Chapter 39

Elora’s POV

At first, the whole thing slipped under my radar. Barely a blip, if I’m honest, I could have sworn it was me overthinking. But then it spun out, so gradually I almost missed it. Suddenly, any time Dominic talked to Dante in council, it was... brutal. No more of that old slow, begrudging consideration; he dished out his words like little cold bullets, barely even looking at him unless it was to stab holes through him with those icy stares. And then just like that, the orders start flowing fast.

Border check, double patrols, endless guard briefings. Dante always did his share, but now the whole thing just reeked of punishment. All of a sudden, he was never in the palace. Meals? He’s a ghost, worn so thin he can barely sit up straight before Dominic tosses him out for another thankless errand.

Breakfast was when I really noticed something was up.

Those ridiculous long tables, shiny forks catching the sun like it’s normal. Mira, of course, is always glued to Dominic’s side, eyes on her plate but with this tiny, smug little curve to her lips, like she’s the only one in on the joke. And then Dominic tells Dante he’s got to head out, northern patrol, before dawn, no less.

Dante’s jaw twitched, but he just nodded, all stiff and formal. “As you command, Alpha.” You could practically hear the exhaustion.

I couldn’t help myself. “Is that really necessary?” It just slipped out. “He’s already run ragged. Doesn’t he get to, I don’t know, sleep off the last shift at least?”

Dominic’s glare was nuclear. “The borders don’t rest, Elora. Neither do threats.”

I tried one more time, fool that I am. “But Dante...”

“No.” Snapped the word out so fast it shut me up, made the whole table feel like someone pressed mute.

Mira’s fingers slid against his sleeve like some low-grade calming spell. My stomach did a weird, unhappy flip.

Dante left, barely giving anyone a glance, but he caught my eye for one second. That look...mostly tired. A little bit of…something.

Then he was gone, and everybody just sat there in silence. Dominic didn’t spare me another look.

And this kept happening.

Day after day, rinse, repeat. They sent Dante out with the dawn and he crashed back way past midnight, boots muddy, shirt soaked, eyes three thousand miles away but somehow still upright.

And Dominic? He pulled further in. Not outright cruel, just... I don't know, absent while staying right in the room. Sometimes he would stare at me so long it gave me chills, like he was looking for a lie I never told.

It stung like hell. I would put it all on the line for him, fought off rumors, smothered my doubts, patched up the mess of my own heart just to stand beside him. Defended him in front of everyone, too. Now, he acts like I’m a traitor.

Like we weren’t even on the same team anymore.

One night, I found Dante slumped on the stable steps, looking like a kid kicked off the playground. All sweat and slumped shoulders. It must have been a mile away in his thoughts because he didn’t even hear me till I sat next to him.

“Keep up this pace and you’ll kill yourself,” I said, and it came out more worried than I meant.

He gave this rough bark of a laugh, humorless, bitter. “Kinda the idea, don’t you think?”

That just hit wrong. “This is nuts, Dante. He’s got you running circles for nothing. No way the borders need this much attention. They’re dead quiet.”

He sighed, eyes closed, leaning back like he wanted to disappear. “Exactly. If I’m always gone, I can’t be near you. That’s the plan.”

And just like that...ouch. The truth just sat heavily in my chest.

I tried to push back. “Dante, that’s not...”

He cut me off, soft but stubborn. “Let’s not pretend, Elora. Dominic thinks there’s something between us. The harder I fight it, the worse it’ll get.”

And then I actually lost it a bit. “It’s not fair. You’ve been loyal to him, to all of us. And he acts like you’re enemy number one.”

He half smiled, half grimaced. Darkness in his eyes. “Maybe I am.”

“You’re not,” I said, and it came out ugly with emotion. “You’re really not.”

No reply. He didn’t need to. We just sat there, both knowing no words could fix what Dominic was letting unravel.

Did it get better? Nope. At the next council meeting, Dominic landed the hammer.

“Dante handles southern patrols next fortnight. Luna’s with me, internal affairs in the palace.”

My heart just nose-dived. “A fortnight? For real? Dominic, that’s...”

He cut me off with another of those soul-freezing looks. “Pack protection first, Elora. Don’t forget where you stand.”

Heat crawled up my cheeks. I could feel Mira’s smirk from two seats down and wanted to knock it off her face.

I managed to mumble, “I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good,” Dominic rumbled back. Like a prison door slamming.

Support.

That word was a joke now. Support meant shutting up. It meant letting Dante evaporate into the wild until the us I had tried so damn hard to protect was just...gone.

For the first time ever, shutting up just didn’t cut it anymore.

That night? Sleep was a joke. The sheets felt icy as hell, and I swear the air was thick enough to choke on.. What a surprise.

I was stuck, eyes wide open, burning holes into the ceiling, heart pounding, brain running in tight little circles. Why? Why is he freezing Dante out? And me? Like I did something...like I deserve it.

And then, because the universe loves to rub salt in an open wound, Mira’s face pops into my head. All those little touches when she thinks no one’s looking. Those secret, smug smiles whenever Dominic shrugs Dante off. She’s always lurking behind him, the eternal plus-one. Never missed a step.

Doubt creeps in. Not even creeping, more like barreling in, all ugly and obvious. Like poison in his ear, and I see it. Clear as day. It’s twisting things, and all the trust between us feels paper-thin.

And what does Dominic do? Yeah, he listens to her. Not me.

I felt my eyes sting, but I was not going to let myself cry now.

If Dominic thinks keeping me at arm’s length is going to save the pack, he’s got another thing coming. I’m not rolling over. I’ll fight for what’s real. For Dante, for me, for all of it.