Chapter 52: Do you plan to make her your wife?

Dante’s POV

I walked into the hall, Gianna’s hand laced tightly in mine. Holding her like that was deliberate, a claim no one could mistake. The moment we stepped in, the entire hall went still. Every man, every clan member, every hanger-on froze as soon as we entered. For a heartbeat, it was silent enough to hear breathing.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, the hushed voices began.shoulders leaning toward each other, eyes darting from me to her.

I scanned the room in one slow sweep. Faces I’d known for years, some still carrying the shock of seeing me take back the throne, loyalists, their smiles tight with approval, doubters, watching me like vultures circling, waiting to see if I would stumble.

And then their eyes moved to Gianna.

The surprise, curiosity, and hunger were obvious. She was a stranger in their world, now dressed like a queen by my side.

I felt her tense up as their stares cut into her. She was walking into a cage full of wolves. If she wanted to survive this li