Chapter 176: No More Running

Dante didn't take her back to White Moon.

Not yet.

Instead—he brought her to an old hunting cabin, deep in the mountains, far from anyone who could interfere.

Far from his pack.

Far from her rogues.

Far from distractions.

Just them.

Just unfinished business.

Just raw, unfiltered truth.

Bella sat on the edge of the bed, her wrists still bound, her golden-brown eyes sharp, unyielding.

Dante leaned against the door, his arms crossed, his blue eyes burning.

"You're wasting your time." Bella's voice was flat, detached, as if she hadn't just been dragged through the woods like prey.

Dante smirked.

"Am I?"

Bella clenched her jaw.

"You can't keep me here forever."

Dante exhaled slowly, pushing off the door, stepping toward her, his presence suffocating.

"No," he agreed. "But I can keep you until you stop pretending you don't belong to me."

Bella's pulse skipped.

"I don't."

Dante's lips curled.

"Liar."

Then—

He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You still feel it, don't you?"

Bella's breath shook.

Because she did.

The bond.

The heat.

The ache.

Even now—even after everything—

She still felt like his.

"Dante—"

"No more running, Bella."

His voice was low, firm, absolute.

"No more lies."

Bella shuddered violently.

Because she was tired.

Tired of fighting.

Tired of pretending.

Tired of denying what had always been inevitable.

"You are mine," Dante whispered, his forehead pressing against hers.

"And I will spend every day reminding you of that until you finally admit it."

Bella closed her eyes.

Because she knew.

She had already lost.