15

Seraphina’s POV
After leaving Katarina to get ready for dinner, I headed straight for Dominic’s room, fully aware that he was likely brooding.
I knocked a few times but, unsurprisingly, got no response. Deciding not to waste any more time, I let myself in. Sure enough, there he was, the formidable Alpha of the Silver Moon pack, sulking over a girl who probably weighed no more than a hundred and ten pounds.
“If I didn’t answer, that should have been your cue to leave,” Dominic growled, his voice laced with irritation. Most people would be intimidated, but not me. I knew better.
“Well, too bad. Lucian and I are taking Katarina out for dinner,” I declared, rolling my eyes at his attempt to scare me. As tough as he looked, he had a knack for acting like a child.
“You are not doing any such thing,” he barked, rising from his bed and glaring at me with that infamous scowl. His stubbornness was infuriating.
“Oh, but I am. She already despises you for locking her up for three days-which, by the way, was a seriously jerk move. Taking her to dinner is a chance for me to undo some of the damage you’ve done,” I retorted, my hands finding their way to my hips as I stood firm in my stance.
Dominic had his share of issues, more than I did, but I wasn’t the one leading an entire pack. He had responsibilities, and part of that was learning how to treat his mate.
“She needs to learn some respect,” Dominic hissed, his tone eerily similar to that of our despicable father.
“She’s a seventeen-year-old girl, Dominic, who was torn away from her home by someone who’s supposed to be her loving mate. Did it ever occur to you that maybe, just maybe, if you were kind to her, she might actually start to like you?” I argued, hoping to penetrate that thick skull of his. Even if he wasn’t going to listen now, I had to plant the seed. Maybe one day, he’d realize I knew what I was talking about.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows when I first met Lucian, but that’s a story for another time. Right now, I was focused on ensuring my brother’s story didn’t end in disaster.
“I didn’t make this pack the strongest in the world by being nice,” Dominic snapped, his voice dripping with sarcasm. At least he was showing some emotion-maybe that was progress.
“But she’s not just anyone-she’s your mate,” I sighed, feeling the conversation spiraling into frustration.
“Listen, I’m taking her to dinner. I’ll talk to her, and maybe, just maybe, she’ll forgive you for being such a jerk. But you need to meet me halfway,” I insisted, crossing my arms. For someone so smart, Dominic could be utterly clueless at times.
“And what if she tries to escape again? I should come with you,” he demanded, his brows knitting together in a deep frown.
“No, you’re staying here. Lucian and I will be with her the entire time. She won’t get the chance to run,” I assured him, noting the softening of his stance.
“I still don’t think this is a good idea,” Dominic grumbled, though his voice had lost some of its earlier frustration.
“Look, she hasn’t eaten in three days, and she needs to get out of this house. It’ll do her some good,” I coaxed, knowing he couldn’t resist the idea of making his mate happy. Despite everything, I knew my brother had always longed for a mate.
“Fine. But don’t let her out of your sight, not even for a second. And you’re to come straight back after dinner,” Dominic agreed, his tone leaving no room for debate.
“Thanks, big bro,” I grinned, unable to resist poking fun at him as I turned to leave.
“Oh, and by the way, I can see why she’s your mate. Who knew a little girl could get under your skin like that?” I teased, darting out of his room before he could react.
The last thing I saw was Dominic’s face contorting in anger, his mouth opening to shout-though what, I didn’t stick around to find out.
Katarina’s POV
As I rummaged through my closet, deciding what to wear, a sense of relief washed over me at the thought of finally leaving the house. My stomach growled insistently, a harsh reminder of how long it had been since I last ate.
I settled on something outside my usual wardrobe-a short black dress that skimmed my mid-thigh, paired with simple black flats. While I wasn’t opposed to skirts and dresses, I wasn’t exactly used to dressing up either. The only occasions that called for it were the Moon Balls, but those were a thing of the past now.
Honestly, I’d attend a million more Moon Balls if it meant Alpha Dominic wasn’t my mate.
