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

Bella's back hit the tree, the rough bark pressing into her skin as Dante's massive body caged her in completely.

His grip on her wrists was unforgiving, pinning them above her head, his breathing ragged and deep.

His scent—smoke, cedar, and raw dominance—wrapped around her like a vice, thick and suffocating, a scent that screamed one thing: possession.

She should have fought.

Should have resisted.

But Bella's wolf, Luna, purred in satisfaction.

"He's done running," Luna whispered inside her. "Now he's hunting."

Dante's blue eyes burned into hers, his pupils blown wide with hunger, rage, and something even darker. Something animalistic.

"Did you really think you could leave me?" His voice was low, gravelly, vibrating with a dangerous edge.

Bella's heart slammed against her ribs, but she didn't look away.

"I thought you didn't want me."

Dante's snarl ripped through the night air.

"I fucking hate how much I want you."

Bella shivered, her breath catching as he leaned in, his teeth scraping against the delicate skin of her throat.

Her pulse raced, the mate bond pulling tight, wrapping around them like chains of fire.

"You drive me insane, Bella." His voice was raw, filled with something twisted and primal.

"You make me want to break every fucking rule. Every instinct in me is screaming to take you, to mark you, to make sure no one else ever fucking touches you."

His fingers tightened around her wrists, his other hand sliding down her waist, gripping her hip hard enough to bruise.

Bella let out a soft gasp, her thighs pressing together.

Dante felt it.

His growl vibrated against her skin, his entire body trembling with restraint.

"You're mine, Bella." His voice was rough, full of dark certainty.

"Say it."

Bella's lips parted, but she didn't speak.

Because if she said it—if she admitted it—she would never escape him.

Dante saw the hesitation in her eyes.

And he snapped.

With one fluid movement, he spun her around, pressing her chest against the rough bark, his body pinning her in place.

Bella gasped, heat pooling low in her stomach, her breath coming out in sharp bursts.

Dante's hands trailed down her sides, gripping her hips hard, pulling her back against him so she could feel just how much he wanted her.

"You think I'm letting you go?" he growled, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear.

Bella bit her lip, her entire body on fire.

"You don't own me, Dante."

A dark, low chuckle rumbled from his chest.

"No?" His fingers traveled lower, sliding over the waistband of her jeans, teasing, testing.

"Then why do you tremble every time I touch you?"

Bella's breath hitched.

Dante's lips ghosted down her neck, his teeth scraping against her pulse point, right where his mark should be.

"Why can I smell how much you want this?"

Bella squeezed her eyes shut, her nails digging into the tree bark.

"Don't give in. Don't give in."

But then Dante's teeth sank into the soft skin of her shoulder—

Not marking her, not yet—just punishing her.

A broken moan ripped from her lips, her knees buckling.

Dante caught her before she could fall, spinning her around, pressing his forehead against hers, his breathing heavy, desperate.

"You belong to me, Bella." His voice was a command, a vow, a fucking death sentence.

Bella's lips parted, her body betraying her, arching into him, needing him.

"Say it."

She shook her head, barely holding on.

Dante's grip tightened.

"Say it, or I swear to the Goddess, I'll make you scream it."

His hand wrapped around her throat, tilting her head back, his blue eyes dark and dangerous.

Bella's pulse raced beneath his fingertips.

She was drowning in him, in his dominance, his strength, his raw fucking need.

And she couldn't fight it anymore.

"I hate you," she whispered.

Dante grinned, sharp and predatory.

"Good. Hate me while I ruin you."

And then—

He crushed his mouth to hers.

This wasn't like before.

This was darker.

Rougher.

Pure fucking possession.

Bella moaned against him, her hands flying to his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin as he lifted her, pressing her against the tree, grinding against her.

Dante's hands roamed her body with brutal purpose, as if he was memorizing every inch of her, as if he was branding her with his touch alone.

"You're not leaving me," he growled against her lips.

Bella's breath hitched, her body trembling.

"Then mark me," she challenged.

Dante froze.

A deep, primal growl rumbled from his chest, his fingers tightening on her hips.

"You don't know what you're asking for, Bella."

"Yes, I do." Her voice was steady, certain.

Dante's blue eyes burned into hers, his wolf howling inside him, demanding, raging, begging.

He could do it.

He could sink his fangs into her throat right now, claim her completely, bind her to him forever.

She would never be able to leave him again.

Never be able to deny him.

His wolf snarled, demanding it.

But something inside him held back.

Because if he did this now—if he marked her out of anger, possessiveness, dominance—she would never forgive him.

And Dante?

Dante needed all of her.

Not just her body.

Not just her submission.

Her soul.

With a deep, shuddering breath, he forced himself to pull back.

Bella's golden-brown eyes flashed with surprise.

"Why are you stopping?" she whispered, her breath uneven, her lips swollen from his kisses.

Dante let out a harsh breath, his hands still gripping her hips like he couldn't stand to let her go.

"Because when I mark you, Bella, I want you to beg for it."

Bella's pulse skipped.

"I want you to crave it," Dante continued, his voice low, dark, and dripping with promise.

"And when I finally sink my teeth into you—" His lips ghosted over her throat, his breath hot against her skin.

"You'll be on your fucking knees, pleading for it."

Bella's breath came out in sharp, shaky exhales.

And then—

Dante stepped back.

The loss of his touch was instant agony.

"This isn't over, Bella," he murmured, his blue eyes locked onto hers like a challenge.

"Not even close."

And with that, he turned and walked away.

Leaving Bella standing there, breathless, shaking, ruined.

Because she knew.

She had just started a war she would never win.