18

Katarina’s POV
Alpha Dominic stayed silent as I ate the omelet he’d prepared for me. Although I appreciated the quiet, I found it hard to ignore the worry in his eyes.
Part of me wished he would revert to his harsh demeanor so I wouldn’t feel so conflicted about my plan to escape. Rose wasn’t happy about my thoughts, but this was my decision. I knew that regardless of her opinion, she would insist on staying with our mate. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that I felt unworthy of a mate, especially after everything I had endured. Even a year later, I still felt tainted.
After finishing my meal and feeling the headache finally ease, I retreated to my bedroom to devise my escape. Alpha Dominic would be out of the house for most of the day, working in his office. I knew my chances of getting away were slim, but I owed it to my family to try. The thought of staying in this place, especially after Alpha Dominic mentioned my past, was suffocating.
I decided today was as good as any to put my plan into action. I wasn’t sure why Alpha Dominic showed concern for me, but it wasn’t enough to mend the deep rift inside me. I had heard that the mate bond could heal almost anything, but as an adult, I knew better. Some wounds were too deep to fix.
I left behind any clothes or bags that might weigh me down. My plan was to flee into the forest on foot, hoping to be far enough away to shift without being seen. From there, I intended to run until exhaustion overtook me.
I spent hours sitting on my bed, trying to steady my resolve. Rose’s persistent images of Alpha Dominic filled my mind, trying to sway me from my decision.
“Katarina, don’t do this,” Rose’s voice pleaded.
“Rose, I can’t stay here. I’m overwhelmed, and I can’t be what Alpha Dominic needs. He deserves someone better,” I said, struggling to hold back tears.
“He can help you…” Rose’s voice trailed off, leaving a heavy silence.
“I don’t believe that,” I replied, tears finally escaping. “I can’t stay here and see his face, knowing I’m not what he needs. I’ll only drag him down. He has an entire pack to care for, and I can’t even take care of myself.”
“Then I suppose we both need to follow what we believe is right,” Rose’s sad voice echoed before fading into silence. I felt her retreat into the darkest corners of my mind.
“I guess we do,” I whispered, giving in to my tears and allowing myself to fall apart for a few moments. I had to be careful not to let the dam inside me break completely. Memories of the past kept resurfacing, causing more cracks in my emotional defenses. I needed to be away from here before everything fell apart.
Looking out my bedroom window, I saw the forest was only ten feet away. I forced the window open and took a deep breath before jumping down as quietly as possible. My feet hit the ground silently, and I sprinted toward the forest. I leaped over fallen logs, ducked under branches, and charged through tall grass. The burn in my lungs was a welcome distraction from the crushing weight of my despair.
Suddenly, rustling sounds nearby filled me with dread. I pushed myself harder, skidding to a halt when I reached a safe spot to shift. I closed my eyes, trying to summon Rose, but felt only emptiness.
“I can’t let you do this, Katarina,” Rose’s voice echoed sadly in my mind.
Rage, sorrow, disbelief, and denial surged through me. I didn’t respond to her; I could feel her retreating deeper into my mind. Feeling abandoned and desolate, I resumed my desperate flight, tears blurring my vision.
I wasn’t sure how long I ran before a large grey wolf appeared in front of me, blocking my path. Its intelligent brown eyes assessed me critically. I tried to move left, but a multicolored wolf emerged from the trees, while a sand-colored wolf appeared on my right. I knew from their scent that these wolves were not rogues-they recognized me.
The wolves sat on their haunches, clearly trapping me. The only direction left was the one I had come from, where I was trying to escape.
I heard rustling behind me and cringed as the familiar scent of sandalwood and citrus filled the air.
“Katarina,” a voice growled, unmistakably familiar. I fixed my gaze on the grey wolf blocking my path, resisting the urge to turn around and face my mate.
“Katarina,” the voice came again, now laced with menace. A warm hand gripped my wrist, spinning me around. The sparks from the touch confirmed my worst fear.
