Chapter 85

Dante’s POV

“Again!” I yelled, watching two warriors crumple like wet paper, sweat pouring off their faces. “You think Alpha Luca’s boys’ll give you a water break?”

They scrambled up, panting and nodding, eyes wide as rabbits. I almost felt sorry for them.

Almost.

I heard soft footsteps behind me and I didn’t even bother turning. Only one person smelled like rain on fresh dirt. Elora. Her scent punched right through the smoke, way too grounding for my liking.

She showed up in her fitted tunic and gloves, hair yanked back, looking like she was ready to murder someone with sheer willpower.

“You’re pushing them too hard,” she said, arms crossing like a challenge.

I just grabbed another blade. “They’re not kids. They need to bleed here, or they’ll die out there.”

She lifted a brow. “And you?”

I didn’t answer.

Not her business.

She stepped closer, grabbed a sword herself. “Then let me train with them.”

I whirled around. “Elora...”

“What? Think I’ll break?”

I hated the way my name sounded in her mouth. Made my heart do stupid things. “You’re acting as Alpha's second, Elora. You shouldn’t risk getting hurt.”

She shot me a look that could cut steel. “We’re all risking something. You, me, Dominic… the whole pack.”

I knew I had lost. So I tossed her a practice sword. “Fine. Show me what you’ve got.”

The others watched like it was their favorite show. Elora moved like water, smooth, sharp, no wasted effort.

“You’ve done this before,” I grunted, blocking her attack.

She didn’t miss a beat. “I have been trained before the raids.”

Right.

I remembered the stories, the stuff she survived. That kind of fire doesn’t go out.

We picked up speed, blades singing. Sweat dripped down her neck and I caught myself staring at her throat. Shouldn’t have, but couldn’t help it.

“Distracted?” she teased.

I growled, coming at her harder. She matched me, twisting under my guard, nearly catching me off-balance. I caught her wrist, yanking her in close.

Her breath hitched. So did mine.

“You’re reckless,” I muttered.

“I’m alive,” she shot back, voice steady.

For a second, it was just her, heat, heartbeat, eyes. The whole world faded.

She shoved me away, glaring daggers. “You don’t have to protect me, Dante.”

I almost laughed. “Yeah, I do.”

Her lips parted, like she wasn’t sure whether to punch me or kiss me. “Why?”

I looked away, jaw tight. “Dominic needs you.”

What a lousy lie. It tasted like ash.

Her face changed, softened just a hair. “And you?”

I didn’t answer. I didn't trust myself too. Just lifted my sword again, hiding. “Again.”

She came at me like she meant to kill. Every hit had something behind it, anger, pain, whatever. I blocked, caught, and spun until I had her flat on her back, my blade right at her throat.

We froze like that, chests heaving, faces inches apart. I could feel her heartbeat. She didn’t shove me off. Her lips parted, eyes searching mine, and something wild flickered there.

“Dante…” she whispered.

I swallowed, torn up inside. “You’re getting better,” I forced out, peeling myself away.

I reached out to help her up, but pounding footsteps crashed in, shattering whatever that moment was.

A guard came running across the field, gasping for breath. “Beta Dante! Lady Elora!”

I spun around so fast. “What?”

He barely managed a bow, sucking in air. “Scouts are back... the Dark Storm army just crossed the river. They’ll hit our borders tonight.”

Yeah, that landed like a punch.

Elora went pale for half a beat, but her voice? Solid steel. “Get the council. Ready the warriors.”

He gave a frantic nod and bolted.

She turned to me then, and man, her eyes blazing now, not scared, just full-on fire. “It’s happening.”

I slid my sword back into its sheath, heart racing. “Guess we’re doing this.”

For a second, neither of us moved. I could see it in her, the wild, stubborn spark I’d noticed from the first day. The thing that made me watch her a little too long.

I wanted to say something...warn her, maybe spill the mess of stuff twisting inside me, but all that came out was a lousy, “Stick close, okay?”

She smirked, just a hint. “Try and keep up.”

Then she was gone, already shouting orders, voice slicing through the chaos like she owned every inch of this place.

And as I watched her, banners snapping, soldiers roaring her name, it hit me like an avalanche.

This wasn’t just duty anymore.

I was falling for her. And the real fight? It was just kicking off.