Ashen's pov
I clenched my jaw, staring out over the lake, trying to calm the storm raging inside me.
Dominic stood beside me, his presence impossible to ignore. He didn't need to say anything—his confidence, his damn arrogance, filled the space between us, pressing against my already frayed nerves.
"You can't ignore this forever, Wolfe."
His voice was steady, sure. It pissed me off.
I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. "Watch me."
He smirked. I didn't have to see it to know. I felt it.
"We both know how that's gonna end."
I finally turned to face him, my glare sharp, cutting. But he didn't flinch. He never did.
Instead, he just watched me, golden eyes filled with something unreadable. Something that made my chest feel too tight.
I hated that.
Hated how easily he could get under my skin.
Hated how my mind kept replaying the feel of his hands on me. His mouth.
And worst of all—
I hated that I wanted it again.
I clenched my fists, trying to ground myself. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
His lips curved slightly. "What? Watching you struggle to deny what you clearly want?"
I scowled. "Fuck off."
He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. "You can keep fighting it, Ashen. Keep running. But every time you do, it just makes me want to chase you more."
My throat bobbed.
I wanted to snap back, to throw some biting remark at him, but I couldn't find the words.
Because he was right.
I was running.
And the worst part?
I didn't know if I wanted him to stop chasing me.
The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
Dominic noticed. Of course he did. His gaze flickered lower, catching the way my fingers trembled slightly before I curled them tighter.
He took a step closer. Not touching. Just close enough.
My pulse spiked.
"Say it," he murmured.
I swallowed hard. "Say what?"
His smirk faded. His voice dropped lower, rougher. "That you want me."
My breath hitched.
I shook my head, taking a step back. "I can't."
His jaw tightened.
Not in anger.
In understanding.
I expected him to push. To demand.
But instead, he exhaled slowly, then took a step back, too.
"Fine," he said. "I'll wait."
My chest ached.
I didn't know what scared me more—
That he was willing to wait.
Or that a part of me wanted to stop making him.
Went back to my room to sleep.
A strong hand gripped my shoulder, shaking me firmly but not harshly.
"Ashen."
The voice was deep, steady. Familiar. But my mind was still trapped in the nightmare—still drowning in the past.
I thrashed, gasping as I shot upright, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. My body reacted before my mind could catch up—I shoved him with everything I had.
"Get away!"
Dominic barely moved. His golden eyes were sharp, assessing, his expression unreadable as he took in my ragged breaths, my trembling hands.
The dim candlelight cast shadows along the walls, but I could still feel the suffocating weight of the dream pressing against my ribs. My uncle's voice still echoed in my skull, cruel and unrelenting.
You'll learn one way or another. That's all omegas are good for.
I clutched the sheets so tightly my fingers ached. The phantom sensation of rough hands still burned against my skin, even though I knew he wasn't here.
But the fear—that was real.
"I will never be submissive," I spat, my voice shaking with something I couldn't control. "I will never let you fuck me—I won't—"
My voice cracked. My body locked up, my breath coming in harsh, ragged gasps.
I felt exposed.
Vulnerable.
And Dominic was watching me.
Not with pity. Not with smug satisfaction.
With something quieter. Something dangerous.
Understanding.
I hated it.
His scent—earthy and warm, laced with the crisp bite of smoke—wrapped around me, grounding and infuriating all at once. I turned my face away, curling in on myself.
"Leave me alone," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
A long silence stretched between us.
Then, instead of leaving—Dominic moved.
I tensed, expecting force. Expecting him to push, to demand, to not give me the space I so desperately needed.
But all he did was sit.
Right on the edge of the bed.
Close—but not too close.
The mattress dipped under his weight, and his presence was too much—too steady, too real.
A warm touch brushed against my wrist. Barely there.
Not forcing.
Just offering.
I flinched, instinct screaming at me to shove him away again. To put distance between us before I shattered completely.
But I didn't.
Because his hand didn't grip me. Didn't take.
It simply waited.
"Breathe," he said, voice low.
I wanted to snap at him. To tell him to fuck off.
But I couldn't get the words out.
Because my body—my traitorous, shaking body—listened.
I dragged in a breath, the air rattling in my lungs. It wasn't enough. It didn't make the panic disappear.
But it kept me from drowning.
"Don't fucking pity me," I rasped, my voice barely steady.
Dominic let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand over his face. "You think that's what this is?"
I didn't answer.
Because I didn't know.
All I knew was that this was too much. Too close. Too… everything.
Dominic exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I'm not your past, Ashen," he said, his voice quieter now.
My stomach twisted violently.
I turned my head, forcing my face into the shadows. "Just… go."
Another silence.
