“The only one dying here is you,” Oliver hissed, pulling the trigger with a swift motion. Time seemed to stretch, the world slowing down as the bullet sailed towards me, its path clear and menacing.
Rose’s voice cut through the tension with remarkable clarity. “He’s never going to hurt us again.”
I felt a surge of energy as Rose took control. Instinctively, I ducked to the side, narrowly evading the bullet as it whizzed past me, missing by mere inches. Oliver’s fury was palpable as he quickly re-aimed, his misjudgment of a werewolf’s speed proving fatal. As he fired again, I dropped to the ground and rolled toward him.
Oliver, struggling to regain his footing, didn’t move swiftly enough. Before he could fully rise, my elongated claws sliced across his throat-just a shallow cut, but deep enough to sever an artery. The raw emotions that flickered across his face were a sight to behold. First, rage consumed him, his anger boiling over at the sight of a mere werewolf wounding him. Then, shock set in as he realized the gravity of his injury. Finally, fear took hold as he faced the reality of a slow and painful death.
Oliver slumped back against the cold earth, a quarter-sized wound pumping blood from his neck. His gaze remained fixed on me, his eyes revealing a torrent of emotions. I crouched in front of him, decisively kicking the gun away from his grasp. He reached weakly for his bleeding throat, but I pressed his hand back down.
Unspoken words gurgled in his throat, drowned out by the blood that filled his mouth. It took several minutes for the life to drain from his eyes, his quivering lips finally growing still. I remained seated in front of his lifeless body, reflecting on the weight of the lives I had taken. The peace of my life had been overshadowed by the violence of the day, a burden I would carry with me.
Rose’s voice was a gentle nudge, urging me to move on. “Let’s go find Dominic.” Her soft words helped me grapple with the gravity of what had transpired.
With a renewed sense of purpose, I stood, my hospital scrubs stained with drying blood. I made my way through the woods, heading back to where Dominic waited.
~ One Week Later ~
“After the funerals, I want to take you somewhere, just the two of us,” Dominic said, his smile warm as he looked down at me. I tightened my embrace around his neck, savoring the moment.
I had managed to last only thirty minutes alone before Dominic’s office beckoned. I had made the hurried trip from the house to his office, where I had been occupying his lap for the past two hours. Though I knew I had disrupted his work, it seemed he didn’t mind.
Dominic, having emerged relatively unscathed from the battle thanks to his skills and luck, and the pack, though grieving a few losses, found solace in the victory.
“I think we could use some time alone,” I said with a playful smile, hoping he would catch the underlying meaning.
His eyebrow arched in amusement, causing butterflies to flutter in my stomach. “Are you trying to seduce me, little mate?”
My cheeks flushed, but I feigned mock indignation. “I would never!”
Dominic’s smirk deepened, his silver eyes dancing with mischief. “Really? Because we’re alone right now.”
His expression shifted to a devious grin as he stood, lifting me effortlessly from the chair. My surprised yelp turned into a breathless giggle as he scattered the papers on his desk and gently placed me on it.
“I think I’ve kept you from work long enough,” I teased, a smirk on my lips.
Dominic’s grin widened as he leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. The sensation of sparks tickling my lips made me giggle, and I had no intention of leaving him to return to work.
“But this is much more fun, little mate,” Dominic chuckled, his chest rumbling with laughter.
As his lips met mine again, I felt my self-control dissolve, unraveling like twine under his tender touch.
~ Ten Years Later ~
“Mommy!” the little boy with bright blue eyes called out, his voice tinged with frustration. “Leonardo won’t share his truck!” He pouted, revealing a missing front tooth that added to his adorable exasperation.
I turned to Leonardo, who was clutching the coveted toy truck. His silver eyes, so much like his father’s, were narrowed with a mix of annoyance and reluctant compliance. With a sigh that seemed too mature for his young age, Leonardo walked over to his little brother, offering the toy with a huff.
“Here, just don’t break it,” Leonardo said, his brows furrowing in a way that made him look strikingly like his father, Dominic.
“I won’t!” Sebastian chirped back, a wide grin spreading across his face as he accepted the truck. At his tender age, his big brother was his ultimate hero. Despite Leonardo’s occasional exasperation with this idolization, there was an undeniable softness in his demeanor when it came to Sebastian.
The familiar voice of Seraphina broke through the moment, bringing a smile to my face. She looked down at her nephews with an adoring grin that covered half her face.
“Auntie Seraphina!” Sebastian cheered, rushing towards her with all the energy his little legs could muster.
Even Leonardo managed a grin at the sight of his aunt. “Hey, Uncle Lucian,” he said as Lucian joined us, his own smile wide and genuine.
Lucian’s gaze shifted to me. “You’re looking more and more like Dominic every day.”
I laughed, huffing out a playful retort. “You don’t know the half of it.”
Sebastian was a reflection of my own youthful cheerfulness, blissfully unaware of the world’s darker sides. In contrast, Leonardo bore a strong resemblance to Dominic-calm, stoic, and occasionally temperamental. His rare smiles were treasured moments.
Seraphina waddled over, her large pregnant belly causing her to move with a comical wobble. “I’m so ready for this baby to come out,” she complained, sinking onto the bench next to me.
“Have you settled on a name yet?” I asked, glancing between her and Lucian.
Seraphina shot Lucian an exasperated look, but her complaint was interrupted by another voice.
“I think Henry would be a great fit,” Dominic’s voice floated out from the house as he made his way to the backyard. Even after all these years, the sound of his voice still made me smile, the sparks between us as strong as ever.
Dominic’s chiseled face broke into a smirk as his silver eyes locked onto mine. “Funny, Dominic. I don’t think it would suit your niece!” Seraphina snapped back, eliciting a giggle from me.
Sometimes, Dominic and Seraphina reminded me of Leonardo and Sebastian-playful, competitive, and full of life.
“Dad!” the boys shouted in unison, rushing to greet Dominic. He enveloped each of them in a warm hug and planted kisses on their heads before sending them off to play.
Dominic then turned his attention to me, pulling me into his arms. His sweet yet husky scent was as intoxicating as ever. His gentle kisses along my lips and jaw made me giggle, my cheeks flushing as Seraphina looked on with a theatrical grimace.
“I think we better get out of here,” Seraphina said with a snicker. “They’re about to make me another niece or nephew, and I’d rather not witness that.”
Dominic rolled his eyes at Seraphina, pulling me closer for a deep, passionate kiss. His rough hands held me firmly, his love palpable and unwavering.
Despite his demanding work, Dominic never missed a moment with me and the boys. The way his eyes lit up when he looked at us was mesmerizing.
After the battle, life had settled into a semblance of normalcy. We mourned our lost pack members but celebrated the brief lives they had led. Each year, Seraphina and I would spend a few hours reflecting on Leona, mourning her loss and struggling to reconcile her actions with the friend we once knew. Though she had been a traitor, her memory lingered, and we grieved for the person she had once been.
The nightmares that once plagued me had gradually faded, thanks to Dominic’s unwavering support. I had learned that while a mate could offer incredible comfort, true healing came from the bond we shared-together, we mended the broken pieces within each other.
The End