DANTE'S POVThe room fell silent, the tension thick enough to choke on. I wanted to argue, at least try to defend myself and my family. But the words died in my throat as I looked at Aria, pale and trembling in Adam's arms."This isn't over," Adam said, his voice filled with a quiet threat. "Not by a long shot. You had all better pray to the Goddess that Aria and her child are okay. Because if they are not..."He let the threat hang in the air, unfinished but crystal clear. Then, without another word, he turned and walked out the door, holding Aria protectively against his chest.As the door slammed shut behind them, I felt like I was waking from a bad dream. But this was no dream. It was all too real. And as I looked around at the shocked faces of everyone, I realized that Adam was right about one thing:This was far from over. And I had a sinking feeling that the worst was yet to come.I needed a moment by myself to think things through so without a word, I let out a deep sigh and d
DANTE'S POVI was already on my way to the pack's meeting room before the sun had even risen.My head was pounding from a sleepless night filled with worry and fruitless phone calls. As I got closer to the door, I could already hear the heated voices of the elders inside.Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door open. The arguing stopped suddenly as all eyes turned to me.Elder Sarah gave me a tight smile. "Alpha Dante, we've been waiting for you."I nodded and took my seat at the head of the table. The way they all looked at me made me feel quite uncomfortable.Clearing my throat, I began, "Uhmm, I know you are all looking for answers. But I'm afraid my investigations haven't turned up much."Elder Marcus leaned forward, his bushy eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean, 'not much'? Surely you must have found out something about this so-called Adam Griffith, right?"I shook my head, frustration clear in my voice. "That's just it. I still don't know if the man who showed up yesterday is a
ARIA'S POVI blinked slowly, allowing my eyes to adjust to the soft light coming through the unfamiliar curtains.For a moment, I couldn't remember where I was or how I had gotten there. Then, as the fog of sleep cleared, I realized I wasn't alone.Gathered around my bed were familiar faces I hadn't seen in years - my father and the highest-ranking elders of our wolf tribe. They all looked at me with a mixture of worry and relief."Aria," my father's deep voice rumbled, filled with emotion. "You're finally awake."I tried to sit up, but my body felt heavy and slow. "Dad? What... what's going on?"He leaned forward and took my hand in his. His touch was warm, familiar, yet strange after so long apart. "You've been out for a while, sweetheart. We were starting to worry."Elder Marissa greeted with a warm smile. "It's good to have you back, child. The pack hasn't been the same without you.""Yeah," Elder John chimed in, his usually hard voice softening. "It's been downright boring around
ARIA'S POVThe next morning, I woke up to a rush of activity in my room. A line of female servants walked in, their arms loaded with boxes and garment bags.The room was filled with the soft rustling of fabric and the delicate tinkling of jewelry."What's all this?" I asked, my voice still husky from sleep.Anna, my favourite servant since childhood, stepped forward with a friendly smile. "Good morning, Princess Aria. We are here to help you prepare for the celebration."I groaned and pulled the covers over my head. "I'm not in the mood for dress-up, Anna. Tell them to leave."However, Anna wasn't having it. She gently pulled the blanket down, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Princess, but your father insists. He wants you looking your best for the guests."I sat up, feeling frustrated as my chest tightened. "My best? Anna, I just lost my baby. How am I supposed to care about looking my best?"The room fell silent as the servants exchanged uncomfortable glances. Anna sat on
DANTE'S POVThe news of the Griffith Alpha King's daughter's birthday celebration spread through our pack like wildfire.Everyone was talking about it, but no one was more excited than my mother. She stormed into my room, her face a mix of confusion and annoyance."Dante, why weren't we invited?" she asked, her voice sharp.I looked up from my book, raising an eyebrow. "How should I know, Mother? Maybe they just forgot about us."She wasn't satisfied with that answer. For the next hour, she paced my room, asking question after question. Why this, why that. It was enough to make my head spin.Finally, when I couldn't give her the answers she wanted, she made a decision that left me speechless. "We have to go," she announced, as if it was the most natural thing in the world."We weren't invited," I protested, putting my book down. "We can't just crash someone else's party. Especially not the Griffith's."She waved her hand casually. "It doesn't matter. We are going."I tried to persuade
ARIA'S POVThe party was in full swing, with laughter and music filling the air. I stood on the deck of the cruise ship, admiring the twinkling lights of the shore dancing on the water.It was indeed a perfect night for a party, and I felt a rush of joy in my heart.Suddenly, a dazzling display of colours exploded in the sky. I gasped, my eyes widening as fireworks painted the night in brilliant colours."So, what do you think?" Ryan's voice came from beside me, a hint of mischief in his tone.I turned to my brother, a smile spreading across my face. "I love it! It's absolutely beautiful."Ryan puffed out his chest, looking proud. "Well, you can thank Adam for that. But," he added quickly, "I helped too, you know. So maybe save a little gratitude for your other amazing brother?"I laughed, playfully hitting his arm. "You guys are going to make me cry, I swear.""Oh no, please don't," Ryan said, pretending to be horrified. "We can't have the birthday girl ruining her makeup. What would
