Tamara’s POV For a long moment, I couldn’t speak. My throat tightened with unshed tears, and the depth of Dante’s guilt washed over me, mingling with the love he had carried for years. It was overwhelming—almost too much to bear. “Dante,” I finally whispered, my voice trembling as I reached for his hand. He flinched at first, like he thought I might pull away, but I held on tightly. “It’s not your fault,” I said, my voice firm despite the lump in my throat. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened. Jack is the one who manipulated and hurt me—not you. You tried to protect me.” His jaw tensed as he avoided my gaze. “I didn’t protect you. I failed you, Tamara. I—” “No,” I cut him off, shifting closer to him on the picnic mat. My fingers cupped his cheek, forcing him to look at me. His beautiful, stormy eyes were filled with anguish, but beneath it all, I saw love. “You didn’t fail me, Dante. The goddess gave me a second chance—us a second chance. That’s what matters now. We’re h
Tamara’s POV By the time Dante and I made it back to the hotel, the sun had set, and the warm, romantic glow of the city lights greeted us. As we stepped into the suite, Violet was sprawled on the couch, flipping through a magazine. The moment she saw us, her eyes narrowed in amusement. “Well, well,” she drawled, sitting up and smirking. “Look who’s finally back from their innocent picnic. You guys were gone for hours.” I tried to keep a straight face, but the heat creeping up my neck betrayed me. I could still feel Dante’s hand on the small of my back as he guided me inside, his possessive touch sending tiny shivers down my spine. But Violet, being the sharp observer she was, didn’t miss the ruffled state of my hair or the slightly wrinkled clothes I was trying—and failing—to smooth out. “What exactly happened out there, Tamara?” she teased, her voice full of mock innocence. “Because it sure doesn’t look like you spent the day just eating sandwiches and enjoying the view.” Dant
Tamara’s POV I pulled my suitcase onto the bed, the sharp zip of the compartments opening echoing through the room. Packing to go home should have been easy—straightforward even—but my mind was elsewhere. My fingers hovered over a soft blouse I’d worn the day Dante proposed to me. A rush of warmth filled me at the memory, but it was quickly replaced by a pang of sadness. Negaria was beautiful, a place of both pain and joy, and leaving it behind felt...strange. Still, I tried to focus on folding my clothes, one piece at a time, until I noticed something odd. “Where’s Sophie?” I muttered to myself, realizing I hadn’t seen her all morning. I stepped out of my room and found Violet in the lounge, sipping tea as she flipped through her phone. “Hey,” I said, sitting down next to her. “Have you seen Sophie? I wanted to check if she needed help packing.” Violet looked up, her expression softening. “Oh, right. I forgot to tell you.” She set her cup down and shifted closer. “Sophie left
Tamara's pov Lady Regina gestured toward a chair by the window. “Please, sit.”I obeyed, perching on the edge of the seat while she remained standing, her gaze unwavering. “Do you swear by the goddess,” she began, her voice calm but firm, “that you truly love my son? That you’re not using him for power or personal gain?”My mouth fell open slightly in shock. “What?” I asked, stunned. “Lady Regina, we’ve had this discussion before. I thought I already made myself clear.”“Lies are easily said, Tamara,” she replied, her tone carrying a weight that made my stomach twist.“I’m not lying,” I said firmly, meeting her gaze. “I love Dante with all my heart. I would never—”She held up a hand, cutting me off. “Let me explain,” she said. Her tone wasn’t angry, but there was an undeniable edge of authority that silenced me immediately.“I didn’t support this marriage,” she began, pacing slowly across the room. “When Dante first told me he wanted to marry you, I advised against it. I didn’t know
Tamara’s POVI left Lady Regina’s room with my heart pounding. The worry of her words—her doubts, her warnings—felt like they were sinking into my chest. I knew she wasn’t wrong to want to protect Dante, after all, he was her son, but her lack of faith stung, especially since i actually thought we had been getting along well. I didn’t have time to dwell on it long, though.A tug at the back of my mind—a familiar warmth spreading through the bond—stopped me in my tracks. Dante was calling me.I followed the pull to his office, knocking lightly on the door before stepping inside. Dante was seated behind his desk, looking over a stack of papers. When he saw me, his face lit up, the tension in his shoulders easing instantly.“Sweetheart,” he said, his voice warm as he stood and rounded the desk to greet me. He pulled me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “How did it go with my mother?”I hesitated, my heart skipping a beat. “It was…fine,” I said, forcing a smile.He raised an e
Jack’s POVI stood frozen, Adrian’s words echoing in my head. Tamara…his mate? It didn’t make any sense. It couldn’t make sense.“You’re lying,” I said, my voice colder than I intended. “You have to be lying.”Adrian didn’t flinch. Instead, he met my gaze with an intensity that made my stomach twist. “Why would I lie about something like this, Jack? Tamara is my mate.”“That’s impossible!” I snapped. “If she was your mate, she would have known. She would have felt it!”Adrian sighed, his frustration showing. “She didn’t sense it because something’s wrong. That day, when I saw her, she couldn’t feel the bond. That’s why I didn’t tell her.”I frowned, his words tugging at something in the back of my mind. “But Why couldn’t she sense it? That's not normal, all mates can sense each other” I argued.“I’ve been asking myself the same question,” Adrian said, his voice low. “At first, I thought it was just me—maybe I was mistaken. But I kept digging, and I found out it’s because of her…rebirt
Tamara's POV Morning came too quickly, dragging with it a heavy sense of unease. As I paced the room, my thoughts circled like vultures around one persistent worry: how was I supposed to serve Lady Regina? She wasn’t just Dante’s mother—she was a woman of power, experience, and sharp wit. One wrong move, one misstep, and she’d see right through me. I sighed, pulling my hair back into a loose braid as Violet sat on the couch, watching me with a bemused expression. “You’re going to wear a hole in the floor,” she teased. “Maybe I’ll disappear into the hole and save myself from whatever disaster today holds,” I muttered, earning a small chuckle from her. “You’re overthinking it. Sophie always knew how to handle these kinds of situations. She was raised with all the proper etiquette,” Violet said offhandedly. I froze mid-step. “Sophie. Why hasn’t she returned yet?” Violet’s smile faltered. “I don’t know. She’s not answering my calls.” “Have you spoken to anyone else who’s seen her?
