Bound by Fate, Torn by war(THE LUNA’S WAR)

Bella didn't stop walking.

Her pulse pounded in her ears, her vision blurred with rage, heartbreak, and something dangerously close to devastation.

She had given Dante everything.

Her trust.

Her body.

Her soul.

And he had given her nothing in return.

She should have known.

She should have expected this.

But even after all his rejections, after every time he had pushed her away, some foolish part of her had still believed that maybe—just maybe—he would fight for her.

But he didn't.

Because Dante Rodrigo only fought battles he knew he could win.

And Bella?

She was the one fight he was too much of a coward to face.

Her wolf, Luna, whimpered inside her head, aching, restless.

"Go back," Luna whispered. "Make him understand."

Bella clenched her jaw, forcing down the pain clawing at her chest.

No.

Not this time.

Not anymore.

Dante had made his choice.

And now, she would make hers.

Dante's Descent

Dante stood frozen in place, watching her leave.

He should go after her.

He should grab her, throw her over his shoulder, drag her back to his bed and mark her so no one would ever question who she belonged to.

But he couldn't move.

Because for the first time, fear had paralyzed him.

Not fear of battle.

Not fear of losing control.

But fear of her never coming back.

A sharp pain ripped through his chest, and he staggered, his breath punching out of him like he'd been hit.

It was the bond.

The mate bond was rejecting him.

Not the way a formal rejection would.

No, this was worse.

This was her severing herself from him, piece by piece, with every step she took away from him.

His wolf, Zephyr, roared inside his head, thrashing violently, clawing at the walls of his mind.

"Go after her, you fucking idiot!" Zephyr snarled. "She is ours!"

Dante gritted his teeth, his entire body trembling with restraint.

But what could he say?

What could he do to fix this?

Nothing.

Because he had been pushing her away for weeks.

And now?

She was finally pushing back.

Bella's Choice

Bella stormed into the healer's lodge, ignoring the concerned looks from the pack members who had witnessed the disaster in the training grounds.

She had one goal.

One mission.

She shoved open the back room where her father, Marco Santos, sat at his desk, flipping through medical records.

He barely had time to react before Bella slammed her hands down on the table.

"I'm leaving," she announced.

Marco's eyebrows shot up, his gaze flickering over her in confusion. "Bella—"

"I need to get out of here," she cut him off, her voice shaking, furious, determined.

Marco slowly set his papers down, his face unreadable. "This is about Dante."

Bella laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "This is about me."

Her father sighed, leaning back in his chair, studying her carefully. "Where will you go?"

Bella exhaled slowly. "Golden Park."

Marco's eyes narrowed sharply. "Sydney Hart."

Bella crossed her arms. "He offered me a place in his pack once. I turned it down because I didn't want to abandon my home."

She met her father's gaze, steel in her golden-brown eyes.

"But this isn't my home anymore."

The words burned as she said them, but she didn't take them back.

Because she meant them.

Marco ran a hand down his face, looking like he was physically holding back the urge to argue.

But he knew his daughter.

Knew her too well.

She wouldn't change her mind.

"You know leaving will start a war," he murmured. "Dante won't let you go that easily."

Bella's jaw tightened. "He had his chance."

She turned, gripping the door handle. "I'm leaving tonight."

Marco let out a heavy sigh. "Then I won't stop you."

Bella paused, her chest tight with emotion.

She turned slightly, glancing back at her father. "Thank you."

And then she walked out.

She was done waiting for Dante to fight for her.

If he wanted her, he would have to chase her.

Dante's Breaking Point

The moment Dante heard the news, something inside him finally snapped.

He had been sitting in his office, his mind a tangled mess of rage and guilt, when Chase came barreling through the door, panting, his face flushed with urgency.

"She's leaving," Chase announced, breathless.

Dante's entire body went rigid.

The room tilted.

"What?" Dante whispered.

Chase ran a hand through his blond hair. "Bella. She's leaving the pack. She's going to Golden Park."

No.

No.

NO.

Dante was on his feet before he could think, his chair slamming back against the wall.

The mate bond tightened around his throat, squeezing like a noose.

She was serious.

She was really leaving.

And if she crossed that border—if she stepped into Sydney Hart's territory—

She wouldn't be his anymore.

Dante didn't remember moving.

Didn't remember grabbing his coat.

All he knew was that he was running, moving faster than he ever had before.

His wolf, Zephyr, was howling in his head, his claws ripping through Dante's consciousness.

"She's ours! We have to stop her!"

Dante's pulse pounded.

His breath came in sharp bursts.

And then, finally—

He saw her.

Bella was standing at the edge of White Moon's territory, her bag slung over her shoulder, her back to him as she faced the Golden Park border ahead.

She was seconds away from walking away from him forever.

No.

Not today.

Not fucking ever.

"Bella!"

She stiffened.

Slowly, she turned—her golden-brown eyes meeting his burning blue ones.

And in that moment, Dante knew.

If he didn't stop her now—if he didn't prove to her that he would fight for her, that he would never let her go—he would lose her forever.

And Dante Rodrigo didn't lose.

Not when it came to her.

With one final step forward, his voice dropped to a deadly, desperate whisper.

"If you take one more step, Bella, I swear to the fucking Moon Goddess—I'll drag you back kicking and screaming."

Bella's breath caught.

Her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

And then, slowly, she lifted her chin.

"Try me."