion. “What do you mean… what exactly are you implying, Magnus?" Natasha asks, her voice laced with caution and a hint of disbelief. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I'm about to say. "I'm saying you have a choice, Natasha. You could reject him." The effect is immediate and visceral. Natasha physically recoils, her eyes widening in horror as she takes a step back. "Reject my mate?" she gasps, her voice a mixture of disbelief and revulsion. "Yes," I nod, maintaining my composure despite the turmoil churning within me. "Have you lost your mind?" she exclaims, her voice rising. "How can you even suggest such a thing?" I raise an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "It's an option, isn't it? One that solves our current... predicament." Natasha's face contorts with a mixture of disgust a
DianaI don’t say anything. I can’t—because part of me agrees with him.He searches my face, voice cracking.“I already lost your mate. And for 13 years, I believed I lost my child too. I won’t lose you.”The silence between us stretches again. The grief in his words coils around my ribs like a vice.After a long moment, I exhale.“I promise,” I say softly, reaching for his hand, “we’ll talk about this. We’ll figure it out. But right now… let’s go back inside. There’s still more Eleanor has to tell us.”He looks at me for a long moment. Then, finally, he nods.We walk back together, quiet and heavy with unspoken thoughts. Inside, the room is just as we left it—Dominicus and Eleanor still seated, their faces somber.Billy crosses his arms as he steps in, his tone dry but edged in steel.“Might as well just leave her with the humans. She was safe there. Let her stay hidden.”Eleanor tilts her head slightly.“Yes, she’s safe,” she says calmly. “But for how long?”He frowns but doesn’t an
Diana The room goes quiet. I blink in confusion, taken aback and not understanding why he’s so angry. My brows furrow as I watch him in confusion. He seems to be getting more furious by the second. It’s a fury I don’t think I have ever seen on him before. My mind races a second more and it clicks. My heart stutters before dropping to the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t thought of that. Not fully. Shit! Blood drains from my face and I suddenly feel sick. Billy asks again, slower this time, the words like steel. “Who the fuck did you say was gonna fight him?” Eleanor’s expression crumples into something close to guilt. She looks down. I bite my lower lip. Dom’s brows draw together. Billy’s voice is calm but dark. “Three people, right? That’s what you said?” He points at Dominicus. “One is the Amadeus Alpha. He’ll fight the physical battle.” Then he points at me. I flinch. “Second is the Castellanos Alpha and Priestess. That’s you.” I can’t meet his eyes. “And the third…
Diana He starts pacing toward the door like a man possessed. I glance outside—the sky is pitch black, the moon high and silver. “Billy,” I say gently, “it’s late. Why don’t we go tomorrow?” But he shakes his head, already reaching for the doorknob. “I can’t wait. Who knows where she is? What kinda situation she’s in? If she’s far, the sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll reach her—” Eleanor lifts her eyes to Dom in a silent signal. Dominicus stands immediately, moves forward, and catches Billy by the shoulders before he can bolt. “Wait,” he says gently but firmly. “Where are you going? You don’t even have the tracker yet. How will you find her without it?” Billy blinks. “Right. Right, right.” He lets himself be guided back, still jittery, heart pounding in his chest. He turns to Eleanor again, eyes wide and pleading. “Then give it to me. The… the thing you said. What is it?” “I’ll make you a Scrythorn,” Eleanor replies. “It’s an ancient charm, carved and imbued with s
Diana Billy hasn’t moved. His eyes are bloodshot and shining, and when he finally speaks, his voice is hoarse. “You said you used dark magic, too,” he rasps to Eleanor. “But you’re still here. Still… you. Why couldn’t she do the same?” Eleanor’s face softens. “Because she wasn’t strong enough. Six years of dark magic, even in small doses, is too much. I stopped after one spell. I cut myself off. Let the darkness bleed out slowly over time. But your mate…” She sighs. “She didn’t have that luxury. The curse had corrupted her too much”. But I know the rest. Eleanor is the Primarch Arcana. Stronger than any light witch alive. That’s the difference. That’s why she survived. Billy lowers his head, shoulders slumping. He doesn’t speak for a long time. My chest aches with a pressure that builds and builds until I can barely breathe. All those years, I thought no one loved me. That I meant nothing to anyone. I was wrong. Now I know—my parents, the witches who could have teleport
