10

Katarina’s P. O. V.
I spent the rest of the day in the living room with Raven, who looked unusually solemn, Gideon, who was brooding, and Astrid and Valen, who were visibly frightened. Even Aria joined us for a while, though she eventually left to meet with her newly discovered mate. I was surprised but happy to hear the news-Aria’s mate was the beta of a neighboring pack. It warmed my heart to know that my little sister had found someone who was kind and loving, which was everything she had ever wished for. As she eagerly shared how smitten he was with her from the very first moment they met, I listened with a smile, finding comfort in knowing that at least my brother and sister were well cared for, even if my own future was uncertain.
Raven’s eyes sparkled as she talked about her mate, Maximus, and I could see how much she already missed him. A glance at Gideon, however, revealed a different story-his unhappiness was clear, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him. Where could his mate be? I wondered, distracting myself from the reality that today, I would be leaving my home behind.
Draven’s words echoed in my mind. Could it really be true that Gideon liked me? I tried to search within myself for any similar feelings, but despite all the flirting, I had never seen him as more than a best friend. I couldn’t help but imagine how different my life might have been if I had returned his feelings, if I had never met Alpha Dominic. Would we have been happy together, at least until his true mate appeared? Where would that have left me?
As unsettling as my situation was, my mother’s final words to me kept replaying in my head. Each time I thought of them, my wolf protested, but deep down, I knew my mother had a point. I pushed those thoughts to the back of my mind, determined to bring them out only if I absolutely needed to.
Time seemed to fly by, and before I knew it, hours had passed with my friends and brother. I nervously bit my lip, waiting for the knock on the door that would change my life forever. Was I truly ready for this? To leave everything I knew behind without looking back? Though it felt like I hardly had time to say goodbye, in reality, I had spent the entire day doing just that.
My thoughts wandered to Alpha Dominic, and I wondered why he had given me the whole day to say goodbye. Did he miss me the way Raven seemed to miss Maximus? Throughout the day, I found myself thinking of Alpha Dominic more often than I cared to admit. His emotionless face lingered in my mind, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he might look like if he smiled.
A knock on the front door finally sounded, and I couldn’t stop myself from glancing excitedly towards it. After taking a few steadying breaths, my mother shot me a knowing look before opening the door. My breath caught as I looked into the stormy eyes of Alpha Dominic. My heart raced, but this time, it wasn’t from fear.
A strange feeling washed over me, and I didn’t feel as afraid as before. I remembered the promise I had made to myself-I would do my best to control my fear. My heart fluttered as I took in his presence. For someone with such a fearsome reputation, he looked almost god-like. I watched in fascination as the muscles in his jaw worked, my gaze trailing over his full lips, strong eyebrows, and long lashes. Despite my efforts, my eyes wandered lower, taking in the full breadth of his form. I couldn’t believe someone could be so imposing-his arms alone seemed thicker than my entire body. His presence commanded attention, dominance, and power radiating from him like heat from a wildfire. For once, the terrified part of me fell silent, stunned by this man. Was this truly our mate?
When his stormy eyes met mine, I couldn’t decipher any emotion behind them. A hundred times over, I wondered, **What does Alpha Dominic think of me?** I hoped that one day I might be important enough to see behind the mask he showed to the world. But what if there was nothing behind it at all? I pushed that unsettling thought aside, knowing that if it were true, my mother’s advice would become my reality.
“Come in,” my mother said, stepping aside and gesturing toward where I sat in the living room.
Alpha Dominic’s gaze never left mine as he stepped inside with a nod to my mother. I couldn’t help but notice how his head nearly grazed the door frame. As his eyes darkened while looking at me, I realized I was sitting next to Gideon on the couch, his arm resting on the cushion behind my shoulders. My cheeks flushed as I understood the reason for Alpha Dominic’s gaze-sitting so closely to an unmated male was bound to provoke a response, especially with me being unmarked. The realization that I would soon be marked by Alpha Dominic sent a shiver through me. I would officially be his.
While part of me was horrified, another part couldn’t help but long for the moment when his lips would press against the most sensitive part of my neck. Pushing those thoughts aside, I stood from the couch, determined not to let my imagination run wild.
Rose, my wolf, teased me, urging me to push the boundaries with Alpha Dominic, to make him show me exactly how he felt.
“Pervert,” I muttered to Rose, who gave me an innocent look.
“I’m not,” she taunted. “He’s our mate. And don’t act like you weren’t tempted.”
I ignored her and quietly said, “I’m ready.”
I grabbed my large suitcase and smaller duffle bag, turning to take one last look at my family and friends. Their sad expressions tugged at my heart, but I knew I would see them again, whether in this life or the next. I tried to convey my love for them through my gaze. When I looked at Gideon, his sad eyes seemed to want to say something, but I silently willed him to stay quiet, not to resist. I knew Alpha Dominic wouldn’t hesitate to remove Gideon, especially after seeing us sitting so closely together.
With a small smile, I turned my back on the people I had known my entire life and walked out the door.
Alpha Dominic followed silently as I dragged my suitcase behind me, the only sound being its wheels scraping against the cement steps. I watched, confused, as he stepped in front of me with a slight frown on his face.
“You’re not very strong, are you?” he mused, almost as if talking to himself. My mouth dropped open in disbelief, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment and annoyance. I huffed and stomped past his towering form. It was childish, but I couldn’t help it-this man was taking me away from my home without a second thought and then had the nerve to call me weak! Ignoring the amused look in his eyes, I marched toward the black Hummer parked in the driveway, using every ounce of strength I had to try and leave him behind.
