DANTE'S POVI froze, feeling my jaw clench tightly. “What are you talking about?” I shot back, my voice strained. I could feel my muscles tensing, my whole body bracing for whatever he was going to throw at me next.“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Arnold retorted, stepping closer, his eyes fixed on mine. “Don't act like you're clueless, Dante.”I could see the frustration etched on his face, the way his brow furrowed, his lips pulling into a thin line. I wanted to argue, but before I could, he continued, his voice filled with anger and something else — a sort of desperate plea.“Aria didn’t do anything wrong, and you know it,” he said, his tone sharp. “She was almost torn apart by that group of women, and you just stood there and let it happen. Why? Just because she doesn’t have a wolf? Because she’s different?”His words felt like a punch to the gut. I opened my mouth to defend myself, to explain, but he didn’t let me. “Or is it all because Linda is carrying your child?” h
DANTE'S POVThere was a brief silence on the other end, just long enough for my heartbeat to beat loudly in my ears, and then Adam’s voice came through, cold and clipped. “What do you want, Alpha Dante?” He didn’t bother hiding the disdain in his voice, and I could almost picture his lips curling into that arrogant smirk of his.“I… I’m calling about Aria,” I started. “I need to talk to her.”Adam’s laugh was short, humourless. “Aria is very busy right now,” he said flatly. “And frankly, after what happened, I don’t think she has any interest in talking to you.”I swallowed hard, feeling the frustration coil tighter in my chest. “Look, I am very much aware of what happened at the auction. I know things got out of hand, but I need to—”Adam cut me off, his voice suddenly sharper, colder. “Oh, you know, do you?” he snapped. “Well, then you also know that Aria was hurt — hurt because of you and your petty games, your childish drama.”“I’m… I’m sorry,” I forced the words out, the apology
DANTE'S POVAria’s mouth fell open, her eyes widening in shock. “What?” she gasped, her voice barely a breath. “No, Dante, I—”I didn’t let her finish – I couldn’t! The anger roared up inside me, spilling over like a dam that had finally burst.“Answer me, Aria!” I insisted, stepping closer, my voice louder than I intended. “Were you already involved with him? Was this your plan all along?”The accusation lingered in the air like a slap, echoing between us. I felt the blood pounding in my temples, my heart hammering in my chest.I was convinced — completely convinced that she had been in a relationship with Adam long before our divorce.How else could she possibly end up here, standing next to him, with that confident look on her face?Aria continued to stare at me, as though I had just slapped her across the face. “What the hell, Dante,” she whispered, “how could you even think that?”But I didn’t back down. “Just give me an honest answer!” I shouted, feeling the heat rising in my ch
ARIA'S POVDante's words were so raw and rough, sending a wave of emotions crashing through me. I suddenly felt my defenses faltering, weakening under the intensity of his stare.I had to remind myself: he was the one who hurt me, who chose to believe lies over the truth, who doubted me. I was the one who had bled, who had been humiliated in front of everyone.Can someone, anyone at all, tell me why the hell I felt that familiar pang in my chest, the one that reminded me of the Dante I once knew, the Dante I had once loved?He let out a sigh, almost as if he could sense my inner struggle. “Aria,” he whispered, his voice softer, carrying something that sounded too much like regret.Hearing him say my name like that, like it was a plea, made my heart twist. I shouldn’t have cared. I should’ve stayed angry, but I couldn’t help myself.I sighed and turned to Adam. “Leave us for a moment,” I said, my tone firm.Adam’s eyes darted between Dante and me, looking clearly skeptical. “Aria, are
LINDA'S POVI took a deep breath as I approached the grand entrance of Alpha Ezra's mansion.The painting I had bought at the auction was carefully tucked under my arm, wrapped in fancy paper with a big bow. It had been quite expensive, but nothing was too good for Alpha Ezra's birthday. I just hoped that it would make an impression.I smoothed my designer dress and plastered on my best smile.As I stepped inside, the butler graciously took my coat and gift. "Welcome, Miss Linda. The party is in the main hall."I nodded, already looking around at the crowd. That was when I saw Aria.She walked in with an air of confidence, her head held high, her dress flowing around her like she owned the room.Who on earth invited this bitch? Can't she just stay out of my sight for once?I had to admit, she cleaned up well. But that didn't change the fact that she didn't belong here. Not anymore.To my satisfaction, no one rushed to welcome her. It seemed like everyone was keeping their distance, an
ARIA'S POVI couldn't help but roll my eyes.“Another problem. Just what I needed,” I thought to myself.Before I could even think of a reply, Dante did something that surprised the hell out of me.Instead of calling me out or making things worse, he stepped up beside me, shoulders squared, and said, “Mother, Linda, I think you are forgetting something important here,” he paused to look at Linda, and then at Agatha, “Aria here… she has connections with the Griffith family, the highest rulers of all the wolf packs. It could be useful for us so please… let's put an end to the unnecessary drama.”I blinked, and for a second, I was sure I had misheard him.Dante, of all people, had just defended me?I looked over at Linda and Agatha, and their wide-eyed expressions mirrored my own shock. It was like they were in some kind of dream state, probably thinking they were hallucinating.Because really, who would have thought that Dante, who usually had a knack for making situations more explosiv
ARIA'S POVThe room fell silent once again as everyone's attention turned to the newcomer and his mysterious package.Just then, the whispers began."Did you see that?""On his neck...""It's the Griffith family mark!"I couldn't help but smile. The mark on the back of the man's neck was impossible to miss - a small, detailed wolf design that only members of the Griffith family or their most trusted servants bore.Dante's eyes narrowed. "Aria, what's going on here? Who is he?"I took a deep breath. "This, Dante, is the truth."Without wasting a second, I reached for the cover on the frame. The fabric felt cool under my fingers as I pulled it away, unveiling the painting underneath.Gasps echoed throughout the room. The painting was identical to the one Linda had presented - with the same rolling hills, the same proud wolf, and the same setting sun. But this one... this one was different.It seemed to glow with an inner light, the brushstrokes so delicate they were almost alive.Linda'
LINDA'S POVMy whole body was shaking with rage and humiliation.How could this be happening?One minute I was on top of the world, showing off my prized painting, and the next... everything was falling apart.I watched Aria, noticed the way her face tightened for a split second. She opened her mouth, probably ready with another clever little lie.But before she could say a word, Alpha Ezra raised his hand, cutting her off. "No, wait," he said, his tone softening in a way that made my blood boil. "I apologize for the questions, Aria. I do trust you."The words hit me like a physical blow. HE TRUSTED HER? Even with the paint still wet and all that? He was just going to let it slide?A bitter laugh escaped me before I could stop it. "You trust her but not me?" I shouted, unable to contain myself any longer. My voice echoed off the walls, making everyone flinch. "How can you just accept her word over mine?"Alpha Ezra turned to me, his face calm, too calm, like he was dealing with a chil
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