Then, after a long pause—
"Fine."
His chair scraped against the floor as he stood.
But before he left, he hesitated at the door.
"I don't know what happened to you." His voice was even, but there was something dangerous lurking underneath. "But it was wrong. You're not weak. No matter what the fuck made you believe."
Then he was gone.
And I was left in the quiet.
Alone.
But this time, as I clenched my shaking hands, I wasn't sure if that was what I wanted.
The next morning, I felt like shit.
Not just because of the nightmare. Not just because Dominic had seen me like that.
But because some part of me—some deep, twisted part I didn't want to acknowledge had wanted him to stay.
I shook off the thought violently as I pulled on a clean shirt, ignoring the tightness in my chest. I couldn't afford to be weak. Not now. Not ever.
By the time I made it to the training grounds, the sun was barely up, but the warriors were already gathered, sparring in pairs. I needed the distraction. I needed something to burn away the remnants of last night.
But, of course, fate had other plans.
Dominic was there.
Standing with Ryker near the center of the field, arms crossed, golden eyes scanning the warriors like a damn predator watching his pack.
My stomach twisted, but I forced my expression into something neutral.
Ignore him. Train. Move on.
I found an opponent easily enough—a stocky warrior with quick reflexes. The moment we started, I threw myself into the fight, fists flying, muscles burning with the effort. This was what I needed. Control.
And for a while, it worked.
Until he walked over.
"Wolfe," Dominic's voice cut through the sound of fists hitting flesh. "Spar with me."
I stiffened mid-dodge, barely avoiding a hit to my ribs.
Slowly, I turned.
He was already unbuttoning his cuffs, rolling up his sleeves with slow, deliberate movements. His forearms flexed, the corded muscles shifting under tan skin, and the sight sent an unwanted shiver through me.
I forced a scoff. "Don't you have more important things to do? Like growling at people or glaring at the wind?"
A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Maybe. But this is much more entertaining."
I wanted to punch him just for that smug look alone.
I also wanted to run.
Because sparring with Dominic? That wasn't training. That was playing with fire.
"You scared, Wolfe?" he taunted, stepping onto the mat.
I bared my teeth. "Not of you."
I should have walked away.
Instead, I squared my stance.
Ryker let out a low whistle as he stepped back, giving us space. The rest of the warriors subtly turned to watch.
Dominic moved first fast, powerful. I barely dodged his first strike, twisting at the last second to avoid his grasp. But I wasn't just dodging. I was watching him, studying his movement, his weight shifts, the sharpness of his eyes.
He was toying with me.
I narrowed my gaze.
Fine. Let's see how long that lasted.
I lunged, going for a feint before twisting into a kick aimed at his ribs. He blocked with ease, the impact reverberating up my leg.
I didn't give him time to recover. I struck again, faster this time. A punch. A dodge. A pivot.
The world narrowed down to movement and instinct, the rush of battle drowning out everything else.
Until—
Dominic moved.
Faster than I could react, he twisted, caught my wrist, and yanked.
My balance snapped. My world tilted.
The next thing I knew, I was pinned.
My back hit the mat hard, breath punched from my lungs, and Dominic was on top of me one knee between my legs, his hand wrapped around my throat, his weight pressing me down.
A growl rumbled in his chest, dark and satisfied.
My pulse roared.
I glared up at him, breath ragged, my body too aware of how close he was. How his grip wasn't hurting just holding. Controlling.
"You're good," Dominic murmured, his voice low, husky. "But I'm better."
Heat flared in my chest, something dangerous and unbearable.
I shouldn't feel this way. Not after last night. Not after everything.
I shoved at him, but he didn't budge. His grip on my throat remained light but firm—more of a reminder than a restraint.
"Let me up," I bit out.
He didn't move.
Instead, his golden gaze locked onto mine, unreadable. Calculating.
Then his thumb brushed against my pulse.
Not enough to be a caress. But not not one either.
I went still.
The air between us thickened.
My heartbeat slammed against my ribs, traitorous and betraying.
Something flickered in his gaze. Something deep. Knowing.
Then, after what felt like a lifetime
Dominic leaned in, his breath warm against my ear.
"Not yet," he murmured.
Then, finally, finally, he let go.
I scrambled up the second his weight lifted, heart hammering, face burning.
Dominic smirked at me, casual as ever, rolling his shoulders like he hadn't just wrecked my entire fucking equilibrium.
Ryker snorted. "Damn, Wolfe. He had you good."
I scowled, dusting off my shirt. "Shut up."
But I wasn't glaring at Ryker.
I was glaring at him.
Because Dominic Kael Varen was playing a dangerous game.
And I had no idea if I wanted to fight him…
Or let him win.