I faced Alpha Dominic, his eyes black with anger rather than desire. His lips were pressed into a tight line, and his usual attire was replaced by black sweatpants, leaving his torso bare and unsettlingly attractive. I bit my tongue, tasting blood from the pressure.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Alpha Dominic’s voice was cold and deliberate, each word dripping with hostility.
Though I wanted to stay silent, my emotions got the better of me. “I never wanted a mate. I still don’t,” I blurted out, trying to match his hostility, but he had years of practice while I had none.
Alpha Dominic’s gaze grew darker with each of my words, and his grip on my wrist tightened. Though his hold was firm, it wasn’t painful, but I knew I wouldn’t easily escape it.
“Will you walk, or must I drag you back?” His voice took on an unsettling calmness, a clear indication that his wolf was dangerously close to surfacing.
“I’m not going back,” I growled, taking a defiant step back.
A startled cry escaped me as Alpha Dominic effortlessly hoisted me over his shoulder, much like handling a sack of flour. He positioned me so my face was pressed against his back, leaving me no opportunity to resist. The fear of being confined to his basement cell surged within me; I knew I couldn’t execute my escape plan from there.
“You belong to me, whether you accept it or not,” Alpha Dominic growled as he navigated through the woods. His grip on me was unyielding, a reminder of his control.
Overwhelmed by frustration, sadness, and anger, I lashed out. My fists pounded against his back, and I kicked at his chest, shouting and writhing. I imagined the other wolves trailing behind must have thought I’d lost my sanity.
“Let me go!” I cried out, my voice raw with emotion. “I don’t want you! I don’t deserve you! Find someone else and let me go!” I barely noticed the tears streaming down my face or the fact that Alpha Dominic’s stride had paused at my outburst.
“Is that what you believe? That you don’t deserve a mate?” His voice was barely audible over my shouting. Despite his continued progress, I eventually gave in, slumping in exhaustion over his shoulder. My head throbbed, and the tears on my cheeks had dried. My throat was sore, and I struggled to swallow.
I avoided the gazes of the wolves following us, unwilling to face their judgment of their ‘Luna.’ How could any pack accept a broken and damaged Luna?
When I was gently placed on a familiar bed, I opened my eyes to find Alpha Dominic looking down at me. His eyes, now their usual bright silver, studied my tear-streaked face. I didn’t need a mirror to know how red and swollen my eyes were.
“Is this what you think, Katarina?” His deep voice was gentle, though his hand tangled in his disheveled hair.
“I don’t want to discuss this,” I hissed, wincing at the hoarseness of my voice. His concern pierced my heart, and I resisted the urge to collapse into his arms. I didn’t believe I deserved him.
“You need to talk. You’re clearly struggling, and it’s eating you alive,” he said, his silver eyes scanning my face.
Despite my efforts to stay composed, my face flushed under his scrutiny. I looked away towards the window. His hand gently cupped my cheek, lifting my gaze to meet his. The warmth from his touch offered unexpected comfort.
“I nearly lost my mind when I realized you left,” Alpha Dominic murmured, his lips drawn in a rare frown. His confession tugged at my heart, and though I tried to fight it, another tear slipped down my cheek.
Alpha Dominic’s eyes softened as he noticed my tears. To my surprise, he pulled me into a comforting embrace. My body stiffened, but his warmth and scent filled my senses, offering solace amidst the chaos.
After a moment, he pulled back, his face close to mine. His breath, tinged with sweet peppermint, brushed against my lips, urging me to draw nearer.
“Stop crying, Katarina,” he said softly, sending a jolt through my body.
His words triggered the collapse of my emotional defenses. The carefully constructed barriers shattered, and a torrent of grief overwhelmed me. My legs gave way as the wave of emotions crashed over me, leaving me vulnerable and unable to escape the memory that had consumed me. Even Alpha Dominic couldn’t pull me back from the dark abyss that had enveloped me.