Chapter 3 The betrayal

"Don't move," Luca said, his voice calm as the chaos of gunfire and snarls erupted around us.

But the barrel of his gun was trained on my head, and the way his finger curled around the trigger was anything but calm.

Dante stepped forward, eyes blazing, body half-shifted-fangs sharp, claws out, power crackling off him in waves.

"Luca," he growled, voice low and deadly. "Put the gun down."

Luca smiled. "Don't act surprised, cousin always behaving you aren't evil than me am ending this and u can't stop me .not in this empire will a rejected woman bring an heir and u are doing nothing to stop it am going to do it now . You always knew I'd be the one to end you."

"You picked the wrong day," Dante said, his voice steel. "And the wrong target." You wanted to revenge and the person you Target was Amara?did you think I will loose her to you Luca!Dante said angrily.his face widened with anger as the earth move at his words

He moved-fast. But Luca was ready.

The gun fired.

Pain exploded across my shoulder.

I stumbled backward, the sound tearing from my throat before I could even scream. Fire burned through my skin. Blood soaked my dress.

Dante roared-loud and primal.

In an instant, he was gone.

Or rather-his human side was.

What launched at Luca wasn't a man.

It was the Alpha. Unleashed.

Black fur. Silver eyes. Power rolling off him like thunder.

They collided mid-air, the gun clattering to the floor as claws met skin, teeth sank into flesh. I collapsed behind a fallen column, clutching my shoulder, heart racing-not just from pain, but from the rising terror inside me.

Not for myself.

For the baby.

I pressed a shaking hand to my stomach. Still a flutter. Still alive.

But I was losing blood. Too much.i was loosing the strength in me,as i lay unconscious on the ground

Mateo appeared beside me, dragging me into cover as Dante and Luca tore across the ballroom like a whirlwind of death.

"Stay with me, Amara," he said, his voice tight with panic.

"I'm fine," I lied.

He glanced at the blood pooling beneath me and swore.

The chaos around us raged-rogues versus pack wolves, gunfire, snarls, screams-but all I saw were the two monsters at the center of it all.

Luca was fast. Cunning. He dodged Dante's blows with cruel precision.

But Dante... he wasn't just fighting.

He was avenging.

He was protecting.

Me.

And our child.

Dante landed a vicious hit that sent Luca crashing into a column.

Luca staggered to his feet, blood dripping from his mouth, grinning through cracked teeth.

"This is what it took?" he spat. "A she-wolf carrying your brat to finally make you fight like an Alpha?"someone you rejected years back.she can't be carrying your heir Dante.you are bringing war to yourself.a war you can't handle.it is forbidden for a shewolf to carry your heir.what wrong with you can't you see am trying to save the temple our father built.and all you could do is to fight like you are fighting our enemy.

Dante didn't answer.

He just moved.

His claws tore through Luca's side.

Luca screamed.

"You were my family," Dante snarled, looming over him. "I would've died for you."

Luca laughed, bitter and broken. "Exactly. That was always your weakness."

I forced myself to stand, vision spinning, blood still dripping from my arm.

Dante raised his clawed hand.

"No!" I shouted.

Everything stopped.

Dante looked back at me, chest heaving, his eyes still glowing silver.

"Don't kill him," I said, swaying. "Not like this."

"He tried to kill you," Dante growled. "He would've killed our child."

"I know," I whispered. "But killing him now means no answers. He didn't do this alone. He's not smart enough."

Dante growled again, the sound low and savage.

But then... he stepped back.

Mateo and two enforcers rushed in, grabbing Luca's broken body. He didn't resist. He just laughed.

"Too late," he rasped, blood spilling from his lips. "You're already dead, cousin. You just don't know it yet."

Then he passed out.

A chill swept through me. I turned to Dante, my shoulder aching, heart thundering.

"This was just the beginning, wasn't it?"

Dante's jaw clenched. "There's more. There always is."

He came to me slowly this time, his hand cupping my face like I might shatter.

"You're hurt," he said. "I should've protected you."

"You did," I whispered. "You still are.still that great fighter I have always known.thanks for protecting me and my child

His gaze dropped to my stomach. "I need to know. The baby... is it mine?Amara please be truthful,I need the truth,then he asked again is this child mine?

I hesitated, just a second thinking if letting him Know is the right thing to do. Then gave him the truth.

"Yes."

He let out a breath, like something heavy had been released from inside him. His hand slid to my belly reverent.his kissed my belly and then whisper my heir,the words make me happy I taught he would reject it

"I should never have rejected you."

"No," I said. "You shouldn't have."

I didn't forgive him. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But something cracked open between us. Not trust. But maybe... understanding.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Reinforcements. The pack's allies, finally arriving.

Dante helped me toward the stairs. I leaned on him, barely standing. We needed a healer. Answers. A chance to breathe.

But halfway there, I froze.

A deep, searing pain sliced through my abdomen.

My legs buckled.

"Amara?" Dante caught me. "What's wrong?"

I couldn't speak.

Couldn't breathe.

All I could do was scream.

Then I felt it.

The warm, wet rush between my thighs.

Blood.

Too much blood.

Dante's face went pale. "No. No, stay with me. Don't do this."

I looked up at him, my heart breaking in real time.

"It's happening," I whispered. "Something's wrong with the baby."

And then everything went dark.

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