ARIA'S POVI blinked, surprised. I hadn’t expected Dante to defend me, not after everything that had happened between us. But there he was, standing up to Linda, his voice laced with frustration.I wanted to say something, to tell him it wasn’t worth it, but I couldn't find the words. My throat suddenly felt tight, like someone had clenched a fist around it.Linda, though, didn’t back down. If anything, her grip on his sleeve tightened. I watched as Dante tried to discreetly pull away, not wanting to cause a scene, but she wasn’t letting go. Her nails were practically digging into the fabric, her possessiveness obvious.“How could Aria possibly be qualified to attend this kind of banquet?” Linda sneered, her voice filled with hate. “I just know she must be here as Adam’s mistress. Doesn’t she have any shame?”The words hit me like a slap, sudden and stinging. My breath caught in my chest, the humiliation overwhelming me. I could feel the eyes of the room now, the whispers that might a
ARIA'S POVI turned and glared at the old fool, my pulse hammering in my ears.A girl like me?The nerve of this man, thinking he could speak to me like that.I clenched my fists at my sides, forcing myself to keep my voice steady, but I wasn’t about to let him intimidate me.“And what will you do if I do?” I shot back. I could feel the weight of his stare, the way he was looking at me like I was something to be conquered.His smile widened, a sick, predatory grin that made my skin crawl. “You really don’t want to find out, honey.”I quickly realized where this was heading, and fear began to rise inside me.This wasn’t just an overconfident man trying to make a pass at me—this was something darker, something far more dangerous. I needed to get away from him, and fast.I took a step back, my heart racing, glancing around the room for an exit, for someone I knew, but the crowd felt distant, like I was trapped in a bubble with him.“Listen,” I said, keeping my voice low, trying to keep t
DANTE'S POVI walked back into the banquet hall, the loud hum of voices and clinking glasses filling the air, but none of it reached me.My mind was still reeling from earlier, from Linda’s stupid remark about Aria being Adam Griffith’s mistress.I had brushed it off at the time, not wanting to show her that she had gotten to me, but now, as I glanced around the room and spotted Aria, that anger flared up again.She was standing near the bar, talking to some old man. At first, I didn’t think much of it. Aria could handle herself—she always had. But as I turned to look away, something about their interaction made me feel… suspicious. The way she held herself, stiff and guarded, her lips pulled into that tight, polite smile she wore when she was uncomfortable.And then Linda’s voice echoed in my head again: Mistress… Griffith’s mistress.The thought made my blood boil. Heck! I felt jealous.The idea of her with anyone else, whether it be Adam or Finn, twisted something inside me I didn’
DANTE'S POVThe old man swallowed nervously, shaking his head. “No, Alpha Dante, I… I didn’t mean any harm. If I had known…”I just stared at him, not sure what to do anymore because I was tired—tired of this night, tired of the lingering tension that had been simmering since the moment Aria walked in. I just wanted this night to end.It was the same old story, a pathetic excuse. The old man was drunk on his own arrogance, now terrified because he realized he had crossed the line. It would be easy to deal with him, to make him leave and forget this whole thing."Fine," I said, my tone flat. "Just go. You've caused more than enough trouble.”But Finn wasn’t ready to let it go. He was vibrating with anger, his eyes locked on the man. His voice came out sharp, cutting through the hum of the room.“He insulted Aria. You don’t just walk away from that.”I could see the rage boiling in Finn, the same sense of protectiveness that had sparked the fight in the first place. His loyalty to Aria
ARIA'S POVThe night air felt thick as I stepped out of the banquet hall.I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.The tension in my shoulders was so intense, and I felt like if I turned around and met Dante’s eyes, everything I had been holding in would come rushing out.I just wanted to be anywhere but here, far away from all the judging eyes and whispered gossip.At that moment, I heard Finn’s footsteps behind me, quicker and more purposeful than mine. “Aria,” he called softly, concern evident in his voice. “Please, wait up.”I slowed down, but I didn’t stop, the heels of my shoes clicking sharply on the pavement. He reached my side in seconds, his hand lightly touching my arm, gentle, but firm enough to let me know he wasn’t going to let me walk away without talking to him.“Are you okay?” he asked, his breath a little ragged, as if he had been running after me.I let out a deep breath, feeling the tightness in my chest start to release, just a little bit. “You've been asking me that quest
ARIA'S POVI flinched at the sound of Dante's voice, raw with frustration and something darker—something I hadn’t heard from him in a long time.I knew that tone. It was the one he used when he was close to losing control, the one he used when his patience had finally run out.Before I could say anything, before I could even process the tension spilling out between the two brothers, Finn turned to the driver. “Start the car,” he ordered, his voice low but firm.The driver hesitated, glancing between us in the rearview mirror. He looked unsure, clearly caught between the brewing storm outside and the quiet command inside the car.“Now!” Finn’s voice cracked like a whip, leaving no room for argument.The driver jerked forward in response, and in an instant, the car surged ahead, pulling away from Dante and the chaos of the banquet.My eyes instinctively flew to the rearview mirror, and for a second, I saw Dante standing there in the middle of the road, his fists clenched at his sides, h
ARIA'S POVMy breath hitched, and I felt myself stiffen under his gaze. The car suddenly felt smaller, the air heavier.I wasn’t sure what was happening, but something was shifting between us, something I hadn’t expected. I could feel it, and I knew Finn could feel it too.He shifted slightly in his seat, turning more towards me, his eyes still locked on mine.I wanted to break the silence, to say something to shake off the strange tension that was hanging between us, but the words wouldn’t come. My throat felt tight, like something had lodged itself there, refusing to budge.And then, slowly, Finn leaned closer.My heart skipped a beat. He didn’t speak, didn’t say a word. His eyes flicked down, lingering on my lips, and my breath caught in my chest. My mind seemed to short-circuit as I watched him, frozen in place, not sure of what to do or say.This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not with Finn. Not right now.But there he was, inches away, his eyes dark and focused. I could feel the hea
FINN’S POVAs Aria's words trailed off, I realized that she was terrified. Not of me, but of whatever had just happened between us.The weight of that moment—the way I had leaned in, the way I almost crossed a line neither of us were ready for—it was too much for her. And I didn’t blame her. Hell, I wanted out of my own head.What the hell was I even thinking?The clarity struck me fast, like a cold bucket of water thrown over my head. I shook off the stupid, reckless thoughts that had been swirling in my mind, the ones that had nearly driven me to kiss her.“I’m sorry,” I said quickly, the words tumbling out in a rush. I didn’t even wait for her to respond. I turned on my heel and got back into the car, slamming the door shut behind me.My heart was pounding, my thoughts racing as I sat there, trying to get a grip on myself.The car started up again, the hum of the engine filling the tense silence. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees, my head buried in my hands, trying so
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