17

Katarina’s POV
The moment I awoke, a sharp, splitting pain greeted me. I hesitated to open my eyes, dreading the sun’s rays intensifying my throbbing headache.
As I lay there, my mind struggled to piece together the events of the previous night. Although my memory was hazy, I recalled being invited to dinner with Seraphina and Lucian. I could vividly remember sitting at the round table with them, a mysterious fruity drink in hand, but the details after that grew increasingly unclear.
My headache clouded my thoughts like a dense fog, making it hard to recall the specifics. I had fleeting memories of various faces, and among them was Alpha Dominic. His expression was different from my recollection-softer somehow. His silver eyes held a hint of amusement, and a small smirk played on his lips.
I managed to roll off the bed and stagger into the bathroom, wincing as I turned on the light. My mother’s warning about drinking alcohol echoed in my head, a reminder of the advice I had ignored. I realized only now that I must have been alone when I got up.
Grateful for the absence of nightmares, I still had to contend with the relentless headache. I peeled off the black t-shirt I must have thrown on in my inebriated state, its scent strongly reminiscent of Alpha Dominic. I stepped into the hot shower, letting the steam soothe my aching muscles, though it did nothing for my pounding head.
Wrapping a fluffy towel around myself, I returned to the bedroom. It was then that I noticed the large, human-shaped lump under the covers. As anyone would, I clutched the towel tightly and let out a high-pitched scream.
The figure in the bed bolted upright, searching the room with a frantic look. My eyes widened as I recognized the familiar dark hair and silver eyes of Alpha Dominic.
“What’s going on?” he demanded, his voice sharp as he adopted a defensive stance.
“What are you doing here?” I stammered, my gaze inadvertently lingering on his bare chest. He looked far better than any of the inappropriate images Rose had implanted in my mind. His tattoos adorned his chiseled chest in a tribal design, and his disheveled hair framed his face in a way that was almost divine.
As he processed my bewildered question, he relaxed from his defensive posture and raised an eyebrow. The sunlight illuminated his hair, giving it an almost raven-like sheen, and his skin was smooth and flawless.
“You asked me to stay,” he said slowly, each word deliberate. I noted the amusement in his eyes, which soon shifted to a darker intensity as he took in the short towel covering me. The towel barely reached below my bottom, leaving my legs exposed.
Before I could deny having asked him to stay, Rose’s voice echoed in my head.
“Mhm, it’s true. You did ask him. That’ll teach you not to get so wasted,” she teased.
“You couldn’t have told me this when I woke up?” I shot back at her, my headache throbbing in sync with my racing heart.
“I wanted to see how you’d react. Didn’t think you’d scream our mate awake,” Rose chuckled, replaying the scene in my mind as though it were the height of comedy.
“Thanks for that,” I muttered, pushing the image away.
“You could’ve refused. I was drunk, after all,” I said to Dominic, trying to avoid meeting his gaze. I tightened the towel around me as his eyes roved over my exposed skin. My cheeks flushed, but I could feel the heat from his gaze.
“I wanted to stay,” he murmured softly. I had to double-check that I had heard him correctly, so I met his gaze and saw that his eyes were fixed on mine.
Fighting the impulse to approach him and touch his skin, I asked, “Why does my head hurt?”
“You’ve got a hangover, little mate,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk. He moved closer, causing my heart to race in anticipation, but he stopped just a few feet away. He reached out to gently brush a wet strand of hair from my neck, sending a shiver down my spine. The touch was so tender that my legs almost gave way.
Noticing my reaction, his smirk widened before he withdrew his hand. Despite my resistance to the mate bond, I felt a pang of disappointment at his departure.
“Get dressed and come to the kitchen. I’ll make you something to help with your hangover,” he said softly, glancing at me before leaving the room.
Nodding silently, I watched him go, my gaze lingering on his retreating form. After a few calming breaths, I found some clothes and dressed quickly. In the kitchen, I was surprised to see Alpha Dominic cooking an omelet.
“You can cook?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. I quickly shut my mouth, remembering the last time I had angered him.
“Surprised?” he asked with a smirk, turning slightly as he sliced an avocado.
“Yeah, actually,” I admitted, watching him with curiosity.
