Alpha Dominic’s POV
I decided to pick Katarina up myself, ignoring my Beta’s offer to handle it. My wolf was restless, eager to see her again after the close encounter we had last night. Throughout the night, I couldn’t stop thinking about her-this delicate creature who somehow, against all odds, was a wolf. She appeared so small and fragile, it was hard to believe she could be a threat to anyone.
When we arrived, my wolf growled lowly at the sight of a boy sitting too close to her. The possessiveness surged within me, and I questioned how he dared to sit near my mate. It was clear from the way he looked at her that he had feelings for her, but her eyes didn’t mirror the same emotions. It seemed she was either unaware or indifferent to his affection.
I watched as Katarina came out, dragging her luggage behind her, the size of which nearly matched her own small frame. The sight brought a flicker of amusement to me, and I couldn’t help but voice my thoughts.
“Not very strong, are you?” I mused, unable to suppress the chuckle from my wolf, who found it hard to imagine her being a threat to anyone. Unlike any she-wolf I had ever seen, Katarina was a complete surprise. I half expected to provoke her, curious to see if her face would flush as it had the day before.
As predicted, her cheeks turned a bright shade of red. It amused me how easily I could trigger such a reaction. She stomped past me toward my black hummer, clearly putting in all her effort to leave me behind. Her brisk pace was no match for me, and her short legs only added to the amusement.
I opened the trunk of the hummer and gestured for her to place her luggage there. Normally, I would’ve helped, but her little display of independence made me curious to see if she could manage it on her own.
Silently, I watched as she bent over to lift her suitcase. Her poor posture gave me another excuse to stoke the blush that often colored her cheeks. “You’ll hurt yourself lifting like that,” I commented, letting a hint of amusement seep into my voice. Her face turned an even deeper red, and it took everything in me not to laugh.
My amusement faded as I noticed her starting to lose balance under the weight of the suitcase. Her wide eyes signaled she was about to fall, and before I realized it, I was behind her, steadying her small frame before she could topple over. The sparks that shot up my arms upon touching her were more intense than I’d anticipated, and I found them strangely calming, though I’d never admit it.
She looked up at me, clearly startled, and softly whispered, “Thank you.” Those simple words made my heart race, and my wolf was satisfied that we had protected our mate, even if it was from herself.
With some effort, she finally managed to load her luggage into the vehicle. I opened the passenger door for her and then climbed into the driver’s seat, the silence between us heavy with unspoken thoughts. My mind kept drifting back to the boy who had been sitting too close to her. Who was he? How long had he known her? Did she realize he was in love with her? From her innocent expression, I doubted she had any idea.
Unable to hold back, I finally broke the silence. “The boy cares for you,” I stated, keeping my tone neutral. I knew she’d understand who I meant.
“Of course, he’s my best friend,” she replied, her voice soft and delicate. My wolf reveled in the sound of her voice, savoring each word that left her lips.
“He’s in love with you, but you don’t feel the same,” I continued, my wolf’s jealousy seeping into my thoughts. I could feel my eyes darken with Hunter’s envy, but I held him back. “Does he not know who we are?” Hunter growled, barely containing his anger.
“Can you blame him?” I asked, attempting to calm my wolf.
“No, but now that he knows she’s ours, he’ll be no threat,” Hunter growled, though I couldn’t help but consider how easy it would be to eliminate the boy. No one would ever know. I could return to her pack and snuff out his life like a candle.
“That would upset her,” Hunter grumbled, reluctant to cause her any pain.
“Does it matter?” she asked softly, making me regret letting Hunter take over. One thing was clear: she had no idea of the boy’s feelings.
The silence returned, and I began to think about what to do when we reached my territory. Should I announce that I had found my mate? Or keep it quiet for now? Should I give her time to adjust before I claimed her as mine? Hunter whined at the thought, craving to mark her as ours and keep her safe from other males. The idea of anyone else eyeing her unmarked neck filled me with jealousy, and I suppressed a growl to avoid scaring her.
A sweet, intoxicating scent suddenly hit me, different from Katarina’s usual vanilla and honey. My wolf became restless, and I breathed deeply, trying to pinpoint the source of this new scent. It was unlike anything I had encountered since meeting her.
I glanced over to see Katarina shifting uncomfortably, squeezing her legs together. The realization hit me-our mate was aroused, and it was because of us. Hunter roared to life, eager to claim her right there in the car. I fought to keep control, knowing this wasn’t the time or place.
“Katarina, whatever you’re thinking, you need to stop,” I commanded, my voice firm as I struggled to maintain control. Hunter was on the verge of taking over, and I couldn’t allow it. Though I was equally tempted, I had more experience controlling my desires than Hunter did.
Without even seeing her, I knew her face had turned red. But what pushed me to the brink was when she licked her lips, confirming her thoughts were on us. That simple, involuntary gesture nearly broke my resolve. She shifted again, and her scent grew stronger, driving both Hunter and me to the edge.
“Katarina,” I growled, my wolf forcing me to pull the hummer over to the side of the road. I turned to face her, the innocent shock on her face only fueling my desire. I couldn’t help but think that she was going to be my undoing. Who would have thought the infamous Alpha Dominic Grimstone would be brought down by such a small, innocent girl?
“I won’t hesitate to take you here and now, not even the scent of another male would stop me,” I growled, my thoughts intertwined with Hunter’s. The urge to claim her, to taste her, was overwhelming. Every woman I had ever been with paled in comparison to her. I wanted to make her scream my name, to beg for release as I showed her pleasure beyond her wildest dreams.
As her scent began to fade, I felt a twinge of disappointment. I wanted her to give in, but I knew it was only a matter of time. If she couldn’t control herself in a car, what would happen when we were alone in a room? With great effort, I reined in my thoughts. But no matter how hard I tried, one thing remained constant: Katarina.