Chapter 6

Elora’s POV

The air between us was heavy, like thunder waiting to strike. Dante leaned against the stone wall of the corridor, his arms crossed, jaw sharp under the flicker of torchlight. His wolf’s scent, dark cedar and smoke, wrapped around me like temptation, suffocating.

He wasn’t smiling. He never smiled at me like Dominic sometimes did before this loveless marriage. Dante’s smile was different, sharper, edged like a knife.

“I swear to you that I have no idea what is going on in Dominic's head. I have no hand in this,” I tried defending myself. 

Dante scoffed 

“Of course that's what you'll say. I don't really care. Whatever your plans were, you succeeded,” he said. 

I breathed in sharply. “I really can't convince you. So what do you mean you won't reject me? Isn't that what you wanted to do?” 

“Elora,” he said, voice low, almost husky. “Why do we keep pretending?”

I froze, my fingers curling into the folds of my skirt. “Pretending?”

“That you don’t want me.” he started toward me, his movements slow, deliberate, like a predator circling prey. 

Elora's pov 

"You have to believe me. I had nothing to do with Dominic wanting you to be his Beta," I said, trying to convince Dante, even if his face said otherwise.

"You know what? Stop trying to convince me.  I have a proposal for you," he said, his face still.

I stared at him for a while. What does he want to say now? 

"What is it?" I questioned, raising my head so he could see the confidence in me.

"As I've said before, I won't reject you," he said.

I breathed in sharply. “I really can't convince you. So what do you mean you won't reject me? Isn't that what you wanted to do?” 

“Elora,” he said, voice low, almost husky. “Why do we keep pretending?”

I froze, my fingers curling into the folds of my skirt. “Pretending?”

“That you don’t want me.” he started toward me, his movements slow, deliberate, like a predator  prey. 

My throat dried up. My wolf stirred under my skin.

 Restless

 Restless

Restless. 

I hated the way he said it. Like it was simple. Like it was inevitable.

“You’re my mate,” he said, like it was the most obvious truth in the world. “And you’re stuck in a marriage you didn't bargain for. Dominic has his mate. He’s not going to love you the way you want.” His eyes narrowed, burning into me. “We can have our own bond. Our own life. Our own… us. But I won't promise to love you.”

My chest tightened. For a second, my body betrayed me. I felt my stomach heat up. Goddess help me, I wanted him. Every nerve screamed for him.

But I couldn’t.

I stepped back, shaking my head like it would shake off the desire clawing at me. “No.” My voice cracked, weak and uncertain. I knew I wanted him but not like this. “No, Dante. Don’t do this.”

“Elora…”

“No!” I snapped, louder this time, anger evident in my voice. Did he think I was an easy target or someone desperately in need of love?. “You think this is easy? You think I can just… betray my vows because I’m lonely? Because Dominic chose someone else? That’s not who I am.”

He frowned deeply, his eyes staring at mine. For the first time, something I couldn't quite place my fingers on flashed across his eyes before disappearing.

“You’d rather waste your life in a marriage you aren't loved in?” he asked, almost sarcastically. “You’d rather live invisible while Dominic parades his mate in front of you.”

Even though I didn't want to admit it, the words stung.

"My duty is to my people. The pack comes before my feelings," I stated, my palm digging into my flesh. 

"Then why isn't Dominic doing the same for you?" he smirked, tilting his brow.

"He has a mate, Dante," I said 

"Don't you also have a mate?" he asked, looking at me closely.

"You don't want me. And besides, I'm already married to Dominic, your brother," I spat out, anger filling me.

"And isn't Dominic also married to you? Why then can't he break off the mate bond with Mira? And I also know you're in an open marriage. You don't know how deeply those two love each other," he replied.

"Dante please..." I pleaded.

"It's true if I don't want you. But now, after seeing what you have to endure..." he started.

I couldn't wait for him to finish. 

I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat refused to move. I wanted to tell him to stop. To beg him not to look at me like that, not to make me crave him. But instead I spun on my heel, skirts swishing violently, and stormed down the corridor before I could betray myself.

I didn’t see his face when I left. I didn't want to. If I did, I might’ve turned back.

And that would’ve been the end of me.

Dante’s POV

I watched her go.

The swish of her skirts, the stiffness in her spine, the way she fled like I was the most feared person she had ever come across. 

Good. 

Let her think I’m a bad person. Maybe it’s better that way.

But still… my wolf howled after her, clawing at the edges of my chest, demanding what should’ve been ours from the start.

Elora. 

My mate.

I leaned against the wall again, tilting my head back, dragging a rough hand down my face. I didn’t love her. Not in the way stories are talked about. It was like anywhere I go, I think of her. I have been cold toward her, and seeing her in this marriage makes me think she is stupid. She should try and live her life the way she wants. 

I should reject her. I know that. It would make things cleaner, easier. Break the bond, set her free. But the thought of cutting her away from me… it felt like tearing my own skin off.

And maybe I’m selfish. 

Maybe I don’t care.

I can't imagine her eyes when Dominic touches Mira. I don't want to imagine the loneliness she tries to bury under grace and duty. I know she pretends it doesn’t matter. But it does. It’s killing her slowly.

And if Dominic won’t love her, then I will try to make her see reasons to be with me.

Not because I’m noble. Not because I’m kind. But because she’s mine, and I want to protect her.

I closed my eyes, inhaling the ghost of her scent lingering in the hall. She smelled of vanilla and lime.

No, I don’t love her. But I’ll keep her. Protect her. Give her what she’s starving for.

Even if she runs away. Even if she hates me for saying it out loud.

Because one day, Elora will realize...

There’s no escaping this bond. Not for her. Not for me. Not for anyone.