Dante’s POV
“I know enough,” she said, tilting her head. “I know Scarlet. I know she is a little crazy, stubborn, reckless, yes. But she’s also soft, kind, and loyal to a fault. When she shuts down like this, it’s because someone she trusts disappointed her.”
Before I could respond, Rome appeared beside us. His timing was never great.
“Alpha,” he said, cutting straight to the point, “what’s this I hear about a marriage proposal? Annette? Is that actually happening?”
Vespara’s expression changed instantly. “Wait. Is that true?” Her voice grew sharper. “They can’t force you to take a bride. You’re the Alpha, not some pawn.”
Seeing them being so protective of me, I knew that these two would die for me. But I would never want that. The guilt of Killian’s death had not left me yet to take theirs.
I sighed, the burden of politics pressing heavily against my spine. “Apparently, I don’t have much room to refuse. The king’s getting impatient. He wants someone loyal to him beside me. Says it’l
