Ava Galliano: The Last Dark Queen

Once A Wolf Always A Wolf

The heavy slam of Isa’s bedroom door startled Mrs. Telfast. It was too early in the day for her daughter to be home, and the sound, so abrupt and final, sent a ripple of unease through her. She wiped her hands quickly on her apron, her mind racing, and made her way up the stairs. The house felt quiet in a way that wasn’t right. When she reached Isa’s door, she knocked lightly, but the sound of sobbing was enough to tell her something was wrong.

Isa was sprawled on the floor, tears staining her cheeks. Mrs. Telfast knelt beside her daughter, her heart heavy with the sense that things had taken a dark turn.

“Darling, what’s wrong?” Mrs. Telfast’s voice was soft, full of concern.

Isa looked up, her face streaked with tears, but her words barely formed as she spoke. “I got a second mate.”

Mrs. Telfast blinked, surprised. "Well, aren’t all wolves meant to get a mate?”

Isa stiffened, a sharp pause hanging between them. Then, as though a dam had broken, Isa’s words spilled out. “You always knew who I was?” she asked quietly.

Mrs. Telfast took a step back, her thoughts spinning. “We are a powerful family. We were given an order from a high king.”

Isa nodded, her expression hardening. “Of course you knew. I didn’t think my father would be so naive to think you’d fall for the lie he wove.” Isa’s eyes darkened. “What about Brent?”

Mrs. Telfast’s heart skipped a beat. “Oh, the rumors are laughable. He carries my grandfather’s soul inside of him. The power he needed to stay alive wasn’t the kind we were promised. It wasn’t the true kind of magic.”

A heavy silence followed as her foster mother’s words lingered. “Do you think my father knows about the wolf inside of me?”

“I should hope so,” Mrs. Telfast replied with a resigned sigh, her voice tight. “He’s your father. But your second mate? That’s supposed to be a myth—a legend created to prevent those who were rejected from destroying themselves.”

Isa swallowed hard, a deep sadness in her eyes. “But now it’s real. Why now, though?”

Before Mrs. Telfast could respond, the doorbell rang, cutting off their conversation. She shot her daughter a final glance, kissed her forehead, and hurried down the stairs. When she opened the door, she found Kingston standing on the front porch, his usual arrogance absent, replaced by a nervous energy that was foreign to her.

“Hi, Mrs. Telfast,” Kingston greeted her quietly, almost uncertain.

“Kingston,” Mrs. Telfast replied, raising an eyebrow. “What brings you here?”

“Um… has Rhea returned home?” Kingston asked, his voice a little strained.

“That depends on why you’re asking,” Mrs. Telfast responded, crossing her arms. Her tone was sharp, protective.

“Did she tell you about the mate thing?” Kingston’s voice faltered slightly.

“Yes,” she answered, a long pause hanging in the air as Mrs. Telfast studied the young man before her. She had known him for years, but something about him seemed different now. More serious. More uncertain.

“Well, it’s me,” Kingston said, almost apologetically. “So…”

Mrs. Telfast blinked, taken aback by the vulnerability in his voice. “Her bedroom is the first door at the top of the stairs.”

Kingston gave a quick nod before rushing up the stairs, not waiting for another word. Mrs. Telfast lingered in the doorway for a moment, trying to make sense of the situation before returning to the kitchen.

Upstairs, Kingston stood hesitantly in front of Isa’s door, unsure of how to proceed. He wasn’t used to being this uncertain. The door creaked open, and there she was—Isa, eyes red, her expression still raw from whatever turmoil had gripped her.

“I expected your room to be more black. Not this orange,” Kingston remarked with a light chuckle, trying to break the tension.

Isa stood abruptly, brushing off her legs. “What are you doing here?” Her voice trembled with confusion and a hint of something else—frustration, perhaps.

Kingston stepped inside, his usual bravado returning in full force. “Just making sure you’re alright. Mrs. Kingswood told me to tell you to take the week off.”