DANTE'S POVThe room was filled with excitement, everyone on edge waiting for the big reveal. Then, like a bomb dropping, the Elder announced that the Griffith princess would no longer make an appearance. Just like that, the excitement went out of the room.I glanced at my mother, and boy, that was a mistake. Her face crumpled like a kid who had just been told Christmas was canceled. She started muttering and huffing, acting more like a teenager than a grown woman."Mother," I said, shaking my head in disbelief, "you really need to snap out of it. You're making a scene."She turned to face me, her eyes flashing. "Don't you get it, Dante? If we don't see the Griffith princess today, when will we? This was our chance!"I sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "Sabrina," I called to my sister, hoping for backup, "a little help here?"Sabrina just rolled her eyes. "Leave me out of it, Dante. I'm not getting in the middle of this drama."Great. Just great.I was about to try reasoning with
ARIA'S POVThe words hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken past and hurt. I watched as emotions played out on Dante's face - surprise, anger, and something that looked a lot like pain.He opened and closed his mouth a few times, clearly struggling to find the right words. It was so unlike the confident, smooth-talking Dante I used to know.But then he squared his shoulders, his eyes hardening. "What matters is that you cheated on me, Aria. With him." He nodded in the direction where Adam was standing across the room."Cheated? Are you serious right now?"Before I could unleash the torrent of words I had been holding back, I caught sight of Adam over Dante's shoulder. He was walking towards us, his face filled with anger. I shook my head slightly, trying to signal him to stay back, but it was no use. He had this look on his face and I knew nothing was going to stop him."Dante," I said urgently, "you need to go. Now."Dante, as stubborn as always, stood his ground. "You have
ARIA'S POV The loud sound of the ambulance siren broke through the chaos, silencing the frantic murmurs of the crowd for a moment. Dante didn’t wait for the paramedics to take charge. With a sense of urgency I hadn’t seen in him before, he picked up Linda in his arms. Her pale, lifeless body looked even more fragile in the bright light of the ambulance as Dante climbed in, shouting for them to hurry. I watched him go, his desperation etched into every line of his face. His eyes never left Linda’s bloodied form as the ambulance doors slammed shut behind them. For a brief, fleeting second, I felt a pang of something close to pity. But it was quickly swallowed by a flood of bitterness as the whispers began. “This is all Aria’s fault,” someone muttered from the crowd, loud enough for me to hear. “Yes,” another voice chimed in, filled with hate. “If Linda’s baby dies, the pack won’t spare Aria. That child is the pack’s future heir.” The words hurt more than I cared to admit. My che
ARIA'S POV Linda’s sudden breakdown into tears left me frozen, the weight of her confession crashing over the room like a wave. Her emotional words rang in my ears, each one crafted perfectly to squeeze sympathy from Dante and the crowd. “I swear on the goddess, I did it to protect you, Dante!” she cried, holding onto his arm like a lifeline. “Ralph had threatened to kill you if I didn’t do what he wanted. Everything I said to him, everything I did… it was all to keep him calm, to deceive him. You have to believe me!” The room was filled with hushed whispers, and the crowd’s uneasiness grew with every word. I could see the doubt flickering in their eyes as they turned to one another, whispering under their breaths. “She looks scared… she must be telling the truth.” “Could Ralph really have been manipulating her?” My hands balled into fists as I stepped forward, my voice cutting through the noise. “I have heard enough!” I shouted, pointing at Linda. “Can’t you all see what she
DANTE'S POV I couldn't wrap my head around what Aria was doing. From the moment she asked to speak with Linda, she had been relentless, accusing Linda of things that seemed so absurd.Claiming that Linda's child was fathered by a rogue wolf? The words were so ridiculous I almost laughed when I first heard them. Almost.Instead, I felt my patience wearing thin with every accusation, every raised voice. Aria wasn't like this. She was calm, collected, and never reckless. Tonight, though, she seemed agitated, lashing out like she was desperate for everyone to believe her. And yet, Finn...Finn wasn't the type to back wild accusations, and yet he had claimed to have proof. He said he had seen Linda go into the silver cell and kill Ralph. Murder. That word hung heavy in the air, causing my chest to tighten as I looked around the room. The air was thick with tension, whispers circulating through the crowd, spreading speculation and doubt. My eyes landed on Linda, standing not far from m