After a quick shower, I dried my hair, applied some light makeup, and slipped into my chosen outfit. The act of showering alone lifted my spirits, almost making me forget I’d been locked in a basement for three days.
I grabbed a matching black purse, tossed my phone inside, and quietly made my way downstairs, waiting in the living room for Seraphina to arrive.
“You look amazing!” Seraphina complimented as she descended the stairs. I couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious around her. Although I felt more at ease with Dominic’s sister than with the Alpha himself, her stunning beauty was a little intimidating.
“Thanks, you look great too,” I replied with a small smile, gesturing to her striking red dress.
“Lucian’s waiting for us outside!” she announced, beaming as she tucked her phone back into her purse.
Following Seraphina outside, I slid into a light-colored sedan parked by the house. I averted my eyes as she and Lucian shared a kiss, exchanging looks that made it clear they only had eyes for each other. The display of affection only reminded me of my own unfortunate mate situation.
“Hi, Katarina!” Lucian greeted me with a smile through the rearview mirror as he drove away from the house.
“Hi,” I replied, feeling a bit uneasy but immensely grateful for the chance to escape the presence of a certain hot-headed Alpha.
We pulled into the parking lot of a rather fancy-looking restaurant and headed inside.
“Reservation for Grimstone. We’re adding one more person if that’s alright,” Seraphina said with a bright smile, her charm clearly not lost on the young employee. I noticed Lucian’s arm tighten around her waist protectively.
“N-No problem at all for the Grimstone. Please give the Alpha my regards,” the employee stammered as he led us to the dining area. I wondered if everyone reacted this way to Dominic’s family.
We took our seats around a large circular table, and I found myself fiddling with my napkin as Seraphina engaged me in conversation.
“So, what do you think of the pack so far?” she asked, her pride in her home evident.
“Well, I haven’t really seen much beyond the inside of the house… and the basement,” I added with a hint of sarcasm.
“He didn’t even bother to show you around? How typical,” Seraphina huffed, rolling her eyes. Lucian placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, sharing a tender smile with her. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was intruding on what should have been a romantic evening for them.
“I’m sorry for crashing your dinner plans. I could’ve just stayed back at the house. But thank you for getting me out of that place,” I said, feeling a wave of sadness wash over me. All I really wanted was to crawl under the covers of the bed in my room. My stomach growled again, but the loneliness I felt was stronger than my hunger.
Rose, my wolf, had gone silent a while ago, likely from the lack of food and water, and the stress was taking its toll. For the second time in my life, I felt utterly alone.
“Nonsense, you needed a break after what my brother put you through,” Seraphina muttered, taking a sip of the water placed before her.
“Are you ready to order?” a cheerful blonde waitress asked with a bright smile. I realized I hadn’t even glanced at the menu.
“We’ll have our usual, along with three bottles of your best red,” Seraphina responded with a familiar smile, as though she knew the waitress.
“And for you, dear?” the waitress asked, turning her chocolate-brown eyes toward me.
“I’ll have whatever she’s having,” I replied with a small smile, nodding toward Seraphina.
“Your food will be out shortly. Would you like the wine now or with your meal?” the waitress, whose name tag read “Zara,” inquired.
“We’ll take it now, thanks. And could you please put it on ice?” Seraphina requested with another smile. I wondered how often they visited this particular restaurant.
As if reading my thoughts, Seraphina spoke up. “We actually had our first date here, so we come here pretty often. The food’s incredible,” she laughed, a smile so similar to Dominic’s that it almost hurt. I found myself wondering what a full smile on Dominic’s face would look like. It was hard to imagine him without his usual emotionless mask.
“You know, Dominic wasn’t always like this. Maybe someday he’ll tell you about it,” Seraphina added softly, her eyes filled with something that resembled hope. I resisted the urge to tell her how I truly felt. I didn’t want to know what had made him so cold; I didn’t want any sort of attachment to him.
“Maybe,” I responded vaguely, forcing a small smile in return.
A short while later, Zara returned with three bottles of wine, setting them in the center of the table. I watched her intently as she poured the rich, red liquid into our glasses.
