TIDES OF FATE

n her. It felt as though the ground beneath her had suddenly shifted, threatening to swallow her whole. She took a step back, her legs shaky, her mind struggling to catch up. M

golden eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. Dante remained motionless, his gaze unyielding. It was as if he were waiting for her to process his words

perilous and something about him-specifically, the manner in which he gazed at her-was utterly inescapable. Dante's lips parted slightly, yet instead of responding directly, he moved closer. The atmosphere between them appeared to thicken, infused with an almost electric tension. Lila instinctively retreated another step, her feet grazing the soft carpet of the forest floor. He reached out, his

den eyes as if her very soul recognized him. She shook her head, attempting to clear her thoughts. No. This cannot be happening. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded, her voice escalating. "What is this? What are you?" Dante exhaled, his gaze softening for just a moment before he became inscrutable once more. "I told you. You're mine, Lila. And I'm yours." His words were definitive, each carrying

it continually returned to him-to Dante. The connection. That's precisely what it was, right? Some form of connection between them that she couldn't fully grasp. An invisible thread that linked them in ways that transcended logic and rationale. "I... I don't understand." Her words emerged as a desperate plea. "This isn't real." Dante's features softened just a fraction, his expression momentarily flickering with what m

ldn't process this; she couldn't make sense of what he was articulating. She was human, not some supernatural being tethered to an alpha werewolf. "I'm not your mate," she declared, more to herself than to him. Her heart raced in her chest and her throat felt tight with unshed tears. "I'm just... me." Dante's expression darkened and before Lila could retreat further, he reached out and grasped her wrist,

eased her wrist and the tension in her chest appeared to dissipate, although the fear remained like a cloud-dark and oppressive. Dante took a step back, his eyes never departing from hers. "I will give you time, Lila," he stated, his voice now softer. "Time to adapt. But don't take t