DANTE'S POVThe day of the Blood Moon Club gathering had finally come.I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my tie for what felt like the hundredth time. My best suit, dark as midnight, fit like a glove, and I had to admit, I looked good.A knock at the door made me turn. "Dante? Are you ready?" Linda's voice called out.I opened the door and was taken aback. Linda looked stunning in a deep red dress that hugged her curves. She smiled, her eyes sparkling as she assessed me from head to toe.“Well, you certainly look presentable," she said with a playful wink."You don't look too bad yourself," I replied with a smile.A slight blush coloured her cheeks. "Thanks. Come on, we don't want to be late.”She linked her arm through mine as we walked to the car. Once we were both inside, I turned to her. “Linda, I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you absolutely sure that this invitation of yours is legit?"She laughed, a light sound that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Trust me, we're
DANTE'S POV"I believe I was invited," Aria said calmly. "Unlike some people."I winced at the remark, knowing it would only anger Linda more.Sure enough, Linda's laugh was harsh and bitter as it cut through the murmurs of the guests."Oh please," Linda snapped, her face red with anger. "We all know that you are just here to stir up trouble. Haven't you done enough damage already?”The surrounding guests began to whisper, their eyes shifting back and forth between Linda and Aria."Linda," I whispered, grabbing her arm. "That's enough. You should think about why we are here."She shook me off, her eyes fierce. "No, Dante. I am tired of her always showing up, always acting so full of herself. She needs to be put in her place.”Aria raised an eyebrow, her voice filled with disdain. "And I suppose you think you are the one to put me in it?”"You think you've won, don't you?" Linda shot back. "Well, let me tell you something, sweetheart. I am sure everyone here knows the truth about you.
ARIA'S POVI stood there, looking very surprised to see Evelyn come to my defense with so much anger, but I was truly grateful for her words.Evelyn had indeed been a close friend of mine as we were both studying under the same design teacher.What the world didn't know was that before I left my pack and married Dante, I had possessed an extraordinary talent for designing jewelry.It was actually I who had been blessed by the Moon Goddess, not Evelyn. But I had chosen to keep my identity hidden, letting Evelyn to bask in the spotlight while I worked in the shadows.Evelyn had learned almost everything from me. Not to brag, but I was literally the best.Our relationship had grown from that of mentor and student to a deep, lasting friendship. And now, here she was, fiercely defending me with all her might.The argument continued to worsen, Evelyn boldly protecting me in front of everyone as her words sharply rebuked Linda. However, Linda wasn't backing down. Her face was red with anger
ARIA'S POVThe night air had become much cooler when Evelyn got a call to deliver some materials as soon as possible. We had spent hours talking, laughing, and trying to forget the drama from earlier.As she gathered her things, she gave me a serious look. "Aria, promise me you'll stay clear of Linda," Evelyn said, her voice filled with worry. "She's just looking for attention, so please don't let her get to you."I nodded, grateful for her advice. "I promise. And thank you, for everything."We hugged, and I watched as Evelyn disappeared into the night. The moment she was out of sight, I felt a chill run down my spine.It was as if Linda had been waiting, because immediately Evelyn left she appeared next to me, her face twisted into a cruel smirk."Well, well," Linda drawled, her eyes glittering with hate. “If it isn't the fraud.”I took a deep breath, trying to steel myself against her insults. "Linda, please. I don't want any more of your trouble."Linda wasn't interested in peace.
ARIA'S POVThe cool night air had helped clear my head, but as I stepped back into the bustling banquet hall, the noise and heat overwhelmed me.I spotted Evelyn sitting at our table and made my way over."There you are!" Evelyn exclaimed as I sat down. "Where did you go off to?"I forced a smile, not wanting to rehash the drama. "Oh, I just had to make a quick call. No big deal."Evelyn's eyes narrowed slightly. "You sure? You look a bit drained.”"I'm fine, really," I insisted, desperate to change the subject. "How was your trip out?"Evelyn's face lit up. "Oh my goodness, you won't believe what happened!" She went on to share a hilarious story about a mishap with her driver and a carton of materials for designing a dress. Soon, we were both laughing so hard tears were rolling down our cheeks."I swear," Evelyn gasped between giggles, "I've never seen cartons move like that in my life!"We were still laughing when a shadow fell across our table. I looked up to see Linda standing the
ARIA'S POVI looked away, desperately trying to gather my thoughts. The answer to his question was right there, on the tip of my tongue, but fear and hurt held it back. I had kept this secret for so long, and now, with Dante looking at me like that, I wasn't sure I wanted to let it go."Aria," Dante said, taking a step closer. "Answer the question."I stepped back, feeling the edge of a table press against my legs. "You have no right to question me about anything, Dante," I snapped, surprised by the sharpness in my voice. "Including this."He shook his head, frustration clear on his face. "Why didn't you say anything when we first met? If you're really a Griffith, why keep it a secret?”I let out a harsh laugh. "You didn't ask to know about me, Dante. What was I supposed to do, introduce myself with my entire family tree?""Oh please, don't be ridiculous," Dante said, his lips curling into a smirk that made my blood boil. "How could the Griffith's youngest daughter possibly be an ordi
DANTE'S POVAs I watched Aria leave with Evelyn, I felt a lot of things. Anger? Frustration? Regret? I couldn't quite define it, but I knew one thing for sure – I wasn't happy. Not by a long shot.Linda moved closer to me, her perfume overwhelming the stuffy air of the hall. "I didn't like the way you shouted at me, Dante," she said, her voice seething with anger.I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Maybe you should think before you speak, Linda. Your words can cut deeper than you realize."She scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Oh, please. Don't tell me this is all because of that... that nobody."I didn't answer. Couldn't answer. The pained look image on Aria's face was seared into my mind, making my chest tighten uncomfortably. Without a word, I started walking back to our table, with Linda's heels clicking annoyingly behind me.As she gathered her things, Linda suddenly cleared her throat, "It's such a pity we didn't get to meet the Griffith's youngest daughter.
DANTE'S POVFinn nodded, his eyes wide. "Yeah, can you believe it? The Moon Goddess's gift, right there for the taking. Well, if you've got deep enough pockets, that is."My mind raced. The Tears of the Moon Stone was legendary in the kingdom. Said to hold great power, it was the subject of bedtime stories and ancient prophecies. And now, somehow, it was up for auction."How the hell did the Griffiths get their hands on that?" I muttered, speaking more to myself than to Finn.Finn shrugged. "No idea, but it's legit. I double-checked with my sources."I sighed and leaned back in my chair.The Tears of the Moon Stone... could it be the answer to all my problems?"So," Finn said, breaking into my thoughts. "What do you say? Are we going?"I looked at him, then at the clutter of papers on my desk. Then I thought of the Tears of the Moon Stone, and the power it could bring."The Tears of the Moon Stone, huh," I said slowly. Finn nodded eagerly, his eyes sparkling with excitement.After a m