Chapter 89
“I hate this,” I mutter.
“Being trapped?” he asks.
“Being trapped with you.”
He exhales softly. “No you don’t.”
That pulls my gaze back to him.
“What does that mean?!”
His jaw tightens, just a fraction. “It means I didn’t ask for this pull either, Ellie.”
The word hits low and slow.
Pull.
I swallow. “Then stop leaning into it.”
“I’m sitting on a mat?”
“Yeah but,” I say despite myself, hiding my face in his jackets collar, “you feel like you’re everywhere.”
The air between us hums. I’m painfully aware of his leg touching mine, the inches between our bodies. Of how easily those inches could disappear.
His voice drops. “I don’t understand. You wanted me to stay away. I did.”
I laugh softly, breath unsteady, still shivering despite the jacket. He doesn’t get it, replying, “The one time you listened.”
Dominic POV
I knew my friends were stupid, but I didn’t think they’d go this far.
They were so dead.
Ellie presses her palm flat to the door, shivering even with with my jacket.
That makes me shift uncomfortable on the mat, our legs brushing.
She stiffens.
So do L
Unable to ignore her teeth chattering anymore, I put an arm out.
She glares. “I’m not cuddling you. That’s what they want.”
“It’s for warmth.” I pat the space between my legs. “Just sit
1
AX
She scoffs, “And practically sit on your lap? Gods, scoot over”
She shoves, though there isn’t much room as she slides my close uudet y a des his then settles when she realizes I’m not moving
The reaction is instant
It’s akward at first. But war Everything in use a peding new phe 21
+25 Bonus
Her slowly body relaxes like it’s been holding itself together by sheer will. I feel it in the way her weight eases against me, how
her breath evens out.
It shouldn’t affect me.
Then she pressed her cold cheek to my chest and my breath nearly hitched.
“I guess you are warm,” she mutters.
I don’t look at her.
If I do, I’ll lean too close.
She rubs her hands together near my side, breath steady but tight. “If you know, you could’ve stopped this.”
“Stopped what?” I ask.
“This,” she says, gesturing vaguely at the room. “Your friends. This stupid game. You’re the future Alpha. People don’t just pull things like this unless you let them.”
I stare at the far wall, jaw tight.
“Leadership isn’t throwing your weight around every time something irritates you,” I say.
She looks up at me, too close. I feel it without looking.
“Sometimes stopping things means knowing when not to escalate them. When to let something burn out instead of lighting it on fire. People deserve free will even if I disagree at times. It’s a balance. We are friends after all.”
The words hang there.
For the first time since she’s sat down, she seems to fully lean into me.
When I finally glance at her, she’s watching me like I’ve surprised her. Like she expected arrogance and got restraint instead.
“Didn’t think you’d say that,” she admits.
Neither did I.
After that, we talk.
Not about anything that matters. Not directly. A comment about training schedules. A complaint about cold stone floors Something about the infirmary inventory being a mess again.
There was so much more to say, but this just felt easier on top of whatever was clouding my thoughts.
Her hands kept rubbing together, skin already going pale with cold.
I didn’t think.
My hand closes over hers and pulls them to my chest
Her breath hitched.
I dipped my chin “You’re cold. Just use me like a fire for a minute You don’t have to like it
We sat like that, her cold bleeding into my heat like something thadn’t realized Cd been using
Then her fist unfurled
Her hand pressed against my peck
My mouth twitched
Choph
I looked down-and realized she was already staring at me.
Time stalled.
Her eyes flicked to my mouth. Back to my eyes.
I leaned in.
Not enough to kiss her.
Enough to ask the question.
Her breath brushed my lips as her hand slid higher to my collar, heat snapping hard and sudden in my chest.
I wanted her on my lap, I-
The door slammed open.
