Ashen's POV
I woke to the low murmur of voices and the heavy scent of campfire smoke drifting through the room. A warrior leaned in, his tone urgent yet respectful.
"The Alpha wants to see you."
My stomach sank. I'd hoped for a quiet morning, just another day of training and solitude. But when I made my way to where Dominic was waiting, his eyes held that familiar mix of challenge and guarded amusement.
"We're going to another pack for a treaty," he announced, his voice even. "For peace and for land."
I frowned. "Why should I come along?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.
Dominic's lips curled into a smirk. "Because I don't trust you not to cause trouble on your own." His tone was teasing, but the meaning behind it was clear. I was being forced out of my comfort zone.
I left him standing there, thoughts swirling. Back in my room, I began to pack a small bag. It was just a two-day trip, nothing too elaborate. I would only need the essentials and my suppressants. I hesitated for a moment at the tiny bottle I kept hidden away.
I figured I'd just take one pill; no need to carry the whole bottle where someone might see it. My secret had to stay hidden, at least for now.
With a final, frustrated sigh, I zipped up the bag. I wasn't thrilled about the idea of leaving, but I knew I had little choice. The road ahead was uncertain, and I wasn't sure if I could trust myself or anyone to keep from causing chaos.
But for now, all I could do was follow orders, swallow one damn pill, and hope that two days away would keep the trouble at bay.
We arrived at the designated territory and were shown to a room where we could rest before dinner. The air was different here,thicker with tension and the scent of unfamiliar territory. Later, when dinner time arrived, we gathered in a grand dining hall.
At the head of the table sat the local Alpha, and beside him was his submissive mate—a small, delicate male who clearly yielded to his every command. Their interaction was intimate and overt: the Alpha's possessive touches, whispered commands, and the submissive's willing, almost reverent responses filled the room.
I couldn't help but notice that even as I ate quietly, my eyes occasionally met Dominic's across the table. His gaze was intense, almost as if he were comparing my stance to the softness of the submissive male at the Alpha's side.
As the conversation grew more animated, the smaller male his voice soft and curious asked, "Do you have a mate,is he dominant or sub Ashen?"
I set my fork down, meeting his eyes coolly. "No," I replied firmly, "I am a dominant offensively."
He smirked gently, as if considering the complexities of the answer. "Well," he said, "being a sub is not bad."
For a long moment, I remained silent, absorbing his words along with the charged atmosphere at the table. Every word, every glance, only deepened the conflict inside me between my desire to keep control and the chaotic allure of the forbidden.
His words hung in the air, lingering like a provocation I wasn't sure I wanted to face. I could feel the weight of every whispered command and intimate caress around the table the Alpha's possessive touch on his mate, the submissive's quiet complianceband it all stirred something unsettling in me.
Across the table, I caught sight of Dominic's steady, unwavering gaze on me. His eyes were dark, intense, as if challenging me to break free of the mask I wore. I knew he saw more than I was willing to admit, and that unsettled me even more than the overt display before me.
I forced myself to focus on the meal, on the clamor of voices and the ritualistic exchange of glances and touches. Yet every time I met Dominic's eyes, I felt that magnetic pull a reminder that I was more than just a warrior, more than a dominant who could simply control the battlefield. There was a part of me that was raw, vulnerable, and dangerously close to the edge.
After dinner, I excused myself and retreated to the quiet corridor of the compound. The chatter of the dining hall faded behind me, replaced by a heavy silence that seemed to echo every doubt. I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling the rapid beat of my heart, and wondered what it all meant.
I had always believed that being a dominant meant unyielding strength and absolute control. Yet tonight, with every subtle caress of that Alpha's mate and every lingering look from Dominic, I felt that certainty beginning to crack. The memory of my suppressed instincts those I had hidden behind a single pill each day began to rise unbidden.
I paused by a narrow window, peering out into the darkness beyond. I could almost see my reflection,a conflicted, defiant figure who denied what lay beneath. Could it be that, in my constant fight to prove my dominance, I had been fighting against a part of myself I secretly craved?
The thought was as disturbing as it was exhilarating. I shook my head hard, determined to bury it again. Two days away on this trip wasn't long enough for any revelations. I had a mission, and I'd keep my secret safe no matter how the night's events threatened to tear it apart.
But as I turned back toward my room, I couldn't shake the feeling that tonight had changed something.
I was still wrestling with the turmoil of the evening when the door to the corridor opened softly. I barely had time to brace myself before Dominic stepped in, his presence as commanding as ever.
"Having trouble sleeping, Ashen?" he asked, a playful lilt in his voice that contrasted with his intense gaze.
I scowled and folded my arms, trying to hide the heat rising in my cheeks. "Maybe I'm just not used to all this chatter before bedtime."
Dominic chuckled, leaning casually against the wall. "Oh, come now. Even a warrior like you must find the quiet a bit unsettling sometimes." He tilted his head, eyes twinkling with amusement. "I swear, you're always so serious. It wouldn't hurt to let your guard down a little."
I shifted my weight, feeling a mix of irritation and something I'd rather not admit. "My guard is exactly where it needs to be."
He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Sure, sure. But if you kept training that intense, you might end up wearing yourself out. And we can't have you collapsing on me, can we?"
I grunted, not quite sure whether to be angry or amused. His teasing was a familiar dance light-hearted banter laced with an edge that both irritated and intrigued me.
"Maybe I'll let you keep score next time," I shot back, trying to sound as defiant as I could.
Dominic laughed softly, stepping closer enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him. "Oh, I'd like that. But until then, try not to lose yourself in those thoughts of yours."
I frowned slightly, feeling my pulse spike. His casual words, so direct yet teasing, left me conflicted. I hated the way his presence made me feel, yet there was no denying that his light-hearted banter made the heaviness of the day seem a bit more bearable.
After a moment, he pushed off from the wall with a friendly nod. "Get some rest, Ashen. We've got a long day tomorrow."
I watched him go, feeling both relieved and strangely disappointed as the corridor fell silent again. I couldn't help but wonder what it would take to let my guard down for just a moment.
After the agreement with the alpha,we traveled back immediately.
It happened fast. Too fast.
One moment, Dominic and I were traveling back to the pack, the steady hum of the car's engine filling the silence between us. The next, chaos.
The first hit came out of nowhere.
A deafening crash. The impact sent us skidding off the road. My body lurched forward, barely caught by the seatbelt before we slammed into something solid.
The windshield shattered. Glass rained down like ice.
Before I could process what was happening, the doors were yanked open.
Hands grabbed at me. Rough, forceful. I lashed out on instinct, landing a hard kick to someone's ribs. A grunt of pain. But there were too many of them.
Dominic fought like a demon beside me, his growl a lethal promise of death. Fists connected with flesh. The sharp crack of bones breaking. But even he couldn't hold them off forever.
A sharp blow to the back of my head sent my vision spinning.
I collapsed to my knees. My body felt heavy. Weak.
Through the haze, I saw Dominic,still fighting, still standing,until they hit him with something. A dart? A silver blade?
His body jerked.
And then,darkness.