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Chapter 92
Dominic POV
The teams flash up on the boards the instructor says them, and I barely need a second to read mine.
All I could think about was the per-requst.
Ellie requested me?
I smirk. Playing hard to get.
I don’t even think before walking up behind her, shadowing her small form. I lean in closer to her ear, voice low, amused. “You know, if you wanted to be near me again, you could’ve just said so. No need to pull strings.”
Ellie’s entire body stiffens, her ears blast red before she whips around.
“I infact, didn’t! I actually requested a retrain from being partnered with you, don’t get it twisted!”
My brow rose, leaning in unconvinced. “Yeah? And how did they confused that paper work?”
She pushed me back my my chest, scoffing. “Will you back up? Personal space?”
I tilted my head. “Like you don’t like it.”
“I don’t, this is a fluke. One I’m going to deal with and move on without you ruining it. So get ready,” she says, turning to the group. “We’re winning this.”
That was about the reaction I expected. Such a workaholic these days. So eager to prove something.
“Listen up,” The insulator says. “Three students will be critical injuries-close to death. Simulated blood everywhere, mimicking a battlefield scenario. The remaining non-medical student will act as support and must be directed by the healer to save all three.”
She paces as she speaks, eyes sharp.
“This exercise is about multitasking, communication, and leadership from the healer. Healers, decide who will be your victims
and helper.”
I lean closer to Ellie, lowering my voice. “Guess you have to save me–”
“Kim,” Ellie cuts in immediately, not even looking at me. Her tone shifts so fast it’s like someone flipped a switch. “Marcel
Jenna. You’re my criticals. Get suited up.”
I blinked, watching them turn fast to prep.
The she turns to me, and looks, really looks, and something in her gaze makes me straighten without the anting to, lowe push stay
folded arms.
“Dominic,” she says crisply. “You’re my helper. You’re strong, mobile. You move bodies, apply pressure, and follow instructions. Do exactly what I say. Understood?”
I blink again.
“Uh, yes, ma’am,” I say, giving her a lazy salute
Her mouth twitches once Barely
Then we line up, all the helpers and healers in a line, the ‘cintal’ students dogged as given to the Bhayan
into place Blood-too much of it spreads across units and tiles. It’s realists quigh a les 16k bon had gone off
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Still not the real thing.
Nothing ever beats the real thing.
I glance at Ellie. “You sure you’ve got this?”
She’s already buried in her clipboard. “Of course I do,” she says calmly, storing it in bag. “I’m a healer, Dom. Not your lap dog anymore.”
My brow creases. “Always with the jab.”
The timer overhead snaps to life.
Panic explodes.
“Dom!” Ellie calls. “Gather our bodies together together-now! Sipport the heads!”
I don’t question it, all of our assigned bodies spread out amoung the wreckage. I scoop Kim over my shoulder and haul Marcus by the waist, dragging them across the floor. Someone shouts. One person ‘dies’, a healer cussing.
The timer clicks louder. Faster.
“Check Kim’s airway,” Ellie says, voice steady as stone, like she is narrating everything. “I’m putting pressure on Jenna’s abdominal wound. Marcel has leg trauma-don’t move him again.”
I drop to my knees. “Airway’s clear.”
“Good. Trauma kit-my backleft pocket.”
I grab it without thinking. She tenses as my hand slips in and out of her tight pants, her hand smacking mine fast, but she
focuses.
“Just-pack the wound!” She snaps.”Wrap tight. No gaps.”
I start twisting the wrap. “You sure this isn’t too tight, doc?”
“Yes,” she says without even glancing over. “Unless you want internal bleeding.”
“…Fair.”
She moves between our patients with frightening efficiency. No hesitation. No wasted motion. When Marcel flinches, she steadies him. When Jenna fakes a panic attack, blood spurting form her side, Ellie grounds her with a firm hand and a quieter
voice.
“Breathe with me,” she tells her. “You’re doing fine. Dom, get the scissors, now!”
My hand slips into her bag. “Careful.” I muttered with a smirk. “You’re starting to sound like an Alpha.”
“Dominic!” She whips around sharply, “this isn’t a joke! Focus!”
Something in her tone cuts clean through the noise.
Iblink. “I was
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“People are bleeding,” she snaps, eyes finally locking on mine “If you can’t tab this serioasly, so that your STORE help”
The room seems to filt
Right.” 1 finally say
She furns away immediately, koping a bandagy around bet
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I take a steady breath and carry Marcel to the ‘stabilized’ tents, marking him clear.
If I was being honest, Ellie is-fast. Precise. Though I’d never tell her that.
I knew she was good. She wouldn’t be here otherwise. But watching her move now, command the chaos like it bends around her … it puts a sharp, unfamiliar pressure under my ribs.
