Chapter 212: He Refuses to Let Her Fade

Dante had always been an Alpha of war.

A man who fought for what was his.

And Bella had always been his greatest fight.

"Tell me what you need, Bella."

His voice was low, careful.

She shook her head.

"I don't know."

"Then I'll tell you what you need."

Before she could pull away, before she could hide from him, his hands gripped her waist, his presence wrapping around her like wildfire.

"You need to stop pretending you're not still mine."

Bella sucked in a sharp breath.

"Dante—"

"You need to stop acting like you weren't meant for this. For me. For this pack."

His lips were at her ear now, his voice softer, darker.

"You need to stop lying to yourself."

Bella's pulse roared.

"I'm not—"

But Dante's grip tightened.

"You are."

His forehead pressed against hers, his breath shaking, his control fraying at the edges.

"But I'll remind you, Bella."

His lips brushed her jaw, her throat, her pulse.

"Again."

"And again."

"And again."

Until she stopped trying to run from him.

Until she stopped pretending she didn't still belong to him.

And when she finally broke—

He would be there to catch her.

Just like he always had been.