Alpha Dominic, however, walked at a relaxed pace, allowing me to throw my little tantrum. He walked by my side to the back of the Hummer and opened the trunk for me, a strange expression on his face as he gestured toward the empty space. I shot him my best attempt at a murderous glare and bent to lift my suitcase into the back.
“You’ll hurt yourself lifting it like that,” his deep voice remarked, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of his lips. My cheeks burned even more as embarrassment flooded me. How many times was I going to embarrass myself in front of this man? Not that I entirely blamed myself-he was being particularly infuriating at the moment.
Ignoring his comment, I somehow managed to lift the heavy suitcase, though it was a struggle to keep it steady. My annoyance fueled me as I staggered toward the trunk of the Hummer. Just as I was about to lift it inside, the weight shifted, and I stumbled backward, gravity taking hold.
I let out a small noise of surprise as I began to fall, but instead of hitting the ground, I felt something solid behind me. Sparks ignited along my skin as Alpha Dominic’s hands gripped my arms, steadying me before I could fall. My back pressed against his chest, and the sparks that ran down my arms eased some of the frustration I had been feeling.
“Thank you,” I murmured softly, shifting my weight forward to toss my suitcase into the back of the hummer. A sense of satisfaction washed over me as I successfully added my smaller duffel bag alongside it. Still smiling to myself, I closed the trunk door and turned to face Alpha Dominic. I caught a glimpse of a peculiar expression on his face, but as soon as he noticed me watching, his features quickly settled into the familiar emotionless mask I was beginning to recognize.
Without saying a word, he moved to the passenger door and opened it for me, then circled back to the driver’s side without waiting. I climbed into the hummer, scanning the back seat, half expecting to see the men who usually accompanied him.
“They’ll follow in a separate vehicle,” his deep voice cut through the silence, as if he had read my mind.
We drove in silence, the late-night darkness enveloping us. I didn’t know what to say, so I watched the familiar streets of my hometown fade into the distance. It was Alpha Dominic who finally broke the silence.
“The boy-he has feelings for you,” he stated, his eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead. His voice was devoid of emotion, making it clear that he wasn’t asking but stating a fact. His light grey eyes darkened as he spoke, hinting at his wolf stirring beneath the surface.
“Of course, he’s my best friend,” I replied, my voice wavering. Something about him made it difficult to speak with confidence.
“He’s in love with you, but you don’t return his feelings.” His eyes met mine, filled with a stormy intensity that left me momentarily speechless. I wondered what his wolf was saying to him.
“Does it matter?” I frowned, uneasy about discussing Gideon with him. Out of all possible topics for our first real conversation, this was one I would’ve avoided. Grateful for the cover of night, I hoped my blushing cheeks were hidden from view.
He didn’t respond, and the car lapsed back into silence.
As the hours passed, I let my mind wander, my gaze drawn to the passing streetlights. Occasionally, I’d steal glances at Alpha Dominic, captivated by the subtle movements of his hair and the strength etched into his jawline. His full lips held my attention, even in the dim light, and I found myself taking quiet breaths of his intoxicating scent.
My thoughts drifted further, the fear that had once gripped me now a distant memory. All I could think about was the man beside me, the heat radiating from his body, and the tantalizing glimpse of a tattoo peeking from beneath his black t-shirt. I wondered how far it extended, what it would feel like under my fingertips. My wolf encouraged these thoughts, urging me to test his boundaries.
“Push him,” a voice whispered in my mind, curious about how far he’d go.
A deep growl pulled me from my thoughts. I looked up, startled, to see Alpha Dominic’s eyes locked onto mine, their usual grey now replaced by a deep, consuming black. His hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and I realized with a shock that he could sense my arousal. My legs squeezed together involuntarily, and he responded with another low growl.
“Katarina, whatever you’re thinking about needs to stop,” his voice boomed, breaking the silence with a commanding authority.
Embarrassment flooded through me, and I hurriedly licked my dry lips, hoping to regain some composure. His gaze dropped to my lips, and I saw the raw intensity in his eyes.
“Keep going,” Rose, my wolf, urged, her thoughts playing out vividly in my mind.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, a strange sensation pooling in my core. These feelings were entirely new to me, brought to the surface by his mere presence. Why was he awakening these emotions within me? I had been perfectly content without them.
“Katarina,” he growled again, pulling the hummer onto the shoulder of the road with a sudden jerk.
My heart seemed to stop as he turned his full attention on me. For the first time, I saw raw emotion in his eyes-lust. “Katarina, I won’t think twice about claiming you right here, right now. The scent of another male won’t hold me back.” His voice resonated with a dark intensity as his gaze locked onto mine.
Rose, my wolf, was practically howling with excitement, urging me to test him, to see just how far he’d go. Would he really do it? Though I’d never admit it, if he tried, I wasn’t sure I’d want to resist. What was happening to me? Had I forgotten what happened the last time I trusted someone with my body? Even though I was still a virgin, it didn’t change the trauma of that day. It didn’t erase the fear that had warped my perception of intimacy.
Alpha Dominic held my gaze for a moment longer, then turned back to the road, sensing my decision. We resumed our journey in silence, my previous thoughts locked away, determined to keep them at bay.
Rose grumbled in frustration, but this wasn’t about her. It was about me and what I wasn’t ready for-what I might never be ready for. Despite my internal struggle, I knew the reality: sooner or later, Alpha Dominic would want to claim what was left of my innocence.