Chapter 45: Luring the Wolf

The plan was simple.

Bella would go where Mikhail expected her to be—alone, vulnerable, seemingly unaware.

And when he came for her?

Dante would be there to end him.

But that didn't mean Bella had to play the victim.

She wasn't the same girl Mikhail had captured before.

She wasn't weak.

She wasn't helpless.

And when the time came?

She was going to make him bleed.

Dante stood before her, his hands gripping her arms, his expression dark and unreadable.

"Are you sure about this?" His voice was low, rough.

Bella lifted her chin. "Yes."

Dante's jaw tightened.

"If anything happens—"

"It won't," Bella interrupted.

Dante exhaled sharply, his grip on her tightening.

"I don't like this."

Bella smirked. "Good. That means it's a solid plan."

Dante let out a low, dangerous chuckle.

"You're a menace, you know that?"

Bella leaned in, her lips barely brushing his. "You love it."

Dante's blue eyes darkened.

"I love you."

Bella's breath hitched.

Because this was the first time he had said it.

And fuck—it shattered something inside her.

Dante Rodrigo loved her.

Not just as his mate.

Not just as his Luna.

As Bella.

But before she could say anything back—

A howl split the night air.

Not a White Moon wolf.

An outsider.

Mikhail was here.

And the hunt?

Had just begun.