Standing in that grand hall, with all those cold, disapproving eyes on me, I realized something that made my stomach churn—Alpha Dante wasn’t just playing politics with me. This was more than a simple marriage for power. If I wasn’t careful, if I stepped out of line even once, he wouldn’t just destroy me. He’d kill everyone I cared about. My pack, my friends—Violet.I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.The elders weren’t happy with Dante’s announcement, and their dissatisfaction was obvious. They were greedy, calculating men, each of them thinking about how they could benefit from this union, how they could manipulate their daughters into positions of power. I could see it in the way they looked at me, in the way they spoke about Ana.Finally, after some heated murmuring among them, one of the elders stood up. He was a stout man with a sharp face, and he addressed Dante with a formal tone, though the impatience behind his words was unmistakable. “Alpha, while we understand the stra
As I stepped through the grand doors of my new quarters, I could barely believe my own two eyes. Holy shit! The room was fucking enormous! it was far bigger than anything I’d ever seen before, even bigger than the master bedroom back at my pack. The bed in the center of the room was gigantic- for lack of a better word, it could fit 5 people if i suddenly wanted a sleep over party, plus it was practically drowning in plush bedding and embroidered pillows that looked softer than anything I had ever touched. Maya, my wolf chose to snicker at that moment, “imagine how amazing it would feel being pressed between it and our mate.” She sighed and I blushed bright red. “Control yourself woman!” I playfully scolded her, “we are here to fulfill our purpose for rebirth, not to have naughty thoughts about that sexy man— I mean alpha Dante!” I quickly caught myself but Maya noticed and snickered before going quiet. I looked around and noticed there was a sitting area by the fireplace,
I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders. There was no way I was going to let these women intimidate me. No matter how hostile they were or how much they already seemed to hate me, I wouldn’t back down. Not today, not ever.“Hello,” I said, stepping forward with a polite smile. “I’m Tamara, and I’m really not here to make your lives difficult. In fact, I hope we can all get along.”The five women, who had been glaring at me just moments before, exchanged surprised glances. Clearly, they hadn’t expected me to be this… nice. It seemed they had already made up their minds about who I was before I even stepped foot in the palace.The tall woman with long dark hair, the same one who had been rude earlier, narrowed her eyes at me. “We’ve heard things about you. People say you’re harsh. Controlling.”I forced myself to keep my expression calm. So that’s what they thought of me? It wasn’t surprising, considering the rumors that must’ve spread about me after everything with Jack, Kate, and
I shoved Dante back with more force than I intended, my heart racing and my temper rising. “I’m not one of your concubines, Dante,” I snapped, glaring up at him. “If you’re so desperate for sex, why don’t you go to Lucy? She’s your favorite, isn’t she?”His brows lifted, and that infuriating smirk spread across his face. “Lucy? Oh, she’s alright.” He chuckled, stepping closer again. “But if you want, Tamara, you can be my favorite.”I glared at him, my stomach twisting. “I don’t want to share my man with anyone else.”Dante’s laugh was low and deep, clearly amused by my outburst. “Are you jealous?” he teased, his eyes gleaming.I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes at him. “I’m not jealous. I just… I made that mistake once. I’m not doing it again.”That wiped the smirk off his face. His teasing faded, replaced with curiosity. “You made that mistake before?” he asked, his tone gentler, as if he were trying to figure me out.I swallowed, feeling the familiar sting of that old betrayal cr
"I still can't believe you fucking tricked me." I glared at him, feeling betrayed. Dante’s eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn't describe as he took a step closer. His voice was low but firm when he spoke. “I didn’t trick you, Tamara,” he said, his tone carrying a barely restrained hint of frustration. “All I did was because I knew I had to encourage you to marry me quickly, or else Jack would succeed in starting a war between our packs." I narrowed my eyes as the choice of his words he used sank in. “Encourage me?” I repeated with disbelief. “You freaking manipulated me into believing I had no other choice. You forced my fucking hand!" I yelled at him. Alpha Dante's jaw tightened, but he didn’t back down. “I did what I had to. If I hadn’t taken action, Jack would’ve won. He was using you, Tamara, to destroy everything. I couldn’t let that happen.” I paused, torn between grating anger and an uncomfortable realization.... As much as I hated to admit it, Dante was right. Jac