ARIA'S POVLinda’s expression changed the moment she realized that I wasn’t going to back down. That mask of fragile innocence she wore cracked for just a second, but then, to my surprise, she started crying.“I’m sorry,” Linda suddenly said, her voice trembling as her eyes welled with tears. She looked around the crowd, her lower lip quivering in just the right way. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I don’t know what I’ve done to make Aria hate me so much. I…I’ve tried to be kind, but she just won’t stop harassing me!”The crowd murmured in confusion, their eyes darting between the two of us. My mouth fell open in shock, but Linda pressed on, her voice trembling with perfect fragility.“I really don’t know why she’s doing this,” she continued, wringing her hands. “I’ve tried so hard to stay out of her way, but she keeps accusing me of… awful things. And now she’s saying horrible things about my child… my unborn child. I just… I don’t know how much more I can take.” Her voice broke, and she bu
ARIA'S POVLinda stood beside him, her hand resting on his arm, a smug look of confidence flickering across her face.That look—so composed, so sure of herself—ignited something hot and uncontainable inside me.After everything she had done, she could still stand there so calm, so unbothered, wearing that look of triumph? I felt the anger pulse through my veins, louder than the quiet hum of murmurs around us.Before I could stop myself, I took a step forward and grabbed her hand firmly, my words spilling out in a fierce, steady tone. “Didn’t you just kill someone? You killed Ralph, the father of the child in your womb!”The room went deathly silent. It was as if the entire crowd was holding its breath, their shocked expressions frozen in place, eyes wide and darting between Linda and me.I could actually hear my own heartbeat, the loud, insistent thud filling the quiet. The weight of my accusation seemed to hang heavy in the air, pressing down on everyone around us.Linda’s smug expre
ARIA'S POVThe grand hall was buzzing with laughter, clinking glasses, and the light murmur of people deep in conversation. But as Finn and I walked in, the weight of what had just happened sat like a stone in my chest.Ralph’s face, the betrayal, the way he had gasped his last breath—it was burned into my mind. I could barely breathe as I looked around the crowd, half-wondering if people could somehow sense the horror I was carrying with me.And then I saw the bitch.Linda was seated among the crowd, dressed in a fresh, elegant gown, her hair pinned perfectly in place, her eyes bright as she laughed with the people around her. She looked radiant, so carefree and untouched by what had just happened in the cell below.How could she act like nothing had happened? Like she hadn’t just murdered the man who loved her?I felt a rush of anger inside me, my heart pounding, and before I could even think, I was making my way across the room towards her.This wasn’t about Ralph—I didn’t care for
ARIA'S POVI swallowed nervously as I turned back to the screen.Linda was helping Ralph up now, her arm slipping around his shoulders, her movements steady, gentle. It was almost unsettling, seeing her this way.After everything that had just happened, the way she had looked ready to strangle him, here she was—guiding him carefully as if she genuinely cared.“Is she really going to just… walk him out?” I whispered, glancing over at Finn.Finn only shook his head slightly, his gaze unreadable, as if he were trying to solve a puzzle I couldn’t see. “Let’s just keep watching,” he muttered.I returned my focus back to the screen, heart pounding, my eyes glued to Linda and Ralph as they moved towards the door. Ralph had a hint of relief in his eyes as he leaned on Linda, trusting her to lead him to freedom.Then, just as they reached the cell door, Linda’s expression changed. It was a barely visible change, the kind of look only someone who knew her well would notice—a flash of something
ARIA'S POVI watched from the shadows as Linda confidently walked right into the silver cell, barely a flicker of hesitation in her steps.The guards hadn’t so much as glanced at her. Of course, being the ‘supposed’ future Luna had its perks.For a moment, I thought about following her inside. But the plan in my head fell apart as fast as it formed—Linda would see me in an instant, and even if she didn’t, the guards would. And then…well, that wasn’t exactly the way I wanted to die.I lingered just out of sight, wrestling with my options, trying to decide if I should risk it. I was just about to turn back when I felt a presence behind me.I immediately turned around, and a sharp gasp escaped me before a strong hand clamped over my mouth.Panic shot through me, and my heart hammered wildly against my ribs. But then I saw who it was.Finn’s gaze met mine, a glint of urgency in his eyes as he held a finger to his lips, signaling me to keep quiet.My pulse slowed, though only slightly, as
ARIA'S POVFinn’s voice rang out across the hall, loud and clear, cutting through the low hum of conversations and gasps that followed the gruesome video.The sight of Ralph—bloodied, battered, barely recognizable—lingered in my mind, his pain etched in every laboured breath, every ugly bruise.It didn’t make sense. Finn was ruthless, yes, but not reckless. And beating someone within an inch of their life? That wasn’t like him.I turned to Adam, leaning close so no one else could hear me. “Finn is setting a trap,” I whispered, keeping my gaze fixed on the screen where Ralph’s battered form still flickered. “He wants Linda to slip up, to implicate herself.”Adam raised an eyebrow, a small, amused smile spreading over his face. “Well, well, looks like my little sister has got some brains in that head of hers.”I rolled my eyes, nudging him sharply in the ribs. “Not little, thank you very much.” My tone was playful, but the tension was twisting in my gut. Something felt wrong.Adam chuck