I’d never had alcohol before. My mother had always insisted it was unladylike to drink, especially in front of others. I observed Seraphina as she easily downed her glass of wine, wondering how much it took for a werewolf to feel its effects. I doubted three bottles would do much more than give her a slight buzz.
Timidly, I brought the glass to my lips and took a few tentative sips. The grape flavor was prominent, but there were also sweeter, fruity notes along with a strong, slightly bitter earthy undertone. Before I knew it, I had drained the glass as quickly as Seraphina and was already refilling it.
The warmth from the wine spread through me, easing the tight knot of anxiety that had been building ever since Dominic had threatened me.
By the time our food arrived, we were already on the second bottle. The more my mind grew fuzzy, the more I found myself opening up to Seraphina and Lucian. I began to see Seraphina in a new light-she was just a good sister, trying to look out for her brother in the only way she knew how.
I absentmindedly picked at my food, barely registering what I was eating. My mind felt light and detached, and the only thing I could truly taste was the wine. After a few more glasses, even the alcohol’s bite faded, leaving just the lingering taste of grapes.
“You should consider giving Dominic another chance,” Seraphina said, her voice cutting through my haze. “I know he messed up, but you don’t know how much he’s longed for a mate. That’s all he talked about as a kid-how beautiful she’d be, how she’d be the most incredible girl he’d ever meet.”
It took a moment for her words to sink in. Did Alpha Dominic really see me that way?
“I don’t think he even likes me,” I blurted out, my speech slurred.
“What? Why would you say that?” Seraphina frowned, exchanging a glance with Lucian before looking back at me.
“Well, he pretty much said he just wants me as a baby factory,” I scowled, trying to avoid the painful memory that was now hazy, thanks to the wine. I was immensely grateful that it remained just out of reach.
“He said what?!” Seraphina snapped, her voice causing a few heads to turn in our direction.
“Shhhh,” I hushed her drunkenly, taking another sip of my fuzzy grape juice.
“Katarina?” Seraphina’s tone shifted to suspicion, her eyebrow arching in a way that I attempted to mimic, curious if I could raise mine as high.
“Katarina?” she repeated, pursing her lips as she exchanged a puzzled look with Lucian.
“Huh?” I muttered, giving up on the eyebrow challenge.
“Have you ever had alcohol before?” Seraphina asked slowly, her voice trailing off.
“Uh, no, my mom wouldn’t let me. Alcohol isn’t ladylike,” I responded, trying to sound stern as I exaggeratedly stuck out my pinky and took another gulp.
“Well, great. Dominic’s definitely not going to be thrilled,” Seraphina groaned, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
“Mmm, he’s always so grumpy,” I complained, prompting Seraphina to stifle a giggle with a cough.
“You know he’s going to chew your head off,” Lucian added, glancing between Seraphina and me, clearly noting my inebriated state.
I looked at Lucian in horror. “He chews people’s heads off too?” I squeaked, my voice rising with each word.
This time, Seraphina couldn’t hold back her laughter. “Katarina, he doesn’t mean literally,” she cackled, seemingly unconcerned about her head-eating brother.
“She needs some water,” Lucian interjected, cutting off Seraphina’s laughter.
“Doesn’t the fuzzy grape juice have water in it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow as I took another sip.
“It does, but you need actual water,” Lucian sighed, looking to Seraphina for assistance.
“Fuzzy… Grape Juice,” Seraphina wheezed, falling into another fit of laughter as I watched her silently.
Seraphina kindly let me finish the rest of the juice in my glass before we left. When I tried to stand, my legs refused to cooperate, and I nearly toppled over. Seraphina was quick to wrap her arm around my waist, guiding me to the sedan.
“I’m back, bitches,” a familiar voice echoed in my head, filling me with joy.
“Friend!” I mentally cried out, having missed Rose terribly.
“Girl, two days without me, and you’re a mess,” Rose sighed, retreating to the back of my mind.
I didn’t really remember the drive back to the house, but for some reason, I found myself wanting to see Alpha Dominic. Any other time, I’d deny it, but I kind of missed my brooding mate.