“Can’t you cook?” he asked, his silver eyes twinkling with interest.
My mind drifted back to the many cooking lessons my mother had tried, all of which had ended in failure.
“Um, not really…” I admitted, feeling a blush creep onto my cheeks.
“Why is that?” he asked, turning his back to add an ingredient to the pan.
“I tend to burn things. Sometimes they catch fire,” I shrugged, my cheeks reddening further. I had always resisted my mother’s idea of a perfect mate, and now I felt a pang of disappointment that I hadn’t met those expectations. What would Alpha Dominic think of me?
I shook off the thought and forced myself to remember the unpleasant moments from when he first brought me here. The threatening image that had haunted me resurfaced, though now it was replaced by a face I had tried hard to forget.
The wine had momentarily clouded my memory, but now that I was sober, the past came rushing back with a vengeance. It was as if the very act of trying to forget had summoned the memory with punitive force.
I could almost feel the sand beneath my feet as the scent of fresh water overwhelmed my senses. This was always how the memory returned-fragmented and disjointed. I was relieved it wasn’t a full-blown replay of that nightmarish experience.
The mingled odor of beer and sunscreen filled the air. It could have been a pleasant smell, but the association with the events that followed made it nauseating. Since that day, the smell of beer and sunscreen instantly triggered a wave of revulsion in me.
The memory shifted again. I felt the coarse sand against my back, my body held down and immobilized. The warm summer air had turned as frigid as the blade pressed against my bare skin. Cruel laughter echoed around me, and the feel of beer-flavored lips pressing against mine was harsh enough to leave bruises.
“Katarina?” A voice interrupted my reverie, one that seemed out of place in the memory.
A rough grip on my wrist yanked me from the past. My head whipped around to find Alpha Dominic’s concerned gaze. I was taken aback by the sight of worry in his eyes.
“What?” I croaked, cringing at the hoarseness of my voice. I noticed him glancing at my clenched hands, realizing with shock that I had dug my nails into my skin, drawing blood.
“Where did you go?” Alpha Dominic’s voice was surprisingly gentle. The softness of his tone stirred something within me, and I struggled to piece together what I might have said to him while drunk. What did he know?
“Nowhere,” I managed to clear my throat and dismiss the blood from my leggings absentmindedly. It took a few moments to pull myself out of the memory, but Alpha Dominic’s touch had pulled me back to the present.
“Do you know what post-traumatic stress disorder is?” he asked, his eyes locked onto mine. His gaze made me squirm. It was different from his usual cold, detached demeanor-it held an undercurrent of emotion, one that both intrigued and frightened me.
“Yes,” I said reluctantly, wondering if I should have lied. Given my erratic heart rate, it seemed wiser to stay silent.
“Have you spoken to anyone about it?” His concern was palpable, making me feel defensive. I resented myself for letting something slip while I was inebriated.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I snapped, turning my gaze away. My foot began to tap nervously, and I felt a strong urge to retreat to my room. I blocked out Rose’s voice, knowing she would only urge me to confide in my mate.
“Katarina-” Alpha Dominic began, but my anger and embarrassment overpowered any reasoned response.
“No,” I interrupted sharply, fighting back tears. “I don’t know what I said last night, but it’s none of your business. I’m managing on my own. I don’t need your help.” My words were laced with bitterness.
I wanted him to react with anger or disdain-anything but the concern that softened his expression. I didn’t feel I deserved his care.
I looked away, my lip trembling as tears threatened to spill. The emotional dam inside me was on the verge of breaking, and I knew I had to leave before it did. I took slow, deep breaths, trying to calm myself as Alpha Dominic remained silent.
I flinched as a rough hand gently lifted my chin, sparks of contact flowing through my skin. I resisted the comfort his touch provided, feeling I didn’t deserve such tenderness.
“I’ll drop the subject-for now,” Alpha Dominic said, his voice firm but understanding as he forced me to meet his gaze. His lips were pressed into a serious line, but his eyes conveyed a deeper understanding.
The “for now” lingered between us, a reminder of the unresolved tension. As I stared into his silver eyes, I made a decision. I would find a way to escape this place. If that failed, I had a backup plan ready.