“Of course, she would suspend me,” Isa muttered, but Kingston wasn’t done.

“She also suspended your brother. He broke rule number three—no magic outside the classrooms. Cassie tried to get you expelled, but Mrs. Kingswood came to your defense. Said something about ‘Why would you bully a vampire? Are you dense?’”

Isa let out a short laugh, the tension in her shoulders relaxing for a brief moment. She pulled Kingston into the room, but the familiar spark of energy between them was palpable. Kingston could feel it now—her power, swirling around her, stronger than it had ever been before.

“Do you even realize what you almost did?” Kingston asked, his voice low but edged with concern.

Isa looked away, a bitter smile on her lips. “I would have eased my bloodlust, that’s for sure.”

Kingston’s frown deepened but before he could say anything, the door to Isa’s room slammed open, almost splintering at the hinges.Brent stormed in, his fury apparent.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

She met his gaze. “What the hell is wrong with you?” she retorted, her voice rising with frustration. “You’ve been ignoring me for months—ever since that damn party! I’m supposed to be your sister, your family. But you can’t even do that right!”

“You chose your side,” Brent said through gritted teeth.

Isa’s magic crackled in the air, and her eyes flashed an eerie orange. Kingston immediately took a step closer to her, his own unease rising.

“What the hell is he doing in here?” Brent barked, glaring at Kingston as he advanced on them.

Isa’s breath quickened as the magic within her surged, an uncontrollable current threatening to break free. “What color are my eyes?” she asked in a strained voice.

“Orange,” Kingston murmured, his tone filled with fear and realization.

Brent’s face twisted in panic. “Shit.” He scrambled toward the door, calling for his mother.

Mrs. Telfast’s voice echoed from the hallway, full of alarm. “Brent, what’s going on?”

“Get her away from him,” Brent pleaded, his face white with dread. “We need help.”

Isa’s heart sank as she heard her mother’s voice fade into the distance. She knew what was coming next—her transformation was inevitable. The darkness within her had been growing for too long.

Three full moons passed before Isa was finally allowed to leave the dungeon. Mrs. Telfast had insisted on keeping her isolated, allowing her time to regain control over her abilities. Isa had agreed, knowing she needed to recalibrate after the volatile outbursts of magic.

By the time she was free, she had grown accustomed to the pull of her bond to Kingston. She knew it was time to face him, despite what Brent had warned him. There was no stopping it now.

The house was empty when she emerged from the dungeon, the weight of her transformation still pressing on her. Sighing she showered and changed, knowing that the one person she needed was going to be waiting at the academy. But when she portaled to the school gate, she found Brent waiting for her.

“When did you get let out?” he asked, his voice tentative.

“This morning,” Isa replied, the bitterness in her voice undeniable.

“Look, Rhea, I just want to—”

“Save it. It’s clear who your priorities are,” Isa interrupted, her words sharp like a blade. “Just leave me alone.”

Brent flinched, but before he could respond, the familiar energy of Kingston appeared beside her. Isa’s magic pulsed with the pull she felt toward him—an undeniable connection.

At that moment, Cassie appeared, sauntering through the school gates, her smug grin plastered on her face.

“Well, well, well. Didn’t think you’d show your sorry ass here again,” Cassie sneered. “Mrs. Kingswood said you were off doing business for a high king, but that’s a little hard to believe, isn’t it?”

Isa’s anger flared, and with a swift motion, she drew a sigil on her hand, grabbing Cassie’s wrist in a vice-like grip. Cassie gasped, her face twisting in pain.

“My dear Cassie, is your life really so boring that you have to pick on a vampire who is hundreds of years older and far more experienced than you?” Isa’s voice was icy, each word a sharp blade aimed straight at Cassie’s pride.

The crowd that had started around them parted, sensing the tension in the air. It was only a matter of time before this encounter reached its breaking point.