He walked in like he'd always belonged there.
White hair caught the daylight, pale as frost against the dark fall of his cloak. His stride was unhurried, powerful, each step measured with confidence of a man who feared nothing in that room. The air shifted, wolves stiffened, elders murmured, unease ripping through like a thunderbolt.
Her heart skipped as she saw him.
Caius spun toward the doors, fury flashing across his face. "The traitor returns!" he said, glancing at his father.
Dante walked past him like he didn't exist. He bowed to his father and lifted his gaze. "The rogue is here," he said calmly without effort. "Who called?"
The Alpha rose, shock and rage warring in his expression. "Seize him," he ordered. Guards surged forward, ready to hold him down but he moved like he'd seen their next move. One of the wolve crumpled, breath stolen, and lifeless. The others waited, terrified to go close to him.
"You dare defy me, Dante?" The Alpha said, rising from his seat.
"My mate," he said, voice low. "Is not to be touched."
Caius laughed. "You must be insane, dear brother."
"Dante." The Luna stood, worry and doubt across her face. "What have you done?"
"We will speak of that," he said, his voice deadly calm. "after my mate is safe."
The doors was pushed wide, and his men fanned out with quiet precision, their presence less an invasion and more a declaration.
Riven's grin cut through the tension.
"Well," he drawled, eyes sweeping the stunned court, "this is cozy."
Before Caius could shout out an order, Riven was moving straight to Elara.
"No,"
The Alpha raised his hands, and Caius stopped talking. Riven reached Elara, and with a gentleness that did not match his mocking smile, slipped an arm beneath her knees and another hand behind her back.
"Hold on, Luna-in-waiting. You're safe now."
Footsteps echoed as he carried her out, the rest of the men escorted him. Dante straightened slowly.
"Now, we can talk."
"You bring armed rogues into my kingdom," the Alpha said hoarsely. "You dare defy me?"
"You banished your firstborn without real proof." Dante replied, inclining his head. "I merely ensured I would not be silenced again."
Caius smiled. "You always were dramatic, Dante. What story are you making up today?"
Dante turned fully toward him. "You slaughtered every being in the council, framed me while I slept under this roof and wanted my life. You made father believed I fled like a coward."
The Luna gripped the arm of her chair. "Caius! Tell me he lies."
"He's desperate, mother." Caius said, spreading his hands. "He behaves like a true rogue. Perhaps the years you've spent out there has gotten to your brain."
"Trust me, Caius." Dante snarled, "the outside world is more interesting." He lifted the blood-stained cloth. "But, this," he said, "was written by the man you tortured here, starved and killed."
"Norren..." the Alpha's breath hitched. He took the letter, glancing through with shock.
"Barely alive when Elara found him."
The hall trembled from truth pressing outward, demanding to be acknowledged. Dante took a step forward.
Riven did not slow until stone gave way to shadow. The corridor bent away from the great hall, spiraling downward to a guarded chamber where Dante's men waited. Alert and silent. The noise of the court faded behind thick doors, replaced by the low murmur of restrained wolves and the scrape of boots against stone.
He lowered Elara carefully, setting her on her feet as if she were something rare rather than something rescued.
"You're safe here," he said, voice lighter than his eyes. "For now."
"And stay there." Lysa said, stepping forward. "Because you're known to not doing as you're told."
Elara bristled, exhaustion and anger colliding in her chest. But before she could reply, her gaze snapped on a familiar face nearby.
"Mathias!"
He lay stretched on the floor. When he saw her, his eyes lit with unmistakable relief. "Elara, you're safe."
She crossed him instinctively, holding his arms. "You're healing."
"I'll live." he said, managing a grin. "I always do."
Lysa turned sharply. "You got us all in trouble last time red-hair, I said stay."
Riven lifted his hand slowly. "Enough, Lysa."
"Ignore her, Elara," Mathias smiled. "She bites more than she listens."
As if summoned by insult, Lysa shot him a glare. "I heard that, I should have let Jax shut your mouth forever you ugly wolf."
"I can't remember her talking this way," Elara said. "Who gave her wings?"
Mathias chuckled, then leaned closer to her. "She's just angry at Jax. They're not mated, yet."
"Caius,"
The word landed like iron on stone. The murmurs died and everyone listened.
