Chapter 122
Dominic POV
I come home from practice sore in places I didn’t know could still ache.
My shoulders are tight, knuckles scraped, lungs burning like I didn’t quite finish breathing before I left the training ring. Usually that kind of exhaustion helps. Usually it quiets things.
Tonight, it doesn’t touch the noise in my head.
I haven’t seen Ellie in days. Haven’t seen Lucas either, not since that night exploded. The silence should feel like relief, considering we needed the space.
Instead, it’s just… hollow.
I shove open the front doors and let them slam harder than necessary. The house smells like roasted herbs and warm bread.
Not… the usual.
Laughter drifts faintly from the back halls, the maids, probably. They seem busy.
I peel off my gloves and toss them onto the side table, then head toward the kitchens, intent on grabbing food and disappearing upstairs. I don’t want conversation. I don’t want strategy. I definitely don’t want to see-
“Dominic.”
My mother’s voice stops me mid-step.
She’s standing by the long island, sleeves rolled neatly to her elbows, hair perfectly pinned like she hasn’t spent the last hour orchestrating the household. Two maids hover nearby, pretending not to listen.
“What,” I say flatly.
She doesn’t miss the tone.
“Ellie will be joining us for dinner tonight.”
The words hit harder than any blow I took in training.
I laugh once. “Ah, no, she won’t.”
My mother lifts a brow.
“You heard me.” I drop my bag at my feet. “Stop interfering. Haven’t you done enough already? She tured you down. Publicly.”
The temperature in the room shifts instantly.
Her expression tightens, polite fury sliding neatly into place. “No, we made an announcement. And we are the Alpha’s. Not you children. Reminder, son, you don’t get to speak to me like that.”
“I don’t get to do much these days,” I snap. “But apparently inviting people I explicitly asked you not to involve is still fair game.”
She sets her hands on the counter. “Our choice is Ellie.”
I shake my head. “Your choice.”
She steps closer. “And yours, whether you like it or not.”
My jaw clenches. “She doesn’t want this.”
Chapter 2
+30 Bonus
“She clearly doesn’t know what she wants,” my mother says coolly. “She’s young. Emotional.”
“She’s not a child.”
“No,” she agrees, eyes sharp. “She’s an accomplished young woman. Top of her class at the healer academy. Strong. Intelligent. Confident.” Her voice softens just slightly. “She’s grown into a fine mate. One with an attitude. But that doesn’t change our choice. Or the moon goddesses.”
I stare at her. “You don’t get to say that like it’s a compliment when you’re trying to corner her.”