Chapter 48

DANTE'S POV

I 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