"You have spoken long enough," he said. "You brought accusations, with no proof but what you have brought instead is disorder, hate and fear."
Caius's smile did not falter.
"I've trained you to be an exceptional son and cherish every bond you share with your brother. I've ignored every crime you've committed that was written to me. But what I will not ignore is murdering the council and framing your brother-"
Glass shattered against the Alpha's chest. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then the Alpha inhaled and froze. His breath turned shallow, trapped halfway in his lungs.
"Mine?" The Luna whispered.
The scent hit the hall a moment later. Wolfsbane.
The crowd gasped in horror as the Alpha slumped back, eyes open, body unmoving. Caius straightened.
"Don't touch him," he said calmly, stepping away. "Unless you all wish to watch him die faster."
The hall erupted.
"Now, brother, lets see who would save you now. " he smiled.
The Luna screamed. It tore from her throat like a howl. She fell beside her mate, clutching his rigid form. Dante crossed the distance, holding his mother as she wailed. The Alpha's eyes shifted and found him.
"Wolfsbane..." he whispered, his lips barely moving. "I won't last."
"You will," Dante said with determination. "I swear it."
The Alpha's gaze softened, regret passing through it like a shadow. "You were meant to lead," he murmured. "Forgive me, son."
"There is nothing to forgive," Dante replied, closing his eyes as he reached for Elara. The bond surged open, blazing and desperate.
Elara, run.
It was felt, a strike of instinct, of survival.
Go with Jax and Lysa. I will find you.
He opened his eyes again, fire burning where sorrow had been. Caius had made his move. Now, he would be the rogue everyone hated.
The warning did not reach Elara as fear. It reached her as heat. Her skin flushed first, spreading like a liquid to her core.
Dante.
It pulsed urgently, fiercely and protectively. Her body responded before her mind did. She gasped, wondering what he's doing to her through the message.
Run
The command finally formed in her mind, but it was laced with promise. I will find you. Before she could respond, Riven entered the room.
"I need fighters to come with me. Change of plans, Dante needs us."
They straightened instantly. Jax stepped forward. "I'll escort Elara. Dante wants me to protect her."
"No," Elara replied, rising to her feet, still tingling from the bond's echo.
"No?" Riven repeated.
"You all go to him." she said, voice steadier than she felt. "He needs you."
Jax frowned. "Dante told you to flee."
Lysa threw her hands up. "This is exactly what I meant. She'll get us all killed. Again."
Elara turned sharply. "Shut up, Lysa. I'm trying to keep Dante alive."
"More of he keeping you alive," she shots back.
"We'll go," Jax said. "Lysa, protect her."
Weeks passed.
Weeks of silence so heavy it felt like grief learning how to breathe. The cave outside the kingdom had become both refuge and prison. He asked her to wait but it felt like years. Moss crept along the giant stone walls, and the fire burned day and night, yet Elara never felt warm. Every morning she woke reaching for a bond that answered only faintly. Alive, but far away. His last command still echoed in her bones.
Run
She hated that word now. She paced near the cave entrance, thinking of where they would run to next.
"We cannot keep running. We have to go back." she snapped.
"If Dante looses you now," Lysa said, voice firm, but tired. "his wolf will unravel. An Alpha fighting for his claim cannot afford to be distracted. He asked you to run because he knew Caius might use you to weaken him."
"I am not his weakness," she shots back. "he is stronger than you think."
But nights had grown longer and hope thinner. As Mathias walked toward the field to gather firewood. Lysa stiffened, inhaling a strange scent.
"What's wrong?" Mathias asked.
"Someone's coming,"
Jax appeared first, one arm hung uselessly at his side, clothes torn, dried crimson dark against his skin. Behind him came Riven, his usual arrogance replaced by a near-death look. But they were alone.
"Where's Dante?" Elara asked as Lysa hugged Jax and helped him sit.
Riven lowered his gaze. The cave seemed to collapse inward. "No," her knees nearly gave way.
"What happened?" Lysa asked.
"He's gone."
The word struck harder than any blow.
"Gone where?"
Silence stretched again before Jax finally spoke. "He asked me to tell you something." his voice lowered. "He said you're free now."
The cave seemed to tilt. Whatever happened to I will find you?
