THE ALPHA'S UNWANTED LUNA

CHAPTER THREE — BLOOD AND PROMISES

Aria

Dante's hand closed around Marcus's throat mid-lunge, slamming him against the stone wall with enough force to crack the surface. The sound echoed through the empty dining hall like a gunshot."You just signed your death warrant," Dante growled, his voice more wolf than man.Marcus clawed at Dante's grip, gasping. "She's... making you... weak...""She's making me merciful." Dante's eyes flashed silver. "I was going to let you leave. Now?" He squeezed harder. "Now I'm going to make an example of you.""Dante, stop!" The words burst from my lips before I could stop them. Both men's eyes snapped to me, Marcus's filled with hatred, Dante's with something feral and possessive."Stay out of this, Aria.""You'll kill him." I stood on shaking legs. "Please.""That's the point." Dante's voice was cold, but his eyes never left my face. "He threatened what's mine."What's mine?. The words sent heat flooding through me even as terror clawed at my chest."If you kill him, you prove Marcus right." I forced myself to step closer. "You prove I make you weak."

Silence stretched between us, thick and dangerous. Finally, Dante released Marcus, who crumpled to the floor, gasping. "Get out. You have until sunrise to leave my territory. If I ever see you again, I won't hesitate."Marcus scrambled to his feet, shooting me a look of pure venom before fleeing. The moment the doors slammed shut, Dante turned to me with frightening intensity."Don't ever do that again.""Do what? Stop you from murdering someone?""Interfere with pack business." He closed the distance between us in two strides. "You don't understand what you just did.""I understand that mercy isn't weakness." My voice trembled despite my brave words. "My father taught me that."Something flickered in Dante's eyes—pain, maybe, or recognition. His hand lifted, cupping my jaw with surprising gentleness. "Your father was human. He didn't understand wolf politics.""Then explain it to me.""No." His thumb traced my cheekbone, and I couldn't breathe. "Because if I explain it, you'll realize how much danger you're in and you'll leave.""Maybe I should leave."His grip tightened, not painful but possessive. "You're not leaving.""You can't keep me here.""Watch me." His face was inches from mine, his breath warm against my lips. "You walked into my territory, Aria. That makes you mine to protect. Mine to keep.""I'm not a possession—""No," he interrupted, his voice rough. "You're something far more dangerous." His forehead pressed against mine, and my heart nearly stopped. "And I'm too selfish to let you go."Before I could respond, Kieran cleared his throat. I'd completely forgotten he was there. "Alpha, the pack is gathering outside. They heard the confrontation."Dante pulled back, his expression shuttering closed. "Of course they did." He looked at me, conflict warring in his eyes. "Kieran will take you to your room. Lock the door. Don't open it for anyone but Madison."

"What are you going to do?""Deal with the fallout of your mercy." He turned toward the door, then paused. "And Aria? Thank you."The words were so quiet I almost missed them. Then he was gone, leaving me alone with Kieran and a hundred unanswered questions.---Kieran walked me back in silence, his presence a solid wall between me and the hostile stares we passed. When we reached my door, he surprised me by speaking."You handled yourself well tonight.""I almost got killed.""Almost." A hint of approval colored his tone. "But you stood up to an Alpha in front of his Beta. That takes courage. Or stupidity. Maybe both.""Which do you think it was?""With you? Courage." He nodded toward my door. "Lock it. The pack is restless tonight, and not everyone agrees with Dante's protection."Fear skittered down my spine. "Will he be okay?"Kieran's scarred face softened slightly. "Worried about the Alpha, are you?""I just don't want anyone else getting hurt because of me.""Too late for that, girl." He turned to leave, then paused. "For what it's worth, I haven't seen Dante this alive in five years. You're dangerous to him in ways you don't understand yet. But maybe that's not a bad thing."He left before I could ask what he meant.I locked the door and collapsed against it, my legs finally giving out. The adrenaline crash hit hard, leaving me shaking and nauseous. I'd been at Bloodstone less than twelve hours and had already made enemies, nearly witnessed a murder, and somehow caught the attention of the most dangerous Alpha in the Northwest.“You're mine to protect. Mine to keep.”His words echoed in my head, mixing with the memory of his touch, the heat of his body so close to mine. I should be terrified. I should be planning my escape.

Instead, I was thinking about the pain I'd glimpsed in his eyes when I mentioned my father. The gentleness of his thumb on my cheek. The way he'd called me dangerous while looking at me like I was something precious.A soft knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts. "Aria? It's Madison."I opened the door to find her pale and worried. "Are you okay? Ethan heard there was almost a challenge—""I'm fine." I pulled her inside and locked the door again. "Your brother is... intense.""That's one word for it." She studied my face. "He protected you. Publicly claimed you under his protection. Do you know what that means?""That he's insane?""That he's serious." Madison grabbed my hands. "Aria, Dante hasn't protected anyone since his mate died five years ago. He's been cold, closed off, violent. But tonight, he looked at you like..." She trailed off, shaking her head."Like what?""Like he was drowning and you were air."A crash echoed from somewhere in the pack house, followed by raised voices. Madison tensed. "The pack is fighting about you. Some want you gone. Others..." She bit her lip. "Others think Dante is finally healing.""From what?"Before she could answer, my window exploded inward, glass shattering across the floor. A figure dropped into the room—a woman with wild red hair and eyes that glowed amber."So you're the human b***h making our Alpha weak," she snarled.Then she lunged.