Tamara's POV As we arrived back at the hotel, my nerves were in overdrive. Tomorrow was the hearing, and it was like a weight pressing down on me. The whole trip back, Dante held my hand, his thumb stroking across my knuckles, but I could feel his tension too, like he was bracing himself for battle.That night, we met up with our friends for dinner in the hotel restaurant. Dante, George, Violet, and Casper and my girls were all there, but the usual banter was replaced with a heavy silence. Even Violet, who could make anyone laugh on the darkest days, seemed subdued. They all knew what tomorrow meant for me—and for Dante. Tomorrow could go fine, or it could be our death sentence, for me and my pack.His whole demeanor was protective, and I could tell he was trying to keep a calm exterior for my sake.As we ate, I tried to distract myself by asking George and Casper about the city, but every attempt at conversation quickly fizzled out. Eventually, we all gave up and ate in silence,
Tamara's POV The ride to the court was quiet. I watched the city pass by through the window, my mind racing with everything that was about to go down. When we arrived, I was struck by the sheer grandeur of the court building in Negaria. It was massive, with tall, arched windows and intricate stone carvings, almost like a cathedral. I couldn’t help but admire it, even if I was stepping into it as the person accused of attempted murder. We were led into a waiting room filled with luxurious, padded seats and a long, mahogany table in the center. The attendants directed each of us to a small seating box near the front, designed to keep the accused separated from the observers but still visible. Dante stayed close, his hand on my back as he helped me settle into my designated seat. A few moments later, a group of servants entered with trays balanced expertly in their hands. I noticed right away that they were dressed in form-fitting uniforms, the fabric clinging to their curve
Tamara's POV I stood in the grand court hall, trying to steady my breathing. My heart raced, but I forced myself to keep my chin high, my expression neutral. I would not let anyone here think I was intimidated. My mind tried to calm me down with reminders that Dante, my friends and his mother had prepared me for this day, and that I had nothing to fear. But standing alone in front of the assembled council, I could feel the weight of every gaze pressing down on me.Then, I noticed Lord Jarek’s gaze. He was standing across from me, dressed in rich, dark robes, his expression twisted into a sinister smile that made my skin crawl. His eyes sparkled with a dark delight, as though he was savoring this moment, this opportunity to tear me down.“Tamara,” he began, his voice smooth but cold, his tone very degrading and mocking.I snapped my gaze to meet his, narrowing my eyes. “It’s Luna Tamara to you,” I corrected him, my voice sharp and unwavering.A flicker of irritation flashed across hi
Tamara's POV The moment my eyes fell on the vial, I felt my stomach drop. The small, dark vial, held up for everyone to see, seemed to glow with a spotlight on my worst nightmare. I couldn’t speak. How the hell did they get it? How did they know?I swallowed hard, my voice caught somewhere between my chest and my throat. “I... I don’t know what that is. I mean, I... it’s not mine,” I managed to stammer, forcing my words out, hoping that somehow they’d sound convincing even though I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks.I couldn’t look at Dante. I knew if I did, I’d see the questions in his eyes, the suspicion, the confusion. And I wasn’t ready to explain this—especially not here, in front of everyone, with Lord Jarek smirking as though he had just unraveled the secrets of the universe.But before I could say anything more, Dante’s voice echoed through the hall, startling everyone into silence. “Enough!” he roared, his voice as hard as steel, filled with fury. “We are here to inves
Tamara's POV Dante’s hand was like iron around my wrist as he dragged me out of the courtroom, his fury radiating off him in waves and everyone around us backed away immediately. I barely had time to process what had just happened before Reuben stormed after us, his face twisted with anger. “You have no right to disrupt the court like that, Dante!” Reuben’s voice echoed through the empty hallway. “What the hell are you doing?” Dante spun on his heel, his grip on my wrist loosening but his fury growing. “What am I doing? What the fuck are you doing, Reuben? That wasn’t a court hearing—it was an illegal setup against my fiancée!” Reuben’s eyes narrowed. “That’s just ridiculous. We were simply following protocol. Tamara has questions to answer. You can’t just storm in and stop the process.” “Questions based on fabricated evidence!” Dante’s voice was a growl now, sharp enough to make me flinch. “Lord Jarek couldn’t even explain how he got that vial, and you expect me to belie
Tamara’s POV For the first time since I’d met Dante, this waacthe first time i saw something crack in his armor. This was the first time that he showed he could feel really shitty too. As we sat in the car, his posture stiff, his face grim, there was a flicker of vulnerability in his eyes that struck me harder than any harsh word or glare he’d ever thrown my way. It was raw, unguarded, and it made my chest tighten. He looked like a young boy in so much pain. Dante had always been so strong, so unshakable. Seeing him like this, like the weight of the world had finally pressed too hard on his shoulders, made my heart ache. The drive to the hotel was quiet, the air heavy with unspoken words. I didn’t push him. I just held his hand, tracing my thumb over his knuckles. When we finally arrived, Dante got out without a word, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched. As soon as we entered the room, I turned to him. “Come on,” I said softly, taking his hand and leading him toward the bath
Tamara's POV I sat across from Dante, the low flicker of the fireplace casting shadows across his face. His jaw was tight, his eyes distant, as if he were somewhere else entirely. I could feel the weight of what he was about to say before he even opened his mouth.“I want to know everything,” I said, my voice steady. “From the beginning. How did my mother even have any connection with the North?”Dante’s gaze flicked to me, then down to his hands resting on his knees. He hesitated, and I could tell he was choosing his words carefully.“Tamara,” he started, his voice low and cautious, “what I’m about to tell you... some of it might not be fact. A lot of it is based on what I was told or things I pieced together later. There’s no way to confirm everything.”I frowned, leaning forward. “i know You’re trying to protect me again,” I said, my tone more frustrated than I intended. “But I don’t need that, Dante. I need the truth, no matter how ugly it is. I can handle it.”He studied me for
Tamara’s POVI woke up early the next day. Dante was still fast asleep beside me, his arm draped protectively over my waist. His breathing was steady, peaceful, and I smiled to myself as I carefully slipped out of bed. For everything he’d done for me—his patience, his care—I wanted to show him that I could be there for him too.I tiptoed to the kitchen in our suite, determined to make breakfast. It definitely wasn’t my strongest skill, but I was set on doing something special. Pancakes, eggs, and a pot of fresh coffee later, I carefully arranged everything on a tray and carried it back to the bedroom.“Morning,” I said softly, nudging Dante’s shoulder with my free hand. He stirred, his lashes fluttering open, and when his gaze landed on me, his lips curved into a sleepy smile.“What’s this?” he asked, his voice still rough from sleep.“Breakfast,” I said, setting the tray on the bed beside him. “Like you did for me before, remember?”Dante pushed himself up, his eyes crinkling with am
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