Chapter 44

Dante’s POV

That chamber could freeze hell over. I swear, I’ve been in dungeons with more warmth, and not just because of the actual temperature. Every eye in that place, burning holes straight through me. The council, the soldiers, even the serving girls peeking from behind those ridiculous curtains. Didn’t take a genius to guess what they were thinking. Judging me before the damned trial even started.

The chains were not even subtle. Heavy as sin and about as delicate as a slap in the face. Pure theater. They wanted everyone to see me messed up, so the rumors wouldn’t be rumors anymore. They would just be facts, right? Dominic waved those stupid letters around, his chest full of pride and people taking all in.

But what twisted the knife was her.

Elora.

Sitting there, her fist folded, it turned white, barely breathing. Luna of the pack, my Luna, really, if you asked my heart. The bond between us hummed, an electrical itch under my skin. I could feel her fury. Her fear. Both aimed at Dominic and this circus.

And then Elora stood up, eyes blazing, voice like thunder. For a second, I thought she would tear down the walls with sheer indignation. There was fire in her, unfiltered and wild, and for one reckless moment I thought, maybe she would blister the truth into Dominic’s thick skull.

Nope.

He cut her off, stone cold, steel in his voice. “Enough.” One word, and that was that. She was forced back into her seat, lips quivering, wolf snarling behind her eyes. He caged her, right in front of everyone, and I had to sit through it. I’d thought the chains were bad, but watching her get silenced? That was the real prison.

Sitting there, I hated him. My own brother. Hated that his pride meant more than justice, more than family, more than her. Hated that he could step on Elora just to keep himself on top. And the worst part was I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

They wrapped the whole mock trial up soon after, no verdict, just another round scheduled. Pure drama, all smoke and mirrors. Council gossiping in their huddle. Dominic playing the stoic Alpha: face blank, eyes storming.

I was thrown back into the dungeon. I didn’t even bother to resist. What was the point? Rage ran in my veins, even though I couldn't do anything. I slumped against the wall, wrists throbbing, wolf howling somewhere deep inside.

Then, the warden’s favorite person...Dominic himself. His footsteps echoed, exuding power and arrogance. Alpha. Brother. Judge, jury, executioner, wrapped up in one convenient, glaring package.

He squared up in front of my cell, radiating so much hate I almost laughed. For a heartbeat, I thought maybe, just maybe, he would talk like the Dominic I remembered. Nope. Spat at my feet, cold as ice.

“I should have known,” he snapped. “I brought you close. I trusted you. And this is how you pay me back? Scheming. Coveting my wife.”

I stood, chains clinking, refusing to give him anything. “I haven’t betrayed you, Dom. I swear it.”

“Liar!” he banged his fist against the bars. Real original. “You always wanted what’s mine. The pack. The title. Her.” Venom just drips from every syllable. “You couldn’t have one, so you tried to steal the other.”

I didn’t even flinch. Just stared at him. “You can believe whatever story you want. Truth doesn’t care.”

His anger was a living thing. For a split second, I thought he would actually try to tear the bars off for a hands-on approach. But, nah. Instead, he just storms off. “Rot here. When the council’s done with you, you’ll beg for death.”

His words, and that door slamming shut, echoed long after he left.

Time went foggy after that, could have been hours or just minutes; without sun or moon, but I wasn't counting. Then footsteps again. Lighter. Hope? My wolf perked up before my ears caught the sound, and then the glow of a torch showed her face.

“Elora.”

She rushed over, practically flying to the bars, hands shaking. “I had to see for myself. Make sure they haven't...” She swallowed, looking away. “You’re alive.”

Hollow laugh, nothing left to give. “Barely.”

Grip like iron on those bars. “It isn’t right. I tried to speak, but he...” She trailed off, fury on her face. “I’ll find a way, Dante. I swear. I’ll prove you didn’t do it. I’m not letting him win.”

I inched closer, chains holding me tight in place. The dungeon stank of iron and hopelessness. “You can’t save me, Elora. Not while he’s got you chained to him, too.”

Her lips parted, like she wanted to say something...anything...but nope, nothing came out. Just silence. The kind that screams louder than words ever could.

That mate bond. Still there between us, like a live wire buzzing away, refusing to die, just mocking me with what we could have had. Hell, what we might still have if she had just grabbed my hand for once.

I got close, probably a little too close, breathing her air. My voice sounded like gravel. “Leave him, Elora. Dump Dominic. You know we’re supposed to be together. I see it in your eyes. Don’t pretend you don’t feel it.”

Tears began forming in her eyes, lashes trembling. She shook her head, and her voice shook as she spoke. “I can’t. I promised him. It’s my marriage. I can’t just walk away. Not like this.”

That hit harder than a punch. My body just did its own thing, I stepped back, head spinning, laughing but not finding it funny at all. Not one bit. “So that’s it? You’ll sneak around for me, hide me, risk your skin, but the minute you actually have to choose, you bail? You’re gonna stay tied to him forever, leave me down here to rot.”

“That’s not fair,” she blurted, voice all shaky. “I care about you. I...”

“Yeah? Not enough.” My voice got rougher than I wanted...like I was chewing on broken glass, but it hurt too much to fake it. “Not enough to fight for us. Not enough to break me out. Easier to play dumb and pretend nothing’s there.”

Her tears finally dropped, catching the sad little candlelight. She tried to reach through the bars for me, but I just stepped away, the chains clanking loudly.

Her wolf, the one tied up with mine, whimpered in my bones. Just about broke me in half, but I held it together.

Barely.

“Go,” I said. It felt like coughing up ashes. “Before he finds you. You picked him, stop dangling your pity in my face.”

Her face... she was shattered. She stared at me for a second like she wanted to say something else, but she just turned and walked away, her cloak eating up the last of her as she disappeared.

Once she was gone, the quiet felt like it weighed a ton.

I just slumped to the floor, chain dragging like it had a grudge. Chest burning with all the stuff I couldn’t spit out, with everything I’d never get.

The dungeon swallowed the whole mess. And I couldn’t dodge the truth...if Dominic doesn’t finish me off, this bond will. That’s just facts.