DANTE'S POV"Looking for me?" I repeated, taking a step backward. "Why? What's going on?"She hesitated, her eyes searching mine, then suddenly closed the distance between us. Her lips met mine in a surprising kiss.For a moment, I froze and my mind was spinning. This was not what I had expected.I should have pulled away, but then her hand slipped down, brushing against my dick, and all thoughts of stopping went right out the window."Damn it, Linda," I muttered as I grabbed her, kissing her back with a fierceness I didn't know I had in me.Her body pressed against mine, and for a moment, it felt like nothing else mattered. But then reality snapped back, and I pulled away, breathless."We really shouldn't be doing this," I panted, stepping back. "Linda, you're pregnant. This... it isn't right."She just smiled at me, and without a word, she started unbuttoning her shirt.I quickly turned away. "Linda, stop," I mumbled, my voice strained. "What the hell do you think you are doing?"Bu
LINDA'S POVI woke up to the early morning sunlight filtering through the curtains, my body still warm from last night's passion.As I stretched, I realized that Dante was already gone. A small frown creased my forehead, but I pushed away the disappointment. After all, I was the one in his bed now, not Aria.A smug smile played on my lips as I remembered the way Dante had touched me, the hunger in his eyes. It wasn't love, not yet, but it was a start. I knew I still had work to do to erase Aria from his heart completely, but I was patient. I could wait.My phone vibrated on the nightstand, interrupting my thoughts. I reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. The name that flashed up made my heart skip a beat.It was Jake, the investigator I had hired from the Black Moon pack.I answered quickly, my voice still husky from sleep. "Jake? What's up?""Morning, Linda," Jake's rough voice came through. "Sorry for waking you up, but I figured you would want an update."I sat up, sudden
ARIA'S POVI arrived at Adam's company and saw that the place was bustling, filled with people in suits and hurried voices. Everyone seemed to have somewhere important to be.As I headed to his office, I was greeted by a few familiar faces – Adam’s receptionist and a couple of his top executives gave me polite nods.I kept my head high, even though I was feeling anything but calm. When I finally got to Adam's floor, I was met by yet another friendly face, Adam’s personal secretary, Tina.“Princess Aria,” she greeted warmly. “I didn’t know you were coming today. Alpha Adam’s in his office — do you need me to let him know you’re here?”I shook my head, offering a small smile. “No need, Tina. It's a surprise visit, so I’ll just go in.”I didn’t give her time to protest as I walked past. I knew Adam’s company like the back of my hand; I had been here enough times, so I knew exactly where I was going.Finally, I got to his office, and without bothering to knock, I pushed the door open.Ada
ARIA'S POVThe auction hall was buzzing with excitement as I quietly made my way into the shadows, feeling both excited and nervous.It was finally the day of the auction, and the room was packed with all the faces I had expected and some I hadn’t.The tension in the atmosphere was thick. Everyone was here for one thing, and one thing only: the Tears of the Moonstone.From my corner, I watched them all. They were gathered in small clusters, speaking quietly but with intensity, discussing in hushed whispers about the artefact.There was a sense of desperation, almost greed, that filled the room, as if the Tears of the Moonstone was more than just a piece of jewelry. To them, it was power, magic, something that could change everything."I heard it enhances the speed of werewolves," one man murmured to another, his voice barely audible but filled with certainty. He was tall, with silver-streaked hair and a suit that screamed old money. "Stronger too. The kind of strength you don’t get fr
DANTE'S POVI furrowed my brow as I looked around the hall.Go through the catalogue? I thought they were beginning already. Why the unnecessary waste of time?Confused, I looked around the hall and surprisingly I saw Aria stepping out of the shadows. She moved with purpose, her chin held high, dressed in a sleek, dark green dress that hugged her figure and sparkled under the lights.Her presence commanded the room's attention, and she got it — all eyes were on her, including mine. My breath caught in my throat, and I couldn’t look away.However, not everyone was as captivated as I was.“Look who finally decided to crawl out from her hiding place after weeks of silence,” my mother sneered beside me, her voice filled with contempt. Her eyes followed Aria with a look that could kill. “Aria, the outcast of the Crescent Moon pack. Rejected, abandoned, and still hasn’t learned her place.”I winced at her words, my chest tightening with discomfort.“Honestly, it’s so pathetic,” my mother co
DANTE'S POVI eventually looked away from Aria as I glanced down at the seat numbers on the invite in my hand, trying to make sense of the row and seat assignments.They had arranged the seating based on net worth, a clear, unspoken hierarchy on display for everyone to see.“Looks like we are in the front row,” Arnold said next to me, nudging me with his elbow. He was grinning, as if sitting in the front row was some great achievement. “Right up there where the big players sit.”I nodded, trying to muster some excitement, but my thoughts were elsewhere.The front row seats didn’t impress me much. They were just a reminder of the expectations placed on people like us, and the pressure to always be seen and never make a mistake.Yet, Arnold, my oldest friend, was thoroughly enjoying himself. He thrived on the attention and the validation that came with being seated at the top of the pecking order.We settled into our seats, the velvet cushions plush and ridiculously comfortable. I leane
