DianaAs I step into the living room, my breath catches in my throat. Every single thing in the space is exactly what I had chosen during our shopping trip. The furniture, the appliances, even the smallest decorative items - it's all there, arranged in a way that's both comfortable and stylish.The centerpiece of the room is a large, plush sectional sofa in a soft, creamy color. It looks incredibly inviting, making me want to curl up on it and take a nap. Complementing the sofa are two oversized armchairs in a rich, deep blue that adds a pop of color to the space. A rustic wooden coffee table sits in the center, its natural grain adding warmth to the room.My eyes are wide open as I take it all in, barely able to believe what I'm seeing. The walls are adorned with the artwork I had admired, and soft throw pillows in various textures and complementary colors are artfully arranged on the seating. A large, plush area rug in muted tones ties the whole space together."Let me show you arou
DianaHe gently cradles my face in his palms and tilts my head to face him. In this position, we're at the same height. He looks into my eyes and gently uses the pads of his thumbs to wipe away my tears.It's all too much for me, and I can't help but continue to cry. Every single thing in this house is what I had picked out, from the biggest furniture pieces to the smallest decorative items. And this master bedroom - it was the one place he had been so particular about when we had been shopping. The store hadn't had the curtains I wanted, and he had made sure I chose from catalogs. And now those curtains from the pictures are hanging beautifully on the windows.It really is overwhelming. It all comes rushing back - over a week of daily gifts, thoughtful presents, flowers, handwritten notes, and the most public courting I had only heard about in fairytales. And now... this powerful Alpha had renovated his entire house to cater to my wants and preferences."Is this why you didn't come t
Diana As Dominicus pulls back from our embrace, his eyes meet mine with a mixture of tenderness and determination. "I think it's time we addressed those questions of yours," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "The sooner we clear things up, the better." Before I can even process his words, the world shifts around me. In a fluid motion that leaves me breathless, Dominicus switches our positions. Suddenly, I find myself perched on his lap, his strong arms encircling my waist. The transition happens so swiftly that all I can do is let out a startled gasp. He pulls me closer, guiding my head to rest in the crook of his neck. The familiar scent of him- envelops me, instantly soothing my racing heart. A contented sound rumbles through his chest, a mix between a hum and a purr that vibrates against me. The intimacy of our position isn't lost on me, and I feel a blush creeping up my neck. "I've missed holding you like this," he growls softly, his breath tickling my ear. I remain still,
DianaThe Werewolf Council has established a comprehensive education mandate for all wolf pups, regardless of their social standing. This rule ensures that every young werewolf receives at least a basic education, with the level of schooling varying based on their class within the pack hierarchy.At the top, Alpha and Beta offspring naturally receive the most extensive education. Gamma wolves, known for their superior strength and destined to become pack warriors, along with Delta wolves of ordinary strength, both receive education equivalent to college level. While Gammas typically focus on combat training, Deltas have the freedom to specialize in various fields. These two classes form the backbone of the pack's middle class, filling roles such as doctors, accountants, engineers, and teachers.Omega wolves, who make up the lower working class, are guaranteed an education up to at least high school level. They often take on roles such as cleaners, janitors, cooks, nannies, and brickla
DianaThe comfortable silence that had settled between us was like a warm blanket, soothing and safe. A thought suddenly flashes in my mind. It is a question burned in my mind, probably the most important one- one that I both dreaded and needed to ask. I found myself worrying my lip, a nervous habit I'd never quite shaken. The minutes ticked by as I wrestled with my courage, knowing that once asked, there would be no taking it back.Finally, steeling myself, I decide to rip off the proverbial band-aid."Dominicus?" I call out softly, my voice barely above a whisper."Mm?" he hums in response, his fingers still tracing lazy patterns on my arm.I take a deep breath, sitting up to look at him directly. "There's one more thing I wanted to ask you."His eyes meet mine, curiosity and a hint of concern mingling in their depths. "Go ahead, dulcis. You can ask me anything."Another deep breath, and then the words tumble out in a rush. "Do you have another mate apart from me?"The moment the qu
DianaI remain frozen, my hands cupping Dominicus's face, tears streaming down my cheeks. The world around us has faded away, leaving only the two of us in this bubble of pain and memory. My eyes search his desperately, looking for any sign of recognition, any hint that he's coming back to me."Dominicus," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion. "Please, come back to me. I'm right here with you."But his eyes remain distant, looking through me rather than at me. It's as if he's trapped in a world I can't see or reach, reliving horrors I can only imagine. The helplessness I feel is overwhelming, a crushing weight on my chest that makes it hard to breathe.This man, who has been my strength, my protector, my safe haven, is now lost in a storm of his own making. And I, who owe him so much, can do nothing but watch as he battles his demons alone."I'm here," I murmur again, pressing my forehead against his. "You're not alone anymore, Dominicus. Whatever happened, whatever you've been t
Diana I realize then that our journey together is just beginning. We both carry wounds from our pasts, but perhaps, together, we can find a way to heal. As we walk hand in hand towards the kitchen, I make a silent vow to myself. Whatever darkness haunts Dominicus, whatever ghosts from his past still torment him, I will stand by his side. Just as he has accepted me, wolfless and all, I will accept him – all of him. As we approach the kitchen, and despite the emotional turmoil of the past hour, my stomach growls again. Dominicus chuckles softly, the sound warming me from the inside out. "Let's see what we can find for you, dulcis," he says, leading me into the kitchen. The kitchen is bathed in warm morning light as Dominicus guides me to a stool by the island. I settle in, watching as he moves with graceful efficiency, gathering ingredients and utensils. There's something mesmerizing about the way he navigates the space, his movements sure and purposeful. I prop my elbows on t
Diana "No, that's not what I meant!" I say quickly, reaching out to take his hand. "You make me feel incredibly secure, Dominicus. It's just... it's hard to explain." I pause, trying to gather my thoughts. "Right now, I think I'd be too idle just staying around all the time. I enjoy the work, truly. The staff are nice, and the customers are too. But most importantly..." I hesitate, then decide to be completely honest. "I enjoy being around people who treat me normally. Just like a regular person. I never had that growing up in my pack." Dominicus's expression softens slightly, but I can still see the reluctance in his eyes. "I understand that you enjoy it," he says slowly. "But surely there are other ways to experience that without working in a diner. You could volunteer, or join clubs, or-" I cut him off gently. "I'd like to keep the job, at least until I find something else I want to do. I’ve gotten used to it already. Please, Dominicus. It's important to me." He keeps a s
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