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
ARIA'S POVAfter Linda shamefully walked out, all eyes were on me. I actually had something more planned — something that would ensure I didn’t just have their attention, but their admiration.“Alpha Ezra,” I called out, my voice ringing clear across the room with a smile on my lips. “I have something even more special for you, something that's more than just a painting.” I paused for dramatic effect, enjoying the curious murmurs that spread through the crowd.Alpha Ezra looked at me, his eyes shining with amusement. He let out a soft chuckle and stepped closer with an easy grace that only an Alpha could pull off.He placed his large hands on my shoulders. “And why am I not surprised?” he said as he looked around at the guests, his voice carrying a touch of affection, “You all now see why she’s my favourite granddaughter-in-law.”I couldn't help but smile at his words, feeling a blush rise to my cheeks.How perfect…I reached into my bag and slowly pulled out the staff, the Tears of t
DANTE'S POVI sat near the edge of the hall, pretending to listen to the small talk going on around me, but my mind was somewhere else entirely.I couldn’t get Aria out of my mind. She had given Grandfather the Tears of the Moonstone, which definitely got everyone's attention.Don't get me wrong, it was a kind gesture. I should have been impressed, and I was — sort of. But there was something about it that bothered me.Why did she feel the need to bid against me for it at the auction if she was already planning on giving it to him? Was she giving it to him out of some sense of loyalty or affection? Or was there another motive?Lately, Aria had become a puzzle I couldn’t figure out, no matter how many pieces I tried to put together. Every time I thought I had her figured out, she would do something to completely throw me off. And if I was being honest with myself, thoughts of her had been keeping me up at night.I shook my head, trying to clear the anxiety. This wasn't the time or plac
DANTE'S POVI sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Old grudge. It's a long story."Aria looked between us, her eyes wide. "Shouldn't we tell someone? Alpha Ezra-""No," I cut her off, maybe more sharply than I intended. I quickly softened my voice. "No, we can't tell anyone about this. Not now.""But Dante-”I took her hands in mine, looking into her eyes. "Aria, please. This is Grandfather's birthday. I don't want to ruin it with all this drama. And if he finds out, he'll worry. You know how he gets."Aria bit her lip, looking clearly torn. I could almost see the wheels turning in her head.“Please,” I said again, my voice barely audible. I could feel my own desperation creeping into my tone, something I wasn’t used to feeling, something I didn’t like. “Until I figure out what to do next… Can you keep this a secret? Just for now?”Aria hesitated, her eyes searching mine. Then, slowly, she nodded. “Okay, Dante,” she agreed reluctantly, her voice soft but firm. “Just for now. But y
ARIA'S POVDante's words hung in the air between us. I felt a rush of conflicting emotions, all tangled up inside me, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak.I saw something raw and vulnerable in his eyes, something I hadn’t seen in a very long time. But then, just as quickly, another memory pushed its way in — the memory of the child I had lost, our child. The loss that had torn me apart, that had left me shattered. And it had been his fault.Because of his cheating, his careless, nonchalant attitude towards me… his refusal to see me, really see me.The pain of that bitter memory cut deep, and suddenly, I felt a rush of anger rise within me like a wave crashing against the rocks.I pulled my hand away from his grasp, shaking my head. “You want to know why I don’t rely on you?” I snapped, my voice shaking with the force of my emotions. “It's because you never gave me a reason to, Dante. Because every time I’ve needed you, you’ve turned your back. You’ve lied, cheated, and pretended like n
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