23

Katarina’s POV
I did my best to avoid being alone with him, not trusting my own self-control. Something was happening within the pack; he was always out working, dealing with an issue that I suspected involved rogues. My heart nearly stopped when the thought of ‘werewolf hunters’ crossed my mind. Remembering what my therapist had taught me, I counted to ten, breathing slowly and evenly.
After a few days of therapy, I was ready to talk to Seraphina. She was quick to forgive me, though she also threatened me if I ever did anything like that again. I couldn’t take her threat to heart when she pulled me into a hug, sighing in relief.
Leona started visiting more often, usually when Dominic was out. Seeing how much she had changed since meeting her mate, we quickly became friends again. Seraphina liked her too, and we often spent the weekdays exploring the grounds together.
Talking to Rose proved more difficult. She remained silent, still blaming herself. But with some much-needed consolation and convincing, she began to forgive herself as well.
One night, I was jolted awake from a particularly horrific nightmare, Oliver and Gabriel’s faces seared into my mind. Clamping a hand over my mouth, I calmed my nerves, relieved that I hadn’t woken Dominic. A frustrated groan escaped me-would these nightmares ever stop? I was controlling the flashbacks, working through fear and guilt with my therapist’s help, but the nightmares were relentless.
“We could always sleep with our mate, you know,” Rose’s sleepy, smug voice echoed in my head.
Before I knew it, my legs were moving on their own, and my hands were opening the bedroom door. The urge to be near him was overwhelming, pushing me down the hallway with urgency. I sighed contentedly as his musky scent filled my nose, my feet halting in front of his large door. Biting my lip, I grabbed the handle and slowly opened it, creeping silently toward his bed. I had to stifle a giggle at the irony-this mighty, intimidating Alpha, defenseless against a little girl like me.
I reached out to climb onto his massive bed, but a startled scream escaped me when his rough hand suddenly closed around my arm, yanking me down. In an instant, Dominic was towering over me, straddling me, pinning me beneath him. My wrists were trapped above my head in one of his large hands.
The moonlight poured through the window, casting shadows on his flawless face. His silver eyes, sharp and clear, resembled the very moon itself.
“Defenseless, hmm?” Dominic’s smirk deepened as he gazed down at me, any traces of sleep erased from his eyes.
My lips couldn’t form a response; I was using every ounce of control I had to tame the wild thoughts racing through my mind. My breath hitched when his eyes roamed over my face, lingering on the clear mark on my neck. My chest heaved as his gaze trailed lower, settling on the loose tank top I had worn to bed. The bottom of my shirt had ridden up, revealing my navel.
Darkness swirled in his eyes as he took in the sight, and I squirmed under his hold as his face inched closer to mine.
“Do you have a death wish, little mate?” His husky voice was tinged with amusement, his breath brushing against my lips in warm puffs of peppermint.
I pursed my lips, looking up at him. I knew I should feel afraid, but all I felt was desire.
“I-I wanted to ask if I could sleep with you,” I stuttered, trying to keep my mind occupied. The last thing I needed was to become aroused-I wasn’t sure I could stop myself at that point. Out of habit, I nervously licked my lips, a gesture Dominic clearly noticed.
“You never have to ask for that, little mate,” he taunted, his smirk deepening. His eyes, nearly black now, lingered on my lips, sending a shock of desire through me.
“I didn’t mean it like that!” I sputtered, my eyes widening at the suggestive tone of his words.
To my surprise, Dominic laughed-a deep, rich sound that filled the quiet room. He released my wrists and sat back on the bed, still chuckling.
Crossing my arms, I tried to scowl at him, but embarrassment clouded my expression.
“You’re too easy to rile up, little mate,” he teased, giving me a soft smirk. “But yes, you may sleep with me.”
Nestling myself into his warm bed, I let out a sleepy sigh and turned to face Dominic.
“Thank you,” I yawned, my eyes fluttering as I struggled to keep them open.
“As I said, you never have to ask,” he murmured, his husky voice lulling me. “Go to sleep, Katarina.”