ARIA'S POVThe moment I sat down, the whispers started. Some giggles could be heard from the rows in front of me, barely hidden behind raised hands and fake coughs.Just then, a burst of laughter spread through the nearby crowd. I felt my cheeks burn but kept my chin high.A woman with a bird-like face and too much jewelry leaned in my direction. "Oh, honey," she said, her voice filled with false sympathy. "Are you sure you want to sit there? It's awfully far from the action."I met her gaze calmly. "I'm quite comfortable, thank you."Another woman, younger but with the same predatory look in her eye, added. "Guess she didn’t win the favour of Griffith’s eldest son after all.”Her friend laughed and glanced back at me with a mocking smile. “Or maybe she’s just fallen out of favour.”More giggles broke out, but I clenched my fists in my lap, willing myself to stay calm."Come on now," an older gentleman chuckled. "Let's not be too hard on the girl. Maybe she's just here to serve drinks
ARIA'S POVA collective murmur spread through the crowd, and I saw heads turning, necks stretching, and people leaning forward in their seats as the object was wheeled out onto the stage.The Moonstone itself was breathtaking — a large, translucent stone set in the handle of a beautifully carved cane, with a design so delicate that it seemed almost unreal.There were gasps of admiration as the cane came into full view, its surface shining under the auction hall lights. The Moonstone gave off a pale blue glow that seemed to shift and change as the light hit it, almost as if it were alive.It was mesmerizing, and I could see that I wasn’t the only one who thought so. The room was utterly captivated.“It is absolutely perfect for the distinguished gentleman or lady,” the auctioneer continued, “or perhaps for someone who understands the deeper power it holds.”That last part — those words about power — hung in the air. They all knew the rumours about the Moonstone’s mystical properties. B
DANTE'S POV Linda’s bloodied body had been rushed into the emergency operating room, leaving Finn and me standing in the hallway. The doors closed with a loud slam as the stretcher passed through, the sound echoing like the end of a sorrowful melody.I couldn’t move. My legs felt like lead, and my mind was blank.Finn was beside me, his voice low and urgent. “Dante,” he said, gripping my shoulder. “You know that this wasn’t your fault, right? You couldn’t have stopped her.”I didn’t respond. How could I? Linda’s words haunted me, her cries of desperation echoing endlessly in my head. You don’t believe me, do you? I’ll have to prove my innocence by dying. And then the window. The fall. The blood.“It doesn’t feel that way,” I finally whispered, my voice cracking.Finn shook his head, his grip tightening. “Listen to me. You can’t take this on yourself. Linda… Linda made her choices. You tried to help her. That’s all anyone could’ve done.”Before I could answer, a loud, piercing wail
DANTE'S POV Linda’s cries filled the hospital room like the stubborn pounding of a storm. She was sobbing uncontrollably, her hands clawing at her chest, her voice hoarse as she repeated the same words over and over again: “It’s my fault… it’s all on me… I listened to Ralph and I didn’t protect my child…”I just stood there, rooted to the spot, not sure of what to do or say. Finn’s words echoed in my mind, clear and steady: “The child wasn’t Silas’s, it was Ralph’s!” Those words refused to leave me, even as Linda’s cries grew louder, slicing through my thoughts.“Linda,” I finally said, my voice low, though it didn’t feel like my own. “You really need to stop. You’re only going to hurt yourself.”She shook her head violently, her hair whipping around her face as fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. “No, Dante! You don’t get it! I should have done more! I should have protected my baby!” Her voice cracked, and she fell to her knees, clutching at my shirt. “Please… please don’t hate me
ARIA'S POV The call from Finn came late in the evening, just as the world outside my window turned dark. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that sent a chill down my spine.“Aria, Linda’s baby didn’t make it,” he said suddenly.For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. “What… what did you just say?” I whispered, gripping the phone so tightly that my knuckles turned white.“Linda lost the baby,” Finn continued. “And she’s making quite a scene. But, Aria, listen to me… you don’t have to feel guilty about this.”My mouth went dry. “I…I wasn’t…”But that was a lie, wasn’t it? Guilt had already taken a hold of me, tightening its grip with every word he spoke.Finn sighed, his voice softening. “I’m telling you this because I know how you think. Don’t let her manipulate you. She’s good at this… making herself the victim, drawing everyone in. You know this wasn’t your fault.”But how could it not feel like my fault? I could still hear Dante’s voice from earlier that day, blaming me for
DANTE'S POV Finn's words seemed to echo endlessly in my head. There was no humour in his tone, no trace of malice or lies. He wasn’t the kind of man to twist stories for the sake of drama, especially not about Linda. But this? This was too much to wrap my head around.“Are you really sure this is true?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.Finn nodded, his expression serious. “I wouldn’t say it if I wasn’t.” He leaned against the wall, his shoulders slumping. “Right after Ralph died, her baby didn’t make it either. That’s not a coincidence, Dante. It’s hard not to suspect that this was all part of her plan.”The burden of his words hung between us, heavier than anything I had ever carried before. Linda? Linda, the woman who I thought I knew better than anyone? Could she really be capable of this? Could she…Goddess help me…be ruthless enough to kill her own child?I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it clung to me like smoke. “No. No, I can’t believe that.”F
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