Jack's POV I stared at Tamara's beautiful picture in my hands, my thumb gently tracing the outline of her face. Tamara. She was smiling in the photo, her eyes shining with that spark that used to light up my entire world. Dear Goddess I love her so much. How did things get so twisted? How did I lose her so fast? The pain of the memory pressed down on my chest, suffocating me as I struggled to breathe. God I fucked up! The sound of the door creaking open barely registered. I didn’t even turn when I heard the sharp intake of breath behind me. “Jack,” Kate’s voice cut through the air, laced with fury. “What the fuck are you doing?” I clenched my jaw, not looking up. “Nothing.” I sneered with a grimace, Damn, how did I let her find me? “Nothing?” She scoffed, storming over and snatching the picture from my hands. “This doesn’t look like fucking nothing! You’re sitting here staring at her again. She’s gone, Jack! Get over it!” My blood boiled at her words, and I shot up from the c
Tamaras POV I’d been here for days now—days of awkward tension between me and Dante. True to his word, that man hadn’t touched me yet. Not even a brush of his hand, and despite everything I should have been grateful for it. But instead, it was beginning to become frustrating. I kept telling myself it was for the best. I didn’t need any more complications in my life, especially not with him. But every time he looked at me with those intense, stormy eyes, something in me shifted. My wolf, Maya, had been teasing me nonstop since I got here, and I was running out of excuses to explain the way my heart skipped whenever he was near. Today, though, was different. Dante had told me we were going out—some sort of picnic to keep up appearances with the pack. He said they needed to see us together, happy, bonded. The word “bonded” had made me tense. it was like having PTSD. But here I was, standing in front of the mirror, smoothing down the pale green dress Sophie had picked out for me
As I sat with Dante under the shade of a large oak tree, the peaceful sounds of nature surrounded us. The picnic had been perfect— but this was even better, a basket full of food, and the sun gently warming my skin. Dante was leaning back, watching me with his intense, dark eyes, and for a moment, I almost forgot why I was uneasy. But then, the nagging thought that had been at the back of my mind all day resurfaced. I had to ask. “So, you never really told me about your fated mate,” I said casually, though the weight of my words felt heavier than I intended. Dante’s expression shifted slightly. The relaxed, flirtatious look he’d been wearing faded. “That’s not something I want to talk about,” he said, his voice low. That wasn’t the response I was hoping for. My stomach twisted. He didn’t trust me enough to tell me? “Why not?” I pressed, trying to keep my tone even. Dante ran a hand through his hair, clearly uncomfortable. “It’s complicated.” I frowned, irritation bubb
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 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 "All this may have been avoided if you let him take his position." i said but Dante sighed.“I considered it,” he admitted, his voice filled with regret. “I thought maybe it would ease the tension. But it didn’t take long to realize Jack didn’t want to lead for the good of the pack. He wanted power. Pure and simple. He didn't care about what the people wanted, all he wanted was to dominate and take revenge for the death of his family. he wasn’t fit to be Alpha, Tamara. I couldn’t let him take over. So, I refused.” I nodded slowly, understanding his reasoning even as my heart ached for the burden he’d carried. “And that’s when Jack turned on you.” Dante’s eyes darkened, his expression hard. “Yes. We used to be close, but wanting power changed him. He rallied people against me, spreading lies, manipulating anyone he could. He used every weak link in the pack against me. When that didn't work, he sent assassins to kill me, I dealt with them, one by one ocourse, but Jack
Tamara’s POV"B-but if you didn't kill them, then who did?" I stammered out in shock even though I knew that there was no way for Dante to have that answer.Dante shook his head sadly. "i don't know that but I can swear on my mother that it could never have been me, I could never hurt you like that, not after what you mean to me. But my guess is that Jack must have been the one to do it, he probably killed them so that you would be pained enough to kill me.""And it worked.' I realized with tears in my eyes. I sat frozen in for a moment, just staring at Dante as his words sank in. My mind was spinning, as every revelation felt like they were pulling me further into a whirlwind of disbelief, shock and confusion. I had killed Dante when he was innocent, when his only crime was caring for me.I wanted revenge for Jack and Kate murdering I and my child, but I was now finding out that I was also a murderer.It felt as if the ground beneath me had shifted, leaving me unsteady, unsure of
