Ashen's POV
The wounds Dominic had dressed stung, but I forced myself to keep moving. I just needed to shut everything out.
By the time I reached my room, I was already pulling off my bloodied shirt, tossing it aside. I was about to collapse onto my bed when a knock sounded at my door.
I sighed. "What?"
The door cracked open, and Roy stepped in. His sharp gaze flickered over me, taking in the bandages and bruises.
"What the hell happened to you?" he asked, closing the door behind him.
I ran a hand through my damp hair, my exhaustion threatening to pull me under. "Just training."
Roy raised an eyebrow. "Training, or getting your ass handed to you?"
I scowled. "It was a fair fight."
He didn't look convinced. "Was it Garrick?"
I didn't answer, which was answer enough.
Roy sighed, stepping closer. "You're reckless, Ashen. You fight like you have nothing to lose."
I hated how that sat uncomfortably in my chest.
I looked away. "I can handle myself."
Roy studied me for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. But if you keep walking around like you're asking for a fight, one day you're going to get one you can't win."
I didn't respond.
I tossed and turned, but sleep wouldn't come.
The dull ache from my wounds wasn't the problem,it was the restlessness. My mind refused to quiet, circling back to the fight, to Dominic, to everything I was trying not to think about.
With a frustrated sigh, I shoved the blanket off and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. I needed air.
The packhouse was silent as I stepped outside, the cool night breeze biting at my skin. The moon hung high, casting long shadows across the grounds. I took a deep breath, letting the crisp air settle the unease in my chest.
Then I heard it.
"Can't sleep, huh?"
I stiffened. Turning my head, I found Dominic leaning against a nearby post, arms crossed over his chest. His silver eyes gleamed in the moonlight, sharp and unreadable.
I swallowed. "What are you doing out here?"
He smirked. "I could ask you the same thing."
I looked away, not answering.
Dominic pushed off the post and stepped closer. Too close. I caught the scent of him,strong, grounding, distracting.
"You know," he said casually, "most mates sleep better when they're together."
My jaw clenched. "Not this again."
He chuckled, the sound low and deep. "It's true. Your body recognizes your mate. Being apart makes it harder to rest."
I scoffed. "I've been fine without a mate all my life."
Dominic tilted his head. "And yet, here you are, sleepless."
I hated that he had a point.
His gaze flickered over me, assessing. Then he took another step forward, lowering his voice. "Come back with me."
My breath hitched. "To your room?"
His smirk softened into something almost unreadable. "To sleep, Ashen. Just sleep."
I scoffed, crossing my arms. "I'm not some weak pup that needs comfort, Dominic. I can sleep just fine on my own."
He arched a brow, clearly unconvinced. "Really? Because you look like you haven't slept properly in days."
I tensed but didn't respond.
Dominic stepped closer, his voice lowering. "Deny it all you want, but your body knows the truth."
I refused to let his words get to me.
"I'll be fine," I muttered, turning away.
Dominic let out a low sigh. "Stubborn."
I ignored him and walked off, heading toward the training grounds instead. If I wasn't going to sleep, I might as well do something useful.
But as I walked away, I could still feel his gaze on me, heavy and unrelenting.
I kept walking, ignoring the weight of Dominic's gaze on my back. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of looking back, of letting him see the way his words unsettled me.
By the time I reached the training grounds, the night air had cooled further, chilling the sweat on my skin. I welcomed the sting of it. Anything to drown out the thoughts swirling in my head.
I rolled my shoulders and threw a punch at the training dummy. Then another. Harder. Faster. My muscles screamed in protest, but I didn't stop.
"Most mates sleep better when they're together."
I grit my teeth and kicked the dummy, knocking it slightly off balance. I didn't need him. I'd spent years taking care of myself, hiding what I was, fighting for every inch of my strength. I wasn't about to throw it all away because of some bond I never asked for.
But my body betrayed me.
I was exhausted. My limbs felt heavy, my movements sluggish. Even my breathing wasn't as controlled as it should have been.
A sharp pain shot through my ribs where Garrick had landed a hit earlier. I sucked in a breath and pressed a hand against my side, cursing under my breath. Pathetic.
Just as I was about to shake it off and keep going, a voice cut through the silence.
"You don't know when to stop, do you?"
I froze.
Turning my head slightly, I saw Dominic standing at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, watching me with that same unreadable expression.
My heart pounded, but I masked it with irritation. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped closer, his movements slow, deliberate. "Making sure you don't collapse."
I scowled. "I told you, I'm fine."
Dominic tilted his head slightly. "And yet, you're bleeding. Again."
I glanced down and realized a bit of blood had seeped through the bandage on my arm. Probably from overexertion. I clenched my jaw, feeling a wave of frustration,not just at him, but at myself.
Dominic sighed, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
I turned back to the training dummy, raising my fists again. "Then leave."
But before I could throw another punch, he was in front of me.
Too close.
I stepped back instinctively, but he didn't let me go far. His hand caught my wrist, firm but not forceful. His warmth seeped into my skin, and for a second, my breath hitched.
"I get it," he said, voice quieter now. "You want to prove something. To me, to yourself, maybe even to them." His gaze flickered toward the packhouse, then back to me. "But killing yourself to do it? That's not strength, Ashen."
I swallowed hard, but my throat felt tight.
Dominic studied my face for a moment before sighing again. "Come back inside."
I shook my head immediately.
His grip on my wrist tightened just a little. "Ashen."
I pulled free. "No."
He exhaled slowly, but didn't argue. Instead, he took a step back. "Fine. Stay out here if you want. But at least let me wrap your arm before you make it worse."
I hesitated. Letting him take care of me felt dangerous.
But I was too damn tired to fight anymore.
"…Fine."
Dominic's lips twitched like he wanted to smirk, but he didn't. Instead, he nodded once and gestured toward the bench nearby.
And for some reason, I let him.
I sat stiffly on the bench, watching as Dominic crouched in front of me, unrolling fresh bandages. His movements were precise, practiced,like this wasn't the first time he'd patched someone up.
I hated how easily he took control, how natural it felt for him to tend to me.
"This might sting," he murmured.
I clenched my jaw as he pressed a damp cloth to the reopened wound on my arm. I refused to flinch.
Dominic noticed anyway. "You should be more careful."
I huffed. "That's rich, coming from you."
He raised a brow. "I don't go looking for fights I can't win."
I scoffed. "Neither do I."
Dominic didn't argue, but the look he gave me said he didn't believe me.
The silence between us stretched as he finished cleaning the wound and began wrapping my arm. His touch was gentler than I expected. Despite his reputation, despite his dominance, he wasn't rough with me.
That realization made my stomach twist.
When he was done, he sat back on his heels, studying me. "You should go inside now."
I shook my head. "I'll go when I'm ready."
His jaw ticked like he wanted to argue, but then he surprised me by sighing and standing. "Fine. But don't push yourself past your limits."
I didn't respond.
Dominic lingered for a second longer before stepping back. "Good night, Ashen."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the quiet.
I stared after him, my heart unsteady.