Chapter 11
ARIA’S POV
As Dante angrily left, my heart sank. We still had to talk. I needed to know what I was going to do next but thanks to Linda, we didn’t finish talking.
I decided to leave too, desperate to get away from the chaos, when Linda suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. Her fingers dug into my skin, and I flinched.
“Let go of me. Now!!” I shouted, trying to pull my arm away.
Linda’s eyes narrowed. “You need to leave. Leave Dante, leave the pack. Just go.”
I looked at her from head to toe, taking in her perfectly styled hair and designer outfit. This woman who had taken everything from me. My lip twisted in disgust.
“Don’t you dare touch me with your filthy hands,” I spat. “Ever again.”
I pulled my arm away and turned to go, but Linda quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“You can’t talk to me like that,” she said, drawing herself up to her full height. “I am the Alpha Luna of this pack. Dante’s mate. You must show me respect.”
I let out a harsh laugh. “You think I care about your little pack politics? You’re nothing to me, Linda. Nothing.”
Her face twisted with rage. “How dare you! I’ll show you what kind of power I have.”
Before I could reply, Linda dragged her nails across her own arm, leaving angry red scratches. Then–she clutched her stomach and let out an ear–piercing scream.
“Dante! Dante, help me!”
I stared at her in disbelief. “What on earth are you doing?”
Linda’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “Watch and learn, sweetie. I’m going to tell Dante that you attacked me. That you tried to hurt my baby.”
My stomach dropped. “You wouldn’t do that.”
“Oh, I would,” Linda said smoothly. “And he’ll believe me. Because I am his mate, and you’re just nothing
She stumbled towards the hall, her cries echoing off the walls. Part of me wanted to just go upstairs to my room because I was tired of the whole drama, but my curiosity kept me rooted to the spot. I had to see how this would play out.
As soon as Linda reached the entrance, a commotion broke out. Guests hurried over, their eyes wide. Dante and his mother pushed through the crowd, looking worried and surprised.
“Oh, my poor dear!” Agatha cried, wrapping an arm around Linda’s shoulders.
Linda leaned on her heavily, one hand clutching her belly dramatically. “It… it hurts so much,” she whimpered.
Chapter 11
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. Linda was barely pregnant, her belly was still flat as a board. The sight of her acting so pitiful made my blood boil.
Memories of my own situation flooded back. The constant fear, the doubt, the exhaustion. Even after had returned home, still weak and scared for my baby. Agatha had shown no mercy. It was “Ara, do this,” or “Aria, take care of that.” No rest, no compassion.
And now here was Linda, playing the delicate flower, and everyone was falling for it
“There, there,” Dante whispered, gently running his fingers through Linda’s hair. “What happened to you?
Linda’s eyes flicked to mine, a hint of triumph in their depths. “It was Aria,” she sobbed “She… the attacked me. Said horrible things about the baby.”
Gasps spread through the crowd. I could suddenly feel the weight of their stares, heavy with judgement.
“I didn’t-” I started to say, but Agatha cut me off.
“You witch!” she spat, her face twisted with rage. “Is this how you repay our kindness? By trying to destroy my only chance at a grandchild?”
Jaw dropped. “Kindness? Are you kidding me? When have you ever shown me even an ounce of kindness?”
But Agatha wasn’t listening. She turned back to Linda, cooing and fussing over her.
I looked around anxiously, hoping someone would see through this charade. But all I saw were locks of pity for Linda and disgust for me.
Dante untangled himself from Linda and walked towards me, his eyes filled with rage. 1 wamed you didn’t I?” he growled. The look in his eyes made me take a few steps back.
“Dante…” I started, desperate to explain, to make him understand. But before I could get another word out, Linda let out another ear–piercing scream.
In a split second, Dante forgot all about me. He quickly turned and rushed back to Linda’s side, leaving me standing there, my words dying on my lips.
My heart shattered into a million pieces, as I watched him gather her in his arms, whispering comforting
words.
“Shh, it’s okay. I’m here,” Dante mumbled, his hand stroking Linda’s hair. The tenderness in his touch feit like a knife twisting in my heart.
Linda whimpered pathetically, clinging to Dante like a lifeline. “It hurts so much. I’m scared of losing the baby,” she cried.
Dante’s face was a mask of worry. “Someone, please call the doctor!” he barked, his eyes scanning the room frantically. “Now!”
“No, no,” Linda protested weakly, her hand moving to her stomach. “There’s no need. 11l be fine. I just need to rest.
“Nonsense,” Agatha cut in. “We’re calling the doctor immediately. We can’t take any chances with my grandchild.”
+25 BONUS
As I stood there, watching this joke play out, a sharp pain suddenly started in my stomach. I gasped, pressing a hand to my stomach. The stress of the situation was clearly taking its toll, but I gritted my teeth, determined not to show any weakness.
Despite everything a part of me still wanted to defend Linda, to explain that this was all a misunderstanding. Maybe if I could just make them see reason….
“Listen,” I said, taking a step forward. “This isn’t what it looks like. If you would just let me explain-
But my words were cut short as Sabrina burst into the scene. Her eyes, so similar to Dante’s, were filled with rage as they landed on me.
Sabrina is Dante’s sister, who was also a Beta. She had never liked me, not even for a second. She was always ready to make my life a living hell and I had no idea why. No matter the situation, she always favoured Linda over me.
“Your” she snapped, marching towards me. “Haven’t you done enough?”
I held up my hands, trying to calm her down. “Sabrina, please. You don’t understand=”
“Oh, I understand perfectly,” she spat. “You are just jealous of Linda, of the baby. You can’t stand to see Dante happy with someone else.”
The unfaimess of her words stung like a slap. “That’s not true!” I protested. “Linda’s lying. She-
However, Sabrina ignored me completely. With a cry of anger, she lunged forward and pushed me hard. I stumbled backwards as I tried to keep my balance.
Time seemed to slow down as I fell. I saw the shocked faces of the guests, and heard Linda’s fake gasp of concern. And then I felt it–a sharp, burning pain across my palm as it landed on something on the floor.
I looked down, confused, and saw a pool of red spreading across my skin. Somewhere in the chaos, a glass had broken, and now a sharp shard was lodged in my flesh.
“Serves you right!!” Sabrina shouted, and I just stared at her in shock.