Tamara's POV The moment Lady Regina uttered the words “in front of noblewomen of the north,” my stomach plummeted. My mind raced with the implications. This wasn’t just a game—it was a spectacle, a test designed to humiliate me. Lucy’s smug grin confirmed my fears. I could already imagine her scheming ways to make me look like a fool. As soon as I excused myself from Lady Regina’s presence, I rushed to find Dante. My heart pounded with urgency, and my feet barely touched the ground as I navigated the corridors of the palace. When I burst into his office, I didn’t even bother with pleasantries. “Dante, Dante! you have to help me,” I blurted, barely catching my breath. “Lady Regina wants me to participate in some... ridiculous game in front of the noblewomen of the north. And Lucy’s involved! You know she’ll do everything to humiliate me! help me get out of it” Dante looked up from his paperwork, his expression amused. “Oh, that. Mother and Lucy tricked you into agreeing, didn’t
Tamara's POV The palace felt heavy, like a dark shroud of grief had descended and refused to lift. It had been three days since Sophie was locked in the dungeons, yet she hadn’t uttered a single word about why she had betrayed me and worked for Lord Jarek. I was supposed to be celebrating the fact that I could now start planning my marriage now that we practically had the elders in our hands but I could barely sleep these days. Even the staff moved around cautiously, their eyes downcast, afraid to add to the tension. George had taken it the hardest. He barely ate or slept, pacing the halls with a hollow look in his eyes. His usually composed demeanor had completely shattered, and It hurt to see my normally calm like this.I swear I caught him blinking back tears one time. I sat in the drawing room, trying to make sense of the situation. The Sophie I knew would never betray me. But the Sophie I saw through the cameras that night…she had. "Tamara," Lady Regina’s voice broke throu
Tamara's POVI couldn’t breathe as tears clogged my throat. My chest tightened, and my heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst out of my ribcage. Sophie. My Sweet, loyal Sophie. How could she do this to me? My mind swirled with disbelief as I stared at the screen, watching her hooded figure standing under the dim light in front of Reuben. The truth was a sledgehammer, crushing every ounce of trust I’d ever placed in her and that fucking hurt!Dante’s arm wrapped around me firmly, pulling me back from the brink of collapse. His warmth grounded me, even as my world tilted on its axis. "Tamara," he said softly. "Don't worry, We’ll handle this."Tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them away. "Why would she do this, Dante? After how much I've tried to help her?"Before Dante could answer, George slammed his fist against the table. He looked even more distraught than I felt, his face pale and his eyes wide with shock. "This doesn’t make sense," he muttered, shaking his head. "Sop
Tamara's POVThe soft rustle of movement pulled me from my sleep, followed by the gentle press of Dante’s lips against my temple. I stirred, groaning softly as my eyes fluttered open. His face hovered above mine, illuminated by the faint moonlight seeping through the curtains."Dante?" I murmured, confused. "What time is it?""Midnight, we have to go," he said, his voice low and steady. "It’s time."Sleep instantly evaporated from my mind as his words sank in. I sat up, the weight of what we were about to do settling over me. "Are Casper and George already there?"He nodded, his eyes sharp and focused. "They’ve set everything up. Come on."---When we arrived at Dante’s office, Casper and George were already waiting, their faces grim. A small array of monitors and equipment was spread across the desk, wires snaking in every direction."Everything’s ready," Casper said, gesturing to the setup.George glanced at us, his expression unreadable. "Reuben has no idea about the cameras we pl
Tamara's POV A few days later-- The soft brush of lips against my shoulder tugged me from the edge of sleep. A gentle hum escaped me as the warmth of Dante's body surrounded mine, his kisses trailing up my neck, slow and deliberate. "Good morning, love," he murmured, his voice husky and laced with affection. I smiled, my eyes fluttering open. "Good morning. You're persistent, aren’t you?" His grin was mischievous. "I couldn’t resist. You look so peaceful when you sleep… but I missed you." He didn’t wait for my reply, capturing my lips with his. The kiss deepened, his hand sliding along my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies were pressed together. I melted into him, losing myself in the way his touch set every nerve alight. Before I knew it, his hands explored familiar paths, his lips igniting flames across my skin. I gasped as his touch left no space for doubt about his intentions. He was slow and thorough, like he wanted to savor every second. "Dante," I whispered, my v