She felt unwanted and betrayed.
"He said the kingdom is safe. Caius is gone. The threat is ended." Jax swallowed. "That you can return to your parents and live wherever you wish. That you owed him nothing."
"No," Elara whispered.
"He said," Jax continued reluctantly. "That for now, he's gone to find himself."
Lysa stepped forward sharply. "You let him leave? What sort of warriors are you?"
"We tried to stop him." Riven said sadly.
"But he may be hurt," Elara said, voice rising. "He may be dying!"
Her gaze moved between them wildly, searching for reason, for sense. "You followed him, didn't you? You saw where he went."
Jax hesitated. Her hands curled into fist.
"We need to think about this," Mathias said, trying to stop her.
But before anyone could say more, she shifted. Bone bent and reshaped beneath her skin in a familiar rush of heat and instinct. She surged forward and slip past the cave entrance, cold air striking her face as dusk swallowed the mountains. She needed Dante.
She shifted back behind a ridge of stone, breath shaking as skin replaced fur. Her torn dress clung to her body, dirt and dried blood marking the long journey, but she barely noticed. Every nerve strained toward the pull in her chest. Voices carried through the dark.
Rogues.
She crouched slightly and moved forward. A small fire burned between rough figures. Hard men. Wanderers without allegiance. Their laughter died the moment they noticed her. One of them grinned slowly.
"Well now," he said. "Lost, dear princess?"
She lifted her chin despite the unease crawling beneath her skin. It reminded her of Caius.
"I'm looking for someone," she said, trying to calm the air. "A man. White hair and tall."
The rogues exchanged looks and smiled. "Oh," another murmured, stepping closer. "We might know many men like that."
Her wolf surged and her hand closed around a fallen length of wood beside her, lifting it defensively as one reached toward her arm.
"Don't touch her," A voice cut through the mountain air. "Unless, you prefer your head on the other side of the mountain. Usually, I prefer to hang mine on pikes."
The voice was deadly calm and chilling. The rogues turned and ran, disappearing in a cave. Elara followed their gaze. He stood at the edge of the moonlight, white hair stirred by the wind, partially hidden beneath a dark cloak. His broad shoulders looked heavy, exhaustion etched into every line of his body.
Dante.
He wasn't smiling. His face was cold and distant. She could hardly figure if he was pretending or certain.
"Go home, Elara," he said quietly. "Stop hunting me."
"You broke your promise."
His jaw tightened. "I didn't. I said I would protect you. I did.."
"From afar?" she walked to him. Every step felt inevitable.
"Stop," Dante warned instantly, stepping away. "Don't come closer. What do you want?"
"You don't get to decide my life for me," she said. "You don't get to love me from afar."
His restraint shattered. He moved faster than breath itself. One moment distance separated them, the next his hands were on her, pulling her against him as his mouth crashed on hers. His kiss was fierce and starved. Weeks of fear, longing, survival, and restraint broke between them in a single heartbeat. She gasped as his hands tightened, as though afraid she might vanish.
"Don't do this," he murmured against her lips. "Elara...don't tempt me to stay."
She lifted hands to his face, her eyes searching his. His control fractured completely. He kissed her again, slower, savoring like a man clinging to something sacred after believing himself unworthy of it.
"I need you, Dante," she breathed.
The words stilled him. "And I love you,"
Silence fell between them.
"Elara,"
For the first time, he looked uncertain. "When my brother betrayed me," he said quietly, forehead resting against hers. "I lost everything."
His gaze darkened with memory.
"I watched kindness be called weakness. Mercy turned to guilt. I survived because I stopped believing I deserved anything good. Then, I became evil."
"You're not evil." she whispered.
His hand trembled slightly where it held hers. "I went from kingdom to kingdom seeking help and doing things I regret because of it. And it changed me."
He exhaled.
"Then I met you. Defying me, saving people who could offer you nothing. And I knew loving you would destroy what little control I had left."
The wind moved around them, carrying the scent of pine and distant snow.
"You are not your brother. You are the Alpha because your father chose you and you will lead your people."
The bond surged warm and steady between them.
"You are mine, Elara." Dante whispered, lying on the warm ground with her.
"And I'm yours, Dante," she whispered, clutching his chest and running her hands through his hair as he kissed her with need.