Chapter 96: The Luna’s Final Stand
Bella's hands curled into fists.
Gabriel thought he had won.
Thought he had backed her into a corner.
But Bella?
She was done playing his game.
She wasn't a pawn.
She wasn't his.
She was Dante's.
She was White Moon's.
She was her own.
"I will never be yours," she whispered.
Gabriel's grin widened.
"Then kill yourself, Bella. Go on. Prove your devotion to your mate. Sacrifice yourself for him."
Bella's heart pounded.
Because she wasn't afraid of dying.
She was afraid of losing.
And that?
That was when it hit her.
She didn't have to die.
She just had to break him first.
Gabriel's power was linked to hers.
But it wasn't balanced.
He was taking from her.
Feeding from her.
But if she pushed back?
If she took from him instead?
Then maybe—just maybe—she could turn the curse against him.
Bella's fingers tightened around the blade at her waist.
Not to kill herself.
To do something far worse.
"You want my life?" she whispered.
Gabriel's eyes gleamed.
"Yes."
Bella smiled.
And then—
She stabbed the dagger into her own chest.
Not deep enough to kill.
Just enough to weaken the connection.
To shock his system.
Gabriel screamed.
He lurched backward, his body convulsing violently, as if he were being ripped apart from the inside.
Dante's snarl tore through the clearing.
"Bella!"
But Bella didn't stop.
She gripped the dagger tighter, using every ounce of her strength to force the curse backward.
"You took from me," she hissed through clenched teeth.
"Now I take from you."
She pushed.
And pushed.
And pushed.
Until Gabriel's body began to unravel.
His form flickered, like a candle about to go out.
His screams grew weaker.
And then—
Then he collapsed.
A lifeless corpse.
Gone.
Forever.
Bella's vision blurred.
Her knees buckled.
Dante caught her before she hit the ground.
"You stupid, reckless, brilliant little wolf," he growled, his voice breaking, his arms tightening around her.
Bella smiled weakly.
"Told you… I'd win."
Then—
Everything went dark.