Tamara’s POVThe courtroom was heavy with tension, the air was full of with unspoken accusations. I could already feel that most people hear had decided that I was the enemy.fuck! how was I supposed to get out of this?!My hands gripped the edge of the podium, trying to stay calm as Dante stood beside me, his presence grounding me. The elders sat in their ornate chairs, their faces filled with disapproval.The scum, Lord Jarek was at the center of it all, his piercing gaze challenging after they produced the picture.Me standing in Alpha Jonathan’s pack, speaking to Adrian, one of the biggest enemy of the north. My blood ran cold as the image was printed and even handed around the room which caused their whispers to erupt like wildfire.“Explain this, Luna,” Lord Jarek said, his voice laced with mock concern. “Why were you meeting with Alpha Adrian, of all people?”My mind raced. How had they even gotten this picture? I hadn’t seen anyone nearby when I spoke with Adrian.Unless…I g
Adrian’s POVThe sun was high in the sky when I stood outside Alpha Jonathan’s estate. I had come here reluctantly after agreeing to his request to review the evidence he claimed to have against Dante. Jonathan had suggested that together, we might be able to stand against Dante, to weaken his hold and reclaim what was rightfully ours.At first, I’d refused. The idea of joining forces with Jonathan didn’t sit well with me because He was a little unpredictable, and his motives always seemed to serve his own interests above all else. But when I reached out to Jack again hoping to pull him into the plan of destroying Dante, he turned me down flat.“I have no interest in fighting Dante. Tamara has made her decision to stay there and I believe she's happy now,” Jack had said. “That’s your obsession, not mine.”His words stung more than I cared to admit. Jack and I had been allies once when he was desperate for power, and now his dismissal felt like a betrayal. In the end, I’d agreed to
Tamara’s POV The first rays of sunlight poured into the room through the sheer curtains, warming my face. I stirred slightly, feeling the steady beat of Dante’s heart beneath my cheek. He was still asleep, one arm securely wrapped around me while his other hand rested against my waist. I smiled softly, letting myself sink into the peace of the moment. In all the chaos of the past few days, this was the one place I felt safe—Dante’s arms. “Are you staring at me again?” Dante’s voice rumbled, still thick with sleep. I looked up, meeting his sleepy gaze as he cracked one eye open. “Maybe.” “Do you enjoy watching me sleep, Tamara?” he teased, pulling me closer as his lips brushed my temple. I laughed lightly. “Only because you look less like an intimidating Alpha when you’re snoring softly.” “I do not snore,” he shot back, pretending to be offended. “Oh, you do,” I said, grinning at his mock outrage. He pinned me beneath him in one quick movement, his face hovering above
Tamara’s POVWhen I woke up the next morning, I felt so so much lighter, as if the weight of the previous days’ events had eased just a little. The sound of soft humming caught my attention, and I turned my head to see Dante standing near the window. He was holding a tray of breakfast and looking ridiculously handsome in a simple white shirt rolled up at the sleeves.“Good morning,” he said with a warm smile as our eyes met.“Good morning,” I murmured, sitting up and stretching.“I hope you’re ready,” he said, placing the tray on the table and leaning against the chair with a playful smirk.“Ready for what?” I asked, raising a brow.He crossed his arms. “A day that’s all about us. No politics, no interrogations, no poisonings—just you and me.”I blinked at him. “You’re serious, I mean we still have some work to do?”“Very serious,” he said. “You’ve been through enough, Tamara. Today, I want to remind you how much you mean to me.”Warmth bloomed in my chest. “Dante, you don’t have to
Tamara’s POVWhen I woke up the next time, the room was quiet, but I could feel the faint warmth of sunlight streaming through the window. My body felt heavy but no longer weak, and the faint scent of something earthy—Dante’s scent—comforted me.I turned my head and saw him sitting by the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed in concentration as he peeled an orange. When he noticed I was awake, his face lit up with relief.“Tamara,” he said, setting the orange down and leaning closer. “You’re awake. Thank the moon goddess, I thought you became unconscious again”“I’m fine,” I murmured, my was voice still a little hoarse.“You are not completely fine yet since the poison is still leaving your body,” he said firmly, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “But you will be. I’ll make sure of it. I'm just glad you're back home with me where you belong."I couldn’t look at him. His concern, his care—it was too much. The guilt I’d been holding back threatened to spill over. I tried to pu