Ashen's POV
The dining hall was buzzing with energy, warriors from different packs settling into their places. I kept my head down, shoveling food into my mouth, trying to ignore the suffocating dominance pressing in from every corner.
This pack was full of alphas and dominants. Everywhere I turned, there was another wolf radiating power, another silent reminder that I didn't belong here.
I focused on my food, until I heard the low chuckle from across the table.
"Didn't know weaklings could make it into Blackridge."
I paused, my grip on my fork tightening.
Another warrior sneered. "How did you even pass the trials, Roy? Or did you get on your knees and beg?"
Roy stiffened beside me. His hands clenched, but he didn't move.
The warriors laughed.
Heat rose in my chest, anger curling its way up my spine.
I didn't give a shit what they said about me. But Roy—Roy was the only person in my life who had ever given a damn about me.
And they thought they could just mock him?
Like hell.
I stood abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "You have a problem?" My voice was sharp, controlled.
The warrior smirked, looking me up and down. "Oh, the weakling has a guard dog? Cute."
I didn't give him a chance to say another word.
I moved.
Before he could react, I grabbed his collar and slammed him into the table. Dishes rattled. Gasps echoed around the hall.
"You talk too much," I muttered, pressing my forearm against his throat.
He snarled, twisting, trying to throw me off. He was strong, but I was faster.
When he tried to claw at my face, I yanked him up and drove my fist into his gut.
Then another.
Then another.
The anger wouldn't stop.
He tapped out, but I kept hitting him. Harder.
I didn't even hear the voices shouting around me. My vision was a blur of red, my heart pounding as I threw another punch—
"Enough."
The voice shattered through me like a whip.
Everything froze.
The weight of pure dominance crashed over my body, heavy and suffocating.
I looked up—
And my entire world shifted.
Alpha Dominic Kael.
He stood there, broad and imposing, golden eyes sharp as a predator's. His presence filled the entire room, demanding submission with nothing but his aura.
And my body,my fucking traitorous body wanted to obey.
I swallowed hard, fists still clenched, refusing to lower my gaze.
His eyes locked onto me, and for a second, I saw something in them. Something dark. Something hungry.
My stomach twisted.
I should have been afraid.
I should have looked away.
But I didn't.
"What's your name?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence.
I clenched my jaw.
"...Ashen."
The moment I said it, his expression shifted.
His stare darkened, something unreadable flashing in his eyes. Something primal.
The air grew thick, his scent rolling over me like a storm, and my breath hitched before I could stop it.
And then—
Then I felt it.
A pull.
A whisper of something I didn't understand.
My wolf shuddered, wanting,needing to lower his head. To kneel. To—
No.
No, no, no.
I gritted my teeth, stepping back, breaking the invisible force wrapping around me.
But the moment I did, my mind whispered something even worse.
"What if he bent you over his knee?"
A sharp flash of heat shot through me.
I jerked back, horror flooding my veins.
What the actual fuck was wrong with me?!
I wasn't weak. I wasn't submissive.
I wasn't—
His scent wrapped around me again.
I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I tasted blood.
I needed to get out of here. Now.
Because if I stayed any longer, I was going to break.
And I refused to break for anyone.
I rushed out of the dining hall the moment Dominic told me to leave, my pulse hammering in my ears.
I didn't stop moving, didn't look back. I just kept walking, forcing my breaths to even out, forcing my body to calm the hell down.
When I got to my room, I barely acknowledged the other warriors inside. There were four of us sharing the space, but I didn't care. I just needed to be alone.
I dropped onto my bed, exhaling sharply. My hands were still shaking.
Slowly, I reached up, wiping the blood from my face. My knuckles ached from the fight, but that pain was nothing compared to the chaos in my mind.
Why am I so attracted to him?
The thought made me angry.
I squeezed my eyes shut, but all I could see was Dominic. His sharp golden eyes, the way his voice commanded the entire room, the way his scent—
No.
I clenched my jaw. This is wrong.
I had spent my entire life running from this, fighting against it. I wasn't weak. I wasn't meant to submit.
And yet, the moment he spoke, the moment he looked at me—
My body had betrayed me.
I gritted my teeth, gripping the sheets beneath me.
I had to stay away from him.
Avoid him at all costs.
Because if I didn't...
I might lose myself.
The heat was unbearable. It wrapped around me, inside me, suffocating, consuming.
I wasn't in my bed anymore.
I was on my hands and knees, my breath ragged, my body aching.
Behind me, a dominant presence loomed, his warmth sinking into my skin.
"Look at you," Dominic's voice was a deep, amused growl. "Still pretending you don't want this."
I shuddered.
"Say it." His fingers branded my hips, his grip firm, unyielding.
"Never," I spat, but my voice shook.
A dark chuckle.
And then—heat. A firm, possessive touch trailing down my spine, making me arch without thinking.
I tried to fight it. Tried to resist.
But when his lips ghosted over the back of my neck, when his fangs grazed my skin—
A helpless, needy sound slipped from my throat.
I wanted more.
I wanted—
I jerked awake, gasping.
My entire body was on fire, sweat clinging to my skin.
My breath came in sharp, shallow pants, my mind still tangled in the haze of the dream—
I froze.
My sheets were damp. My body ached in ways I refused to acknowledge.
Fuck.
I clenched my jaw, trying to calm my racing heart.
Slowly, so damn slowly, I turned my head.
The other warriors were still sleeping.
Thank the gods.
I squeezed my eyes shut, swallowing the shame thick in my throat.
It was just a dream.
Just a stupid, meaningless dream.
Nothing more.
Nothing.
And yet—
Even as I lay there, heart pounding, body still thrumming with lingering heat—
I knew I was lying to myself.
I woke up early,earlier than I needed to.
The clock barely hit 4 AM, but there was no point in trying to sleep again. Not after that dream.
I forced myself up, ignoring the lingering heat in my body, and got ready for training.
By the time I stepped outside, the sky was still dark, the morning air crisp against my skin.
At exactly 5 AM, the training grounds started to fill with warriors. Some looked exhausted, others eager.
Roy was already there, stretching. I walked over and joined him, rolling my shoulders.
Before we could start sparring, a huge beta approached. He was tall, broad—one of those wolves with a natural air of confidence.
He didn't look at me, though.
His gaze was locked on Roy.
And the way he looked at him? Like Roy was the only thing in the damn world.
Roy, on the other hand, couldn't even meet his eyes. His ears were red, his hands fidgeting at his sides.
I raised an eyebrow.
Interesting.
The beta finally spoke, his voice deep and casual. "You're Roy, right?"
Roy nodded quickly, still not looking up. "Y-yeah."
The beta smirked. "Good. You're with me today."
Before Roy could react, the beta walked off toward the training area.
Roy hesitated, stealing a glance at me. "I—I think I need to—"
"Go." I smirked. "Unless you're too shy to fight him?"
Roy shot me a half-hearted glare before quickly following the beta.
I shook my head, amused.
But my amusement didn't last long.
Because the moment I turned around, he was there.
Adam.
The warrior I fought yesterday.
He strolled toward me, his lip still swollen from the beating I gave him. His eyes gleamed with challenge.
"You again?" I muttered, rolling my neck.
Adam smirked. "Miss me?"
I scoffed. "I don't even remember you."
His smirk twitched, but he didn't take the bait. Instead, he got into stance. "Let's see if you fight as dirty as you did yesterday."
I flexed my fingers. "Try me."
The moment the instructor signaled start, we lunged.