Chapter Ten

Diana

I stood in the clearing, sweat dripping down my face as Ashley circled me. My arms felt heavy from all the hours of training but I wasn't going to stop. Every part of me was active, my wolf and witch were at alert.

"Again," Ashley said, her voice sharp.

I gritted my teeth and raised my hands, focusing on the spell she maee me learn. She always said everything was easy but it from my end it was hell but a hell that was worth it. I hadn't fully understood how to tame my witch side which always affects my wolf side but with my determination I didn't let anything faze me, i was going to survive this stage.

"Focus, Diana," Ashley snapped. "If you can't control this, you'll destroy yourself before you even get to them."

Her words stung, but they were true. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now, not ever. Not when so much was at stake.

I took a deep breath and reached deeper, pulling at the strands of power which felt like the mixture of fire and ice all together in my body. This time, I didn't fight them. I let them flow together, merging into one. My hands felt weird, i opener my eyes to see something so beautiful, little lights like bubbles floating around my hands.

"Good," Ashley said, her voice softer now. "Now, direct it."

I turned to the target she had set up—a large boulder that had been rolling me up the entire day. I forcer my body to push the energy towards my front, like I was hitting it into a huge rock and breaking it into pieces.

The light shot from my hands, a burst of power that made the wind almost unstable. It hit the huge rock right in front of me causing a huge and loud crack. Pieces of the rock flew all over the place. After the dust in the air cleared, I could see the aftermaths of what I had done.

It wasn't perfect, but it was progress.

"Not bad," Ashley said, a small smile tugging at her lips. "But you're still holding back."

I let out a frustrated groan. "I'm trying. It's not exactly easy to control something I've only just discovered exists."

"Exactly," Ashley replied. "Which is why you need to keep pushing yourself. You can't just rely on your wolf strength, Diana. Your magic is what sets you apart. It's what will make you unstoppable."

Unstoppable. I liked the sound of that.

But deep down, I knew it wasn't just about being powerful. It was about being ready—ready to face my father, to confront Dante, to free my mother.

Ashley handed me a canteen of water, and I took it gratefully, drinking it in almost one gulp. "What's next?" I asked, wiping my mouth.

She studied me for a moment, her gaze sharp and calculating. "You need to work on your wolf side too. You've been ignoring it."

I frowned. "I'm not ignoring it. I just... I don't want to rely on it too much."

"And why is that?" Ashley asked, crossing her arms.

I hesitated. The truth was, I didn't fully trust my wolf. I wasn't used to it, I was considered an omega, I rarely turned and when I did it was nothing special but now I could feel how strong she was and it scared me a little. I was worried I won't be able to keep her under control.

Ashley seemed to read my thoughts. "You're afraid of her," she said simply.

"I'm not afraid," I shot back, but even I didn't believe the words.

"Yes, you are," she said, stepping closer. "And that fear is holding you back. You're a hybrid, Diana. You can't just pick and choose which parts of yourself to accept. If you want to win, you need to embrace all of it. The wolf and the witch. They're both you."

I hated how right she was.

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. "Fine. What do I need to do?"

Ashley smirked. "Shift."

The word sent a chill down my spine. I hadn't shifted in weeks, last time I did was the night I had escaped the mansion. The thought brought back the flashes from that night I tried so much not to think of. Shifting made me feel I was about to go through the same thing all over again.

"Now, Diana," Ashley said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

I clenched my fists and closed my eyes, willing myself to let go. I started shifting really slowly in the begining but as the breaking of vibes started I changed Swiftly Making all the pain hit me all at once. I fell to my knees, gasping, as my wolf took over.

When it was over, I stood on four legs, my senses sharper than ever. The first began to gain life and this time I wasn't creeped out, I still found it amazing how the tree branches added length and the scent of the leaves filled the air suddenly. I could even hear the flow of water from the stream not so far away. It was overwhelming and exhilarating all at once.

"Good," Ashley said, her voice calm. "Now, run."

I didn't need to be told twice. I took off, my paws pounding against the ground as I raced through the trees. The wind whipped past me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free. Free from the pain, the anger, the weight of everything.

But it didn't last long.

Ashley's voice echoed in my mind through the pack link she had somehow established. "You're fast, but speed isn't enough. You need to learn control."

Control. Always control.

I slowed down, focusing on my movements. Every step, every turn, I tried to make it deliberate, precise. I wasn't just running anymore—I was hunting.

When I returned to the clearing, Ashley was waiting for me. "Better," she said with a nod. "But you've still got a long way to go."

I shifted back to my human form, the transformation just as painful as before. I collapsed onto the ground, breathing hard.

Ashley handed me a towel. "You did well today. But don't get cocky. This is just the beginning."

I nodded, too exhausted to respond.

As I sat there, catching my breath, I couldn't help but reason the challenges I would face later on. My father, Dante, even the pack—I would have to face them all eventually. But suddenly I had faith and hope in me, maybe I was ready afterall.

"I'll be stronger," I said, more to myself than to Ashley. "Strong enough to destroy them."

Ashley's expression softened, and for a moment, I thought I saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. "Just remember, Diana," she said quietly. "Revenge isn't the only path. Don't lose yourself in it."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. Because deep down, I knew that avenging my mum was all I could do to satisfy myself.

---

The rest of the evening passed in a blur of exhaustion and determination. Ashley trained me more than I had expected , she trained me like it was her fight but she couldn't go to the war. When it was time to get back to the cabin I was exhausted and almost fell asleep immediately.

But even as I lay in bed, my body screaming for rest, my mind was racing. I was having flashbacks of everything I had been out through, the face of my mother appeared in my head, he fragile but gentle face, it was the only thing calming me down.

I wouldn't stop. I couldn't. Not until they had all paid.

And when the time came, they would see just how powerful I was getting.

---

I stared up at the ceiling of the small cabin, the wooden beams illuminated by the faint glow of moonlight seeping through the curtains. My whole body felt like I had a huge rock on it, Ashley had really put both my body and magical parts to teg test and now they were tired.

Revenge wasn't just a desire anymore—it was a necessity. This was the only way I had thought to make them suffer just the way my mother and I had. Especially my father who saw me as something to be traded away. Dante, who had rejected and humiliated me without hesitation. And Jane, who had taken everything from me while pretending she deserved it.

I turned onto my side, clutching the thin blanket. Ashley's words echoed in my head: "Don't lose yourself in revenge."

It sounded noble, but she didn't understand. How could she? She hadn't lived my life. She hadn't been rejected, betrayed, and treated like she was nothing. Revenge wasn't just about them—it was about me. I wanted to prove to myself I was bigger than how they had treated me and made me think I was.

But beneath the burning anger, there was something else. A quiet, nagging doubt. What would happen once I had my revenge? Would I feel better afterwards? Will it fill the hole created by the anger and pain in me?

I shook my head, banishing the thought. There was no room for weakness now. I needed to stay focused. Tomorrow, I would train harder. I would master my powers, my wolf, and my mind.

And when the time came, I would face them all. I would make them regret underestimating me.

Closing my eyes, I forced myself to imagine their faces—not with hatred, but with determination. I wasn't just going to destroy them. I was going to rise above them.

One way or another, I would reclaim what was mine.