Tamara's POV The next morning, Dante’s hands moved over my shoulders, his fingers easing out the tension that had taken root from everything I’d been through. I closed my eyes, letting out a quiet sigh, and for a moment, I felt safe. But just as I was sinking deeper into the comfort of his touch, a loud, insistent pounding at the door jolted us both back to reality. Dante’s hands froze, and I felt his entire posture shift, tense and alert. He glared at the door with a look that promised trouble. “Stay here,” he muttered to me as he went to answer, but I knew by the way his shoulders were squared that this wasn’t a friendly visit. The door hadn’t even fully opened before a familiar, angry voice barged in. “Dante,” Reuben’s voice was hard and demanding, “you can’t just keep ignoring this. You don’t get to hide her away here while the rest of us are trying to clean up her mess.” Dante’s jaw clenched, and he tried to shut the door again, but Reuben jammed his foot in, refusing to le
Tamara's POV With one last glare, Reuben turned and walked out, slamming the door behind him. The moment he was gone, the tension in the room seemed to lift, but Dante was still visibly shaken, his fists trembling. He turned to me, his face softening. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have had to hear any of that. I never wanted him to treat you this way.” I managed a smile, reaching up to cup his face. “It’s okay, Dante. I’m fine. I know he doesn’t believe me, but that’s his problem, not ours.” Dante pulled me close, his arms wrapping around me as he buried his face in my hair, breathing in deeply. I felt the tension draining from him, slowly being replaced by the calm I hoped he’d find in my presence. We stood there in silence for a long moment, letting the weight of Reuben’s words dissipate, piece by piece.“You don’t deserve any of this,” he murmured finally, his voice thick with regret. “Reuben’s wrong, and he has no right to speak to you like that.” He pulled back just enough to loo
Tamara’s POV After Reuben stormed out, the air felt different, lighter somehow, but the tension still hung around us like a thick fog. Dante and I exchanged weary glances, both of us still processing the confrontation. I could see the resolve in his eyes, and it made me feel a little safer, even in the midst of all this chaos. That evening, we gathered in the hotel’s garden for what felt like our first real meeting since everything had blown up. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the space, casting flickering shadows on the neatly trimmed hedges. The scent of blooming flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the tumultuous emotions we were all grappling with. As I settled onto a bench, I couldn’t help but notice how much more relaxed Sophie and Violet seemed. Their cheeks had a healthy glow, and there was a brightness in their eyes that hadn’t been there before. I exchanged a glance with Dante, who raised an eyebrow, mirroring my surprise. “Looks like they’ve been pampered a
Tamara's POV The night wrapped around me like a heavy shroud, an uneasy silence that settled deep within my bones. I tossed and turned in bed, the sheets tangling around my legs as my mind raced through a thousand thoughts, each more troubling than the last. Just as I thought I might finally slip into sleep, I was plunged into a nightmare that felt all too real. Flames engulfed the world around me, the sky an angry red. The ground cracked beneath my feet as I stumbled through the chaos, desperately calling out for Dante. “Dante? Where are you?” My voice was swallowed by the roar of the fire, panic rising like bile in my throat. I needed him; I needed my friends. “Violet? Casper? George?” My calls echoed through the inferno, but all I could hear was the ominous crackling of burning wood and distant cries of despair. I pressed forward, heart pounding, feeling the heat of the flames licking at my skin. The air was thick with smoke, making it hard to breathe. Then, as if summoned by m
Tamara's POV The morning sun peeked through the curtains, but I felt anything but rested. The remnants of my nightmare clung to me like a heavy blanket, suffocating in their familiarity. I lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest.Just then, I felt the bed shift beside me, and I turned to see Dante, still groggy from sleep, pushing back the sheets. His hair was tousled, and for a moment, I couldn't help but smile at how effortlessly handsome he looked, even in his sleepiness.“Good morning, baby girl,” he murmured, voice deep and slightly rough from sleep. He blinked a few times, focusing on me, his brow furrowing slightly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. What’s wrong?”“Nothing,” I replied, a bit too quickly. I turned my gaze back to the ceiling, not wanting to burden him with my worries.Dante wasn’t fooled. “Liar. I can see it on your face. Did that nightmare come back again?”I sighed, remembering I had told him I had a ni
Tamara's POV “Dante…” I hesitated, the uncertainty swirling around me. My instincts screamed at me to be cautious, but I couldn’t bring myself to step away. What the hell was going on?? “This isn’t funny, Dante. You’re scaring me.” I stepped back instinctively, feeling the chill of uncertainty wash over me. “Seriously, where are you taking me?” He paused, taking a deliberate step toward me, his expression unreadable. The way he looked at me made my stomach twist. “Remember when you accused me of manipulating you into our marriage?” His voice was low, almost conspiratorial, as if we were sharing a secret, and my breath hitched. I forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood despite the flutter of nerves in my stomach. “That was in the past. I was wrong about you. You’re not... that kind of man.” His smile faded slightly, replaced by an intensity that made me uneasy. “You weren’t very wrong about me, Tamara.” “Wait, what are you talking about?” My heart raced even faster now
Tamara's POV As the ring sparkled on my finger, it felt surreal. I barely had time to process what had just happened when Sophie and Violet rushed over, their eyes wide with excitement. “Oh my God, Tamara! You said yes!" Sophie exclaimed, her voice a mix of disbelief and joy. I nodded, still a bit dazed. “Yeah, I did.” Violet practically squealed, “Let me see the ring!” She grabbed my hand, pulling it closer to her face. “It’s beautiful! The color is just like your eyes!” I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “Thanks! But you guys saw all of that?” “Of course, we did! We were here the whole time!” Sophie chimed in, her grin wide enough to light up the dark room. “Dante didn’t want you to see us, so he made sure it was dark enough. But he got us these artificially enhanced goggles so we could see everything!” I couldn’t help but laugh at Dante’s overdramatic behavior. “Only Dante would think of something like that.” My heart swelled with affection. “It was a pretty romanti
Tamara's POV We made love until I passed out, and by the next morning, I wwas lost in the delicious warmth of Dante’s touch, the softness of the sheets wrapping us as the morning light began to seep through the curtains. The events of the previous day felt like a dream—full of surprises, revelations, and the promise of a future. But as I lay there, nestled against his chest, all I could think about was the way he looked at me and how he made me feel.Dante stirred beside me, his breath warm against my skin. I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, a smile creeping onto my lips. “Good morning,” I whispered, my heart fluttering at the sight of him.“Good morning, baby girl,” he replied, a teasing grin forming on his face. He leaned down, pressing his lips against mine in a soft, lingering kiss that quickly deepened.With a groan, he pulled me closer, his hands roaming my sides, igniting a fire within me. The world around us faded, and it was just us—wrapped up in each other, lost in the
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 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 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