Diana Eleanor folds her hands in her lap, her face as gentle as ever, but I see the flicker of regret in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Billy,” she says softly. “What I’m about to tell you might be hard to hear. But I believe it will answer the questions you’ve carried for a long time.” Billy glances between Dom and I, seeing the corresponding seriousness on our faces and sits straighter, “Go on,” he says. Eleanor nods. “Just as I was explaining to Diana and Dominicus, your mate—Myralie—was the one who suppressed Diana’s wolf. It was the only way she could keep her from shifting, and from being found.” Billy’s head jerks slightly. “Myralie?” he repeats, his brow creasing. “You mean… Myra?That her real name?” I watch the flicker of pain flash through his eyes. He once told us he didn’t know much about her. Only her name. And now it turns out… even that was only half true. There’s a bittersweet sadness in his face as the realization sets in. His mouth parts slightly, but no words come. “S
Diana Dominicus stares at her, brows drawn. “So… you’re not dying,” he says, voice low, suspicious. “I’m not dying,” she insists, looking directly at him now. “I swear it.” He holds her gaze for a beat longer. Then, finally, he nods. I feel the tight coil of tension in his body loosen, the faintest ripple of relief coming through the bond. I exhale too, only now realizing I’d been holding my breath. “It’s not fair,” I whisper. The words slip out before I can stop them, soft and aching. Eleanor looks at me with kind eyes, and then gives a small smile. “Magic isn’t a person, dear. It has no consciousness to look into the facts surrounding the incident and decide whether or not it’s fair. It doesn’t think or feel. It simply is.” She sets her teacup down gently, the sound barely audible. “Light magic doesn’t coexist with dark magic. It won’t. The moment I used it—even to save someone—I knew what it meant. My days as the Primarch were numbered.” Her smile turns wry. “The fac
Diana She lifts her eyes, and they shimmer with something like wonder. “I felt it. A divine ripple. Like something ancient had stirred. Like the pattern of fate had twisted slightly on its axis.” Her fingers curl around the porcelain cup. “I didn’t know what it meant. But I knew—something was coming. I didn’t know what, or who, but… I hoped.” She looks at me now. And her expression softens into something almost reverent. “And then, one morning… a girl walked in.” My throat tightens. Eleanor’s voice drops into a hush, as though telling a sacred secret. She gives me a small smile. “A werewolf… a werewolf with a sealed wolf”. “A beautiful girl,” she continues. “Her eyes were haunted and it was obvious she was running from something.” My stomach tightens. Eleanor’s expression softens again. “It took me just one look. I knew exactly who you were. The Castellanos Alpha heir. The one who escaped the massacre. I was… stunned.” She shakes her head with a quiet chuckle, bu
Diana I swallow the lump in my throat. For the longest time, Dom had no one. I’m so glad is finding more family and loved ones. He doesn’t answer. But his eyes shine, and he reaches up, catching her wrist. “You should’ve told me,” he murmurs, his voice thick, “I wasn’t in the right state of mind for a long time, but when I got better-“ She looks at him with weary affection. “Because you’d already suffered enough,” she says softly. “You were just starting to come back to yourself. I didn’t want to pile all this… this heavy, dark mess on your shoulders.” Her eyes flick over to me, and a teasing smile tugs at her lips. “And you had just started falling in love, too. I couldn’t bear to spoil it.” My cheeks warm instantly. Eleanor chuckles. “After nearly a decade of pain and silence, you deserved a little reprieve. Both of you. Watching it happen—watching you fall for each other—it was so cute. And awkward.” I let out a tiny, strangled sound and cover my face with my hand
DianaShe stops in front of him.“The witches at the Castellanos pack…” she says, voice quiet, “they did reach out to me.”I bite down on my lower lip. Hard.“But not to ask me to come. They weren’t calling me for help.” Her gaze flickers to me. “They just wanted me to know what was happening. That the dark witches were there. That the Castellanos were preparing to fall.”Her voice dips, heavy with the weight of regret.“I wanted to go. I swear I did.” Her hands tighten at her sides. “But I knew… I knew if I went like I was, I’d only be a burden.”The words hit like a cold wave.“I couldn’t use my magic properly,” she continues. “It was still tainted. I was still walking that razor’s edge. And if I stepped into a battle like that—drew onto the bulk of magic to battle- the dark magic inside me would’ve stirred violently… fed on the chaos”Her throat tightens.“I would’ve had two choices: fight it or give in. If I had resisted, it would have killed me. If I had given in…” She looks up a