Chapter 208: The Battle for Her Soul

Dante didn't hesitate.

Didn't flinch.

Didn't hold back.

He met her head-on, his arms wrapping around her, slamming her to the ground, pinning her beneath him.

She snarled, thrashed, fought, but he didn't let go.

Wouldn't let go.

"You want to break?"

His voice was a growl, sharp with pain, with rage, with something dangerously close to desperation.

"Then break, Bella. But you're breaking with me."

Her blackened eyes widened.

Because he wasn't fighting to kill her.

He was fighting to bring her back.

And some small, buried, fading part of her still recognized him.

Still ached for him.

Still knew him.

Dante pressed his forehead against hers, his breath shaking.

"I love you."

Bella froze.

The Hollow One hissed, furious, its claws tightening around her mind, dragging her deeper.

"No."

Dante's voice was pure fire.

"You do not get to take her from me."

His hands framed her face, forcing her to see him, to hear him, to feel him.

"You are mine."

Bella's body shuddered violently.

Because he was pulling her back.

Because he was refusing to let her go.

Because the mate bond—shattered, broken, buried—

Still existed.

Still ached.

Still burned.

And Bella—

Bella reached for it.

Because Dante was the only thing she had ever been certain of.

The only thing that had ever been real.

And in that moment—

She chose him.

She chose herself.

And the Hollow One?

It screamed.

And then—

It died.

For good this time.