27

Katarina’s POV
The ride to the club was intensely awkward. A few of Seraphina’s friends had tagged along, along with Leona and her mate, filling every seat in the vehicle. Consequently, I found myself perched on Dominic’s lap.
I should have been accustomed to being so close to him by now, especially after everything we had shared, but my nervousness was palpable. Every time I was alone with Dominic, I struggled to keep my composure. As the car jolted over yet another bump, I felt myself shift against him, my bottom pressing into his lap. I was all for public displays of affection, but this situation felt a bit too intimate.
Naturally, my mind wandered back to the earlier moments we had shared in that small room. My past apprehensions about intimacy seemed to dissolve when I was with Dominic. He made me feel safe and secure, enough to allow him to lead and influence my perceptions.
“Katarina, stop thinking about that,” Dominic’s deep voice whispered in my ear, amusement evident in his tone.
My face flushed with embarrassment. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Dominic’s chest rumbled with a silent chuckle. “If you don’t stop, everyone in this car will know exactly what I’m doing to you, little mate.”
Just then, another bump in the road made me feel something stiffening beneath me, which only fueled my current thoughts. Dominic’s grip on me tightened as he attempted to steady me.
“You’re not helping here,” I grumbled, shifting slightly to make my point.
I could practically hear the smirk in Dominic’s voice. “Well, you can’t blame me. You need to learn to control your thoughts.”
“You need to control your…” I started, my voice trailing off before I could say the exact word that came to mind.
Dominic’s amusement was evident as he continued to tease me. “What was that, little mate? My what?”
With my face burning and my voice caught in my throat, I chose to ignore him. Dominic’s playful taunts continued. “Are you too shy to say it, little mate?”
His chest rumbled with laughter, and I focused on breathing in his comforting scent.
“You’ll be begging for it soon enough,” Dominic’s hot breath on my ear made me shiver uncontrollably.
Finally, the car came to a stop outside the club, and I practically leapt from the vehicle, desperate for a breath of fresh air.
I had never been to a club before, but the movies had given me a glimpse. The exterior looked plain, but the pulsating music and flashing lights on the inside were exactly as portrayed in films.
We bypassed the line, likely because Dominic’s status as Alpha afforded us that privilege. As we entered the club, the pungent mix of alcohol, sweat, and sex assaulted my senses.
“Come on, let’s dance!” Seraphina shouted over the thumping music, tugging me towards the dance floor.
I glanced back at Dominic, who leaned casually against the bar with a glass of amber liquid in hand. His gesture was a clear signal to go ahead.
“Go on,” he nodded, bringing his drink to his lips in a way that made my heart race.
“We have time for that later, Katarina,” his voice resonated in my mind, a phenomenon I still hadn’t mastered.
Seraphina led me onto the dance floor, and I followed her lead as an upbeat pop song began. I kept my distance from the men around me, who were aggressively grinding on any attractive female within reach.
I lost track of time as we danced, one song blending seamlessly into the next.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I yelled over the music to Seraphina, unsure if she heard me.
Navigating through the throng of people, I made my way to a dimly lit hallway, where the bathroom sign flickered weakly.
Inside the bathroom, I took care of my needs in one of the grimy stalls. The smell of beer and an oddly sweet scent filled the air as another girl entered the bathroom.
A sense of unease twisted in my stomach, but I brushed it off.
“Something feels off, Katarina,” Rose’s voice echoed in my mind.
“You think so?” I frowned, trying to push away the unsettling feeling.
As I exited the stall, I bumped into someone. A familiar, taunting voice made my blood run cold.
“Well, well. I never thought I’d see you here. What a stroke of luck,” the voice sneered.
My body went rigid. The voice belonged to Gabriel, the man who had haunted my nightmares for months.
I looked up into his cold eyes, my abdomen tightening as memories of pain resurfaced.
“Did you miss me, Katarina?” Gabriel’s smirk revealed a chipped tooth, a grin that once seemed charming now twisted and sinister.
“Katarina, we need to get out of here,” Rose’s urgent voice snapped in my head, but fear had me paralyzed.
My mind raced. I had never anticipated encountering Gabriel again, had never prepared or trained for this moment.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Oliver is here too. He’s been eager to have another go ever since you escaped,” Gabriel’s voice turned ice-cold as he tugged on a strand of my hair.
“Dominic!” Rose screamed inside my head.
Amidst the fear that gripped me, I found it morbidly ironic that I might die here, with my Alpha mate so close yet unaware.
Gabriel’s arm swung, and I was slammed against the cold bathroom wall. The sharp pain jolted me out of my stupor, infusing me with Rose’s strength and warmth.
Allowing Gabriel to approach, I waited until he was within reach before kicking out with my legs. His body hit the floor with a satisfying thud.
Though it was only a temporary setback, the act of fighting back felt empowering.
I sprang to my feet and dashed for the door, but a hand grabbed my ankle and yanked me down. My face collided with the hard tile floor, producing a sickening crack.
Warm liquid trickled down the side of my head, but instead of weakness, I felt a surge of strength coursing through me. I flipped onto my back just as Gabriel climbed on top of me. His beer-soaked breath hit my face, making me gag in disgust.
“Oliver always kept the best for himself, but I think it’s about time I had my turn,” Gabriel sneered, his voice dripping with malice.
“Not a chance in hell,” I snarled, my voice filled with defiance. Instinctively, I did what I knew best-I sank my teeth into his arm, hard. With my free hand, I lashed out at any exposed skin I could find, raking my nails across his flesh.
Gabriel howled in pain, and a wicked smile curled on my lips as I felt the warmth of his blood on my fingertips. But my momentary victory turned to dread as I saw him pull out a blade, its edge gleaming menacingly under the dim light. It was as though the blade itself was greeting an old friend, and my blood ran cold.
Just as Gabriel flicked the blade open, the bathroom door exploded inward, wood splintering and flying in all directions.
I had seen Dominic angry before, but this was different. This was a rage I had never witnessed. His fury had layers, and I had mistakenly believed that his calm demeanor was the peak of his anger. But I was wrong-terribly wrong.
Dominic lifted Gabriel off me with ease, as if he weighed nothing at all. What followed was a scene of brutal, primal violence. Dominic grabbed Gabriel by the back of the neck and smashed his face into the porcelain sink. Once, twice, three times-each impact accompanied by a sickening crack that echoed in the small, blood-splattered bathroom. Gabriel’s blood splattered across the tiles, filling the air with its coppery scent.
“Stop him! He won’t be able to question him if Gabriel dies,” Rose’s voice urged in my mind, her tone laced with concern.
My legs moved before my mind could fully process Rose’s words, carrying me over to where Dominic was relentlessly punishing Gabriel.
“Dominic, stop!” I pleaded, pressing my hands against his broad back, hoping to break through the haze of rage consuming him.
Dominic froze, Gabriel’s limp body still gripped in his hand.
“Dominic, you’re going to kill him. He needs to be questioned,” I said softly, letting my fingers gently trail down his arm, hoping to calm him.
With a suddenness that made me flinch, Dominic released Gabriel, who crumpled to the floor like a discarded rag doll. When Dominic turned to face me, I saw the full extent of his anger. His eyes, normally a piercing silver, were now completely black, and his teeth had elongated into dangerous fangs. His chest heaved with fury, his fists still tightly clenched.
“Katarina, you need to leave,” Dominic growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble devoid of its usual warmth.
But I stood my ground, my voice steady and filled with conviction. “I’m not leaving.”
Despite the murderous rage in his eyes, I felt completely safe with him. I knew, deep down, that neither he nor his wolf would ever harm me.
I reached up, letting my hands cradle Dominic’s face, savoring the sparks that danced between us. The rough stubble on his jaw scratched my palms, but I relished the sensation. I pressed myself against his chest, resting my head against him, listening to the rapid beat of his heart. The sound soothed me, grounding me in the moment.
“I’m alright, Dominic. You came just in time,” I whispered, guiding his arms around my waist, holding him close until I felt the tension in his body slowly ebb away.
His silver eyes returned to their normal shade, and his canines retracted, though his expression remained grim. Gently, he wiped some of the blood from my forehead with his rough hand.
“I should never have left you alone,” he muttered, his voice cold and full of self-reproach. I could sense his guilt, how he blamed himself for what had happened.
“This wasn’t your fault,” I growled, but my words seemed to fall on deaf ears.
“Listen to me, damn it!” I snapped, grabbing his face with both hands. The shock at my outburst was evident in his eyes, but I was too frustrated to care. It was bad enough that Rose and I bore the weight of guilt from our past; I wasn’t about to let Dominic carry that burden as well.
“This was not your fault. None of us knew they would be here. I was just going to the bathroom, Dominic. You can’t be with me every second of the day, and that doesn’t make you responsible for this,” I growled, my gaze fierce as I stared into the silver eyes I had grown to love. I hadn’t realized I was crying until tears streamed freely down my face.
Dominic responded with a deep sigh, pulling me closer and wrapping his arms around me, tighter this time. I didn’t resist as his rough hands gently wiped away my tears.
Just then, Lucian entered the blood-soaked bathroom, followed by Dante and Luca. The room filled with tension as they took in the scene before them.
“From what we’ve gathered, this guy wasn’t alone. We nearly caught his accomplice, but he managed to slip away,” Luca reported, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Gabriel’s disfigured face.
“Oliver,” I whispered, the name leaving my lips like a curse.
“What was that, Luna?” Dante asked, his voice quiet yet commanding. He was one of those people who spoke little but noticed everything.
“The one who escaped-his name is Oliver,” I explained, my voice hoarse as I pressed myself closer to Dominic, seeking comfort in his presence.
“And who is this?” Dante gestured toward Gabriel, hesitating slightly as he observed the damage Dominic had inflicted.
“That’s Gabriel. They’re hunters,” I replied softly, feeling a sense of security as Dominic’s hand traced soothing circles on my lower back.
“Why did they target you, Luna?” Luca asked, his expression darkening.
“Because I got away,” I whispered, looking up at Dominic, knowing that the danger was far from over.