Dante's POV She nodded, her small chin lifting in defiance. “Yes. My father sent those warriors to end you. But I snuck out and followed them. He wouldn’t let me join the war, so I decided to secretly follow them and prove to my father that I'm strong by helping them kill you.” Her words sent a jolt tof shock hrough me. “You followed them? You’re a child. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?” it should have been funny that I was literally bleeding out but I was still taking time to scold a stubborn fucking child She tilted her head, her expression unreadable. “I'm not a child, I'm almost a teenager... well in a few years, but I wanted to help them fight and kill some bad guys. But… then I saw you, you're not very old but they hurt you too, I felt bad. I didn’t want you to die.” Before I could respond, she stepped closer, her eyes scanning my wound. “You’re bleeding.” “I’m fine,” I lied, though the blood soaking my side said otherwise. She ignored me, tearing her
Dante's POV I trailed off, the memory of that day flashing vividly in my mind. It was a memory I’d buried deep, but now it resurfaced with a vengeance.“What happened?” Tamara asked softly, her voice trembling. The memory of that day came flooding back as if it had happened only yesterday. I could still feel the exhaustion in my body, the faint ache in my muscles after pushing myself far beyond my limits. I had been lying in my bed, a rare luxury after leading the watch for 72 hours straight. it wasn't by choice though The army doctor had all but dragged me off duty, insisting I rest. “You’re no good to us dead, Dante. You must take a fucking rest or ill declare you unfit for battle and you'll be discharged,” he’d said sternly, and though I hated leaving my men, I knew he was right. I’d barely made it to my cot before sleep pulled me under. But it wasn’t a peaceful sleep. I startled awake to the shrill ringing of alarm bells, a sound that snapped me out of my slumber
Dante’s POVI watched Tamara, her shock and confusion was practically flashing across her face, and I knew there was no easy way to explain what I was about to tell her. Still, she deserved the truth—everything.“You remember when I told you I was closely working with my brother before and during the war?” I began carefully, keeping my voice steady.Tamara nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing as if she were trying to piece together a puzzle. “Yes, I remember. You said you were helping him, or something like that.”“it wasn't just plain paper work though,” I explained, “I wasn’t just some advisor, Tamara. I was his general.”Her eyebrows shot up, her lips parting in surprise. “General? But… weren’t you—”“Young?” I finished for her, a small, humorless smile tugging at my lips. “I was. Too young, some would say. But I was also good—better than anyone else my brother could trust. I was always an excellent fighter, and strategy came naturally to me. Even when I was still a teenager, I could
Tamara’s POV I stared at Dante in shock, his words replaying in my head like a broken record. "It’s my fault that you and your baby were killed." “What are you talking about?” I finally asked, my voice trembling. “How could it be your fault? Dante, we only met once in our past lives. And that was… on the battlefield.” His head snapped toward me, his eyes wide in shock. “We were at war?” I hesitated, biting my lip. I hadn’t meant to say that much. “Yes,” I admitted softly. “But it wasn’t what you think. Jack told me you were attacking our pack. He convinced me that if I didn’t act first, you’d destroy us.” I lowered my gaze. “So, I sent my people to fight you.” Dante’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing as realization dawned. “Jack lied to you,” he said, his voice full of bitter certainty. “He played us both.” I nodded, my throat tightening. “I only found out too late. By then…” My voice cracked, and I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “By then, everyone I loved was already g
Tamara's POVThe silence was unbearable. Dante hadn’t moved, hadn’t spoken. His hand was still wrapped around mine, but his grip was so still, so tense, it felt as if he were frozen in place. My heart thudded against my ribs, and every second that ticked by only made the knot in my stomach tighten.“Dante,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Please, say something. Anything.”His dark eyes snapped to mine, intense and unreadable. “What do you mean, ‘when you died’?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with a quiet demand.I sucked in a shaky breath, my mind racing. How could I possibly explain this? My fingers trembled in his, and I pulled my hand away to clasp them in my lap, as if holding onto myself would steady my nerves. “This is… this is my second life,” I finally said, the words tasting foreign on my tongue even after all this time.His brows furrowed, and I could see the questions forming in his eyes. “your Second life?”I nodded, swallowing hard. “Yes, I died, Dante. In my past