Chapter 84: A New Era Begins

The scent of blood and war still lingered in the air long after Gabriel's body had been discarded into the flames.

The battle was over.

Bella had won.

But as she stood at the edge of the ruins, watching the embers of Gabriel's remains turn to ash, she realized something terrifying.

This war?

It had changed her.

There was no going back to the woman she was before.

The one who had once feared her past, feared being controlled, feared belonging to anyone but herself.

Because now?

She wasn't just Bella Santos.

She was Luna of White Moon.

A warrior.

A leader.

And above all?

Dante Rodrigo's equal.

She felt him before she saw him—the heat of his presence, the raw power of his bond wrapping around her like a second skin.

"You're thinking too much."

Bella turned as Dante approached, his blue eyes dark, unreadable.

He was still covered in blood, his shirt torn, his muscles tense.

But it wasn't from the fight.

It was from her.

From the way he had almost lost her.

From the way he had felt her pain, her fear, her rage.

And now?

Now, he was holding onto his control by a thread.

Bella lifted her chin.

"I was thinking about how different everything feels."

Dante studied her.

"Different how?"

Bella let out a slow breath. "Like this is just the beginning."

Dante's jaw ticked.

Because she was right.

Gabriel was dead.

But White Moon's war wasn't over.

It was just changing.

And now?

They weren't just fighting to survive.

They were fighting to rule.

Dante stepped closer, his hands sliding around her waist, his touch burning.

"We do this together, Bella," he murmured. *"No more running. No more fighting me. No more fucking walls between us."

Bella's throat tightened.

Because for so long, she had fought against this bond, against Dante, against the idea of belonging to anyone but herself.

But Dante had never caged her.

He had never tried to control her.

He had only ever stood beside her.

"Together," she whispered.

Dante's grip on her tightened.

"Good."

Then—

He lifted her into his arms.

"Because I'm about to remind you exactly what that means."

And Bella?

She didn't resist.

Because for the first time in her life?

She wasn't just falling.

She was choosing.