My eyes had already closed before he finished speaking my name.
*
I awoke early, surprised at how well I had slept. Not a single nightmare disturbed my rest, and a quick glance to my left revealed why.
Dominic lay beside me, still asleep, his face serene and almost angelic. Rose hummed in my mind, admiring our mate, and I had to agree-he truly was magnificent.
“Katarina,” Dominic mumbled, his deep voice thick with sleep. Even groggy, his voice sent shivers down my spine. Startled by the sound of his voice, I felt heat rush to my cheeks, flustered at the thought of being caught.
He opened one eye, his gaze landing on my face, and a slow smirk spread across his lips as he noticed my flushed cheeks.
“Why do you insist on thinking so loudly?” Dominic teased, the smirk on his face growing as I blinked in shock.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered, quickly jumping out of bed and adjusting my wrinkled tank top.
“If you say so,” he chuckled, amusement lacing his words, “Magnificent, huh?”
I don’t think I’ve ever blushed this deeply before. My face contorted into a mix of embarrassment, disbelief, and annoyance.
“Y-You,” I sputtered, glaring at him, “You’re insufferable!” I muttered, making a quick exit from his room, his laughter echoing down the hall as I fled.
In my rush, I bumped straight into Seraphina. Her eyes took in my flushed face and my rumpled sleepwear, then flicked towards Dominic’s room. A smirk, identical to her brother’s, formed on her face, fueling my irritation.
“Oh, Katarina,” Seraphina drawled, clearly enjoying my embarrassment. Just like her insufferable brother.
“Don’t you dare,” I growled, trying to sound menacing, though Rose wasn’t fully committed to the act.
Seraphina didn’t need to say anything; her smirk said it all. She had already drawn her conclusions about what I was doing in Dominic’s bedroom.
With one last glare, I stormed off to my room to shower and change.
“Glad you and Dominic are making progress!” she called after me, her voice dripping with smugness.
Grumbling about insufferable siblings, I rummaged through my closet for something to wear. My eyes landed on a particular dress, and a smirk formed on my lips.
If Dominic liked playing games, it was about time he got a taste of his own medicine. Rose yipped in approval, fully on board with my plan.
After a quick shower, I dried my hair, applied light makeup, and slipped on the dress. I examined myself in the mirror, pleased with the result.
The dress was slate grey, short-sleeved, and hugged my curves perfectly. It ended mid-thigh, with buttons running down the front, and the slightly v-cut neckline showed just a hint of cleavage.
“He’s going to lose his mind,” Rose purred.
“We need to maintain some self-control,” I reminded her, rolling my eyes.
“We’ll see about that,” she muttered, clearly skeptical.
I put on a pair of white wedges and practiced walking around the room, not wanting to risk an embarrassing fall. A knock on the door nearly made me lose my balance. The scent of peaches told me it was Seraphina.
“Come in!” I called, stepping out of the bathroom just as Seraphina entered.
“Wow, you clean up nice,” she complimented, her eyes scanning my outfit with approval.
“Thanks,” I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I just wanted to let you know tonight is a big night for the pack,” Seraphina said, joining me on the bed.
“Wait, what?” I asked, confusion evident in my voice.
“Dominic became Alpha five years ago today,” she explained. “We hold a celebration every year.”
“Oh, he never mentioned that,” I frowned, wondering why he hadn’t told me.
“He probably didn’t want you to feel pressured to attend,” Seraphina shrugged, brushing it off.
“I wouldn’t go if I didn’t want to,” I said firmly.
“Well, the pack’s been eager to meet you,” she smiled. “Dominic’s kept them at bay, but tonight is supposed to be a celebration for him and his mate.”
The realization hit me, and I pushed down the unease that rose in my stomach. The idea of being a Luna still scared me, but I had started accepting Dominic as my mate. I knew what I had to do, and this time it wasn’t just for me.
“Then I’m going,” I decided, taking a deep breath and smiling at her.
“Really?” She practically squealed, bouncing with excitement.
“I think it’s time I met the pack,” I sighed, accepting that I couldn’t hide forever. Slowly, I was beginning to embrace my role. I had already chosen to stand by Dominic’s side, which technically made me the Luna.
“Now it’s just a matter of getting Dominic on board,” Seraphina smirked, eyeing my outfit.
For once, my smirk matched hers. “I think I can handle that,” I giggled.
“Great! While you’re doing that, I’ll find you the perfect dress for tonight,” Seraphina chirped, practically skipping to the door.
“Oh, and Dominic’s in his office. I’ll have Lucian show you the way,” she added with a smile before leaving the room.
Not even ten minutes had passed before another knock came at the door. Lucian peeked in, meeting my gaze with a warm smile.
“Ready, Katarina?” he asked.
From the moment I got to know Lucian, I liked him. Perhaps it was his easy-going nature and his familiarity with Dominic’s family that made him so approachable. Being around Lucian was effortless.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I sighed, following him down the hallway and out of the house.
We chose to walk, enjoying the pleasant spring weather. The day was warm, with a gentle breeze cooling the air. I savored the fresh outdoors, knowing I needed to let Rose out soon.
“You most certainly do,” Rose chimed in.
“You’ll do great, Katarina. After all, he is your mate,” Lucian reassured me as we strolled through town.
Many of the people we passed met my eyes, bowing their heads in respect or submission. I held my head high, determined to make a strong first impression as their Luna.
As if reading my thoughts, Lucian spoke up, “He won’t be able to resist you. It’s been a year since I met Seraphina, and I still can’t resist her,” he added with a dreamy sigh.
“You miss her that much, huh?” I teased, laughing as he gave me a sheepish grin.
“Just wait. It’s different since you have to mark Alpha Dominic, but the mate bond is always stronger between an Alpha and Luna,” Lucian smirked, and his words sent a shiver down my spine.
“Imagine how it would feel if you didn’t fight your urges all the time,” Rose sighed.
“One of us has to show restraint, or we would’ve mated with him the moment we met,” I grumbled, knowing she was right.
We arrived at a modest yet modern house with a golden plaque on the front door: *Pack Offices*.
“Just go inside and tell the receptionist who you’re looking for,” Lucian encouraged, giving me a nod.
Swallowing my nerves, I stepped inside.
I wasn’t sure what I had expected, but it certainly wasn’t this. The interior of the house resembled a business office, complete with cubicles and a large desk near the entrance. Seated at the desk was a curvy woman.
Rose grumbled with jealousy, and I had to stifle my own irritation.
“Hello, miss. How can I help you?” the woman asked confidently, flashing a bright smile.
“I’m here to see Dominic,” I replied, forcing a smile in return. The woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, was undeniably beautiful, with a slim waist and a full chest-practically a supermodel.
“It’s disrespectful not to address your Alpha by his title, pup,” the woman snapped, her demeanor shifting sharply.
“Don’t let her talk to us like that. She needs to know who her Luna is,” Rose urged, her voice brimming with newfound confidence.
“You sound like a true Luna,” I praised Rose, grateful for her strength.
“That’s because we are, Katarina. We’re both Lunas,” she responded proudly.
With Rose’s encouragement, I stood a little taller.
“Dominic is my mate,” I stated firmly, keeping my voice steady and emotionless. “My name is Katarina Nightshade.” I could feel my eyes darken, but I refused to break eye contact.
“L-Luna, you should have said that from the start. My apologies,” the woman stammered, bowing her head in submission. A small part of me felt guilty.
“Don’t feel guilty. This is our pack now too,” Rose reassured me, filling me with her strength.
“All is forgiven,” I said, offering the woman a small smile.
“Would you like me to call the Alpha and let him know you’re here?” she asked, sounding more polite.
“No need,” I replied. “I’d like to surprise him.”
“Oh, I see,” she giggled. “His office is upstairs, down the main hall. You can’t miss it-it’s the largest door in the house.”
“Thank you…” I paused, looking for a name tag.
“Oh, it’s Lyra,” she said, a bit surprised.
“Thank you, Lyra,” I smiled, heading toward Dominic’s office.