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 POVAria's words had cut through me like a blade, but I couldn't blame her for being mad – I had given her plenty of reasons to feel that way. Though, it still stung.The memory of her tear-filled eyes, the way she had pulled away from me — it haunted me as I stood alone in that empty room.I had watched as she angrily walked out into the night without a second thought, but the thought of her going back alone troubled me.My enemies were still out there, lurking in the dark, and waiting for any opportunity to strike, so I couldn’t let her leave like that, not without knowing she would be safe at least.Without thinking, I hurriedly made my way out of the hall. I followed the scent she left behind, that familiar trace of her perfume mixed with the cool night air. It was faint, but it was enough to guide me.As I ran through the path, I tried to tell myself that she would be fine. But something in me — some strong instinct was screaming that she was in danger.The dark forest st
ARIA'S POV“Dante! Dante!!” I cried out, my voice shaking with panic as I knelt beside him, gripping his shoulders.His eyes were closed, his face pale, and his body felt far too still under my touch.I shook him, desperate, hoping that somehow I could wake him up. But there was nothing - no response. Just his shallow breathing, barely there, and the slow trickle of blood staining the ground beneath him.“Dante, please!” I shouted again, louder this time. “Don’t do this to me! Wake up! Come on!!”Good grief! What was I supposed to do?“My phone… where’s my phone?”I quickly started rummaging through the dirt and leaves, my hands shaking as I searched for it. “Come on,” I whispered. “Where is it?”Finally, my fingers brushed against something solid, and I snatched up the phone.Without wasting time, I quickly unlocked the screen, my fingers fumbling over the keys as I scrolled through my contacts. My hands shook so badly I almost dropped it.“Ryan, Ryan…” I muttered, searching for my b
ARIA'S POVWhen I woke up, the world felt oddly muted. I blinked, trying to make sense of my surroundings.White walls, beeping machines, the sharp smell of antiseptic… I then realized that I was in a hospital, and suddenly all the memories came rushing back - the attack, the chaos, the fear.I sat up too quickly, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my body. I actually just had a few cuts and bruises. Nothing too serious.My head spun for a moment, but it wasn’t the dizziness or the faint ache in my muscles that mattered. It was the thoughts of Dante – the memory of his blood-soaked body, his weak breathing, flooded back to me.I hurriedly scrambled out of bed, ignoring the protests of my aching muscles.Where was he? Was he alright? The last thing I remembered was… Ryan standing in front of me.I stumbled into the hallway, my bare feet cold against the floor. I didn’t care about myself — I just needed to find him.A nurse was walking by just outside my door, her arms full of medical
ARIA'S POVI recognized the voice instantly – it was Ryan.Goodness, what on earth was he doing here? How did he even know that I was in here?Panic seized me as I looked between Dante and the door that was about to burst open at any second.I couldn't let Ryan see me in here, not with Dante. I had to leave before he barged in and started to lash out unnecessarily."I have to go," I whispered hurriedly to Dante, my eyes locked with his. The confusion in his gaze made my chest ache, but I didn't have time to explain.Before anyone could stop me, I moved to the door and placed my hand to it for a moment, trying to calm the panic that was building inside me.When I opened the door, I saw Ryan standing in the hallway, his face dark with anger. His eyes flashed, and before he could even speak, I quickly stepped out, shut the door behind me, and pressed a finger to my lips.“Ryan, not here,” I hissed, cutting off whatever explosion was brewing. “Let’s just go.”He gave me a fierce look, his
ARIA'S POVAfter I left the hospital, a heavy burden settled in my chest. My thoughts were consumed by all that Ryan had revealed, the picture still burned into my memory.How could Linda be involved with something like this? It was hard to believe, but the pieces were starting to come together in ways I never wanted to imagine.I needed to act, and using the power of my family, it wouldn't be difficult to start putting plans into motion.The Griffith family… we were influential, strong, and when we set our sights on something, we always made sure to get results. I intended to use every ounce of that influence to get to the bottom of this mess.It wasn't long before I called an urgent meeting with Ryan, Adam, and our most reliable pack warriors. We all gathered in the study of our family estate.The first plan was capturing the wolf who had attacked me.Adam had already begun mobilizing our forces. We even called in a special team — wolves and hunters trained for missions like this —
ARIA'S POV A day later, the verdict for Linda was announced, quick and final. Exile. The word echoed in my mind as I stood by the open window of my room, watching the morning sun rising through the clouds. Linda’s punishment felt like the closing of a chapter, one filled with betrayal, pain, and chaos. Her exile was the beginning of a new order.I had heard the details from Adam earlier that morning. His voice had been calm but firm as he explained it.“Her and her family have been stripped of her title and banished permanently," Adam said, pacing in front of me. His broad shoulders seemed even broader with the weight of leadership on them. "Her pack is no more. It is now part of the Blood Moon Pack, under the Griffith Alpha.”I nodded, taking in his words, though I felt a flicker of sadness. Not for Linda, but for what could have been. She had ruined her own life, blinded by ambition and greed.“Did she say anything?” I asked softly, curious despite myself.Adam stopped pacing an
DANTE'S POV Standing in the middle of the room, my mouth fell open, and I froze. My entire body went stiff as I stared in shock.Outside the window, the sky changed like a living painting, its colours swirling and intensifying. It was mesmerizing and terrifying all at once. The pale blue of daytime changed into shades of red and gold, enveloping the hospital room in an eerie crimson light.“What… what’s happening?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.A loud, bone-chilling howl cut through the silence, making the hair on my arms stand on end. My eyes quickly snapped back to Aria.She wasn’t just lying in bed anymore. No. Her body was changing. Her limbs stretched, her frame twisted, and a silvery light surrounded her like a shield. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched in awe and fear.“Aria…” I breathed, taking a hesitant step forward.Her body shook violently, her skin glowing faintly under the changing light. Then, with one final shudder, she transformed. Where Aria had b
DANTE'S POV Before I could answer Adam's question, Aria’s soft voice broke the silence in the hospital room. It wasn’t loud, but it pierced through the stillness like a sharp blade.“Everything that happened, it's all because of you,” she said.Her words hit me harder than I expected. My chest tightened, and for a moment, I couldn’t even breathe. The air in the room grew heavy, suffocating, and I felt the weight of her accusation settling deep in my gut. She wasn’t wrong. It was truly my fault, no matter how much I tried to explain or justify it to myself.I looked at her, but she didn’t turn away or soften. Her eyes, even in her weakened state, held anger. Hurt. Maybe even fear.“I know,” I said quietly. My voice sounded strange in my own ears, low and heavy with guilt. I didn’t even try to argue because I knew it wouldn’t matter. Words wouldn’t undo what had happened. I had let this happen to her. I nodded, lowering my gaze. “I know, Aria.”It suddenly felt like my throat was mad
DANTE'S POV The drive to the hospital was a blur. My hands were holding the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I glanced over at Aria again and again. She was silent, curled up in the passenger seat, staring ahead with a blank expression. Her face was pale, and her body shook with every bump in the road."Aria," I said softly, my voice breaking. "Are you okay? Please, say something. Anything at all."She didn’t respond, only closing her eyes tightly as if she were trying to block out the world. My chest tightened, guilt suffocating me. This was my fault. Every tear, every tremble, it was all because of me.When we finally reached the hospital, I didn’t waste a second. I jumped out of the car, ran to her side, and lifted her into my arms. She didn’t resist but held onto me weakly. I burst through the hospital doors, my voice loud."I need help! Someone help her now!"A nurse rushed forward, her eyes wide. "What happened?""She’s been through… something terrib
ARIA'S POVThe three men had their filthy hands all over me, laughing as though they had just won a lottery.“Look at her,” one of them sneered, his eyes scanning me like I was some kind of prize. “This one is going to make us famous. Just wait till the camera gets this.”Another man chuckled as he adjusted the camera on the tripod. “Don’t rush, man. We’ve got all night. Let’s make this a show they’ll never forget.”My heart pounded as I struggled to move, to do anything, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. “Please,” I whimpered, tears streaming down my face. “Please, don’t do this. I’ll give you money, houses, cars. Anything. Just let me go. My family is rich.”“Money?” the tallest one scoffed, kneeling beside me. “What’s the fun in that? Nah, sweetheart, we’re here for something better.” He leaned closer, his disgusting breath hot against my face. “And you? You’re… so perfect and beautiful. I just can't wait to see what you got down there.”The third man smirked, crossing his arms as he
ARIA'S POV One of them smirked, his gaze raking over me like I was a piece of meat. “She’s pretty enough,” he said, his voice rough and cold. “We could have some fun with her.”My blood ran cold. My breath hitched as I stared at Linda, disbelief and terror washing over me. “Linda, no,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Please, don’t do this.”She looked at me, her smile sharp and venomous. “Why not? You’ve ruined my life. Why shouldn’t I ruin yours?”Tears streamed down my face now, and I couldn’t stop them. “Linda, please. I didn’t do anything. I swear. Just let me go.”She squatted again, her face inches from mine. “You don’t get it, do you?” she said softly. “This isn’t just about today. This is about everything. Every time you smiled at him, every time he talked about you, every time I had to wonder if he was thinking about you instead of me. You took him from me, Aria. And now, I’m taking everything from you.”Her words cut deeper than any knife. I wanted to scream, to fight back,
ARIA'S POV I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing. Over and over, it wouldn’t stop. At first, I thought it was just my alarm, but when I opened my eyes, it wasn’t the usual beep. It was vibrating like crazy on the nightstand.Rubbing my eyes, I reached for it, still half-asleep. Messages lit up the screen. Missed calls too. I squinted, trying to focus. The first message I saw was from Adam: "Are you with Dante?"My heart jumped a little. Why would Adam ask me that? And why on earth would I be with Dante?I typed back slowly, still confused: "No, I’m at home sleeping. Why?"I hadn’t even hit send when Finn’s name popped up on the screen. He was calling. I swiped to answer, still lying in bed.“Finn?” My voice cracked.“Aria!” Finn’s voice was sharp, loud, and panicked. “Dante is gone! He ran away from the wedding!”“What?” I sat up so fast my blanket fell off me. “What do you mean he ran away? Where would he go?”“That’s what I’m asking you!” Finn snapped. “Are you with him? Di
LINDA'S POV The entire mansion was filled with a lot of activity. My mother, friends, and even the servants were all around me, moving around quickly like moths drawn to a warm light.The air smelled of lavender and sage, and the faint sound of chants could be heard from the ceremonial grounds outside. It was finally my wedding day, the moment I had waited for my entire life, and I couldn’t stop smiling.I was marrying the man I had always loved. Dante.“Hold still, Linda,” my mother said sharply, adjusting my veil for the hundredth time. “You don’t want to look like a mess walking down the aisle, do you?”I rolled my eyes but stayed still. “I’m fine, Mother. It’s perfect.”She stepped back and looked at me with a rare softness in her eyes. “You’ve finally gotten what you wanted,” she said, her voice quiet, almost emotional. “You’re about to marry the man you love. I hope you’re happy.”“I am, Mother,” I said, my voice steady but full of excitement. “I couldn’t be happier.”Her lips
ARIA'S POV I tried so much to look calm, though my heart felt uneasy. Dante hesitated, his eyes scanning the room before landing back on me. To my surprise, he asked softly, “Can we go outside? Maybe to the balcony?”I glanced at him, skeptical. Part of me wanted to say no and walk away, but his tone wasn’t demanding. It felt... vulnerable. After a moment of hesitation, I nodded and followed him.The balcony was quiet, with only the faint hum of voices from the banquet hall in the background. The night air was cool, and the moon hung low, creating a soft light over everything. Dante leaned on the railing, looking down at his hands as if trying to find the right words.For a moment, he didn’t say anything.I tilted my head, waiting for him to speak. When he finally did, his words caught me off guard.“Aria... do you still like the colour blue?”I blinked, not sure how to respond. “Blue?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow.He nodded quickly, almost nervously. “Yeah, blue. It used to be