A dangerous thought, wanting her to be back at my side then here.
I shut it down immediately.
I turn back for Jenna, lifting her without hesitation.
Focus.
Ellie and I aren’t anything.
And even if we were, I don’t get to cage something that powerful.
We stabilize the last injury with seconds to spare.
The timer cuts off.
Silence-then applause.
“Incredible work,” the instructor says, clearly impressed. “Congratulations, Ellie. That’s a new record.”
Ellie exhales, nods once, as she stands.
I stay crouch to the floor, rubbing fake blood off my hands as the others congratulate her. Ellie nods, thanking them.
She doesn’t look at me. Doesn’t even thank me.
I scoff.
Without me, no one could have lifted those bodies as fast. She’d be screwed. And nothing?
My fingers rub the blood between then thoughtfully.
She doesn’t need me anymore.
The thought burns.
You nothing but extra hands.
Ellie POV
I’m halfway down the corridor, still wiping some fake blood off my medical apron, when I know he is behind the
Dominic.
As soon as the event ended, I had left in on the floor. It’s not like we had anything to talk about. Nothing Lould handles at th
moment
Lignore him Besides, he tried to turn it into a game a some point, making jokes
Another failed sabotage
“Ellie ”
My shoulders tense before I can stop them blowing. I turn for ting my caps savor wil societ
Dominic stoods a few feet away, hands loose at his sides, posture relaxed.
He still has some blood on his face, my handprint on his side from pushing him out the way at one point.
My hands twist my sleeves nervous.
“Did you need something?”
His eyes find mine immediately.
I tense. There’s a thousand things he could want. None that are good.
“I don’t know,” He took a step toward me. “Maybe a thank you?”
My gaze hardens.
Alright. He did do the heavy lifting. No way Marcel could have lifting Dominc and the girls.
“Okay,” I relent. “Thank you. You were a good partner, listened to directions well.”
He stopped inches from me, face unimpressed. “Partner?” He scoffed.
“Yes,” I eyed him up and down. “Partner. Was that not a good enough thank you?”
His hands slid into his pocket, shadowing me. “Not sure. I did half the work, I deserve something.”
My cheeks flush, the way he looks smug, expecting isn’t sitting right.
“Well,” I folded my arms for space from the heat. “What do you want? A good boy? A pat on the head?”
“Not a bad option.”
“Dominic!” I hissed.
He raises a passive hand with a low chuckle. “Joking. I don’t need jack. But you did well,” he says. “During the trial.”
I blink.
Okay. Not one of the thousand things I thought he was ever say.
My brow lifted. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not. You handled the chaos,” he continues. “I’ve never seen that side of you.”
Something warm and dangerous stirs in my chest. I stamp the ember down recklessly, swallowing it hot
“I-well. Thanks,” I say shakey, nodding once. “I told you, I’m good at this. Belong here.”
Silence stretches. The corridor hums faintly around us, distant voices, footsteps echoing somewhere far away
It’s like…he wanted something. Waiting. But I couldn’t tell for what
He inclines his head, then and turned away without another word, giving a wave
I don’t know was panic flares up sudden in my chest. My hand reaches out
“I ub, about last night “I call after him
He doesn’t slow
“Let me guess,” he calls back softly, still moving away “Art the it is!
* High
Each word lands like a disor closing
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I follow him a few steps, frustration boiling up fast and messy considering that was what I was going to say.
“I” I paused, my walls hardening. “Yeah! You know what, yeah! Ugh finally!” I stalk after him fast, moving to his side. “Do you mean it? You’ll forget it happened?”
“Yep,” he deadpanned.
“Thank gods,” I beamed. “I was worried-well, I was worried it would be awkward. That you would get the wrong idea.”
He doesn’t answer.
“I’m glad were on the same page though” I add, louder now, cheery. “So we agree, nothing happen?”
“Yep.”
“And that I don’t belong at the Management academy? You said it yourself!”
“Yep.” he stalked a bit faster.
“And I don’t need you-”
The sound is sharp and violent.
His hand slams into the wall beside my head, close enough that the impact rattles the locker, the air suddenly thick and tight. He doesn’t touch me – but he cages me in with sheer presence, heat rolling off him, controlled fury snapping just beneath the surface.
I shrink slightly. Eyes wide. His own boring into me with this intensity that wasn’t there moments before.
“Dom…” I start. “Are you-”
“I said I get it.” he snarls quietly. “So you can shut up about it, and stop following me. That’s what you want right. Consider yourself heard.”
My heart hammers against my ribs, breath coming faster than I want it to. I open my mouth to say something, any when
“Why does it seem like,” Lucas’s voice cut in from the end of the hall. “I’m always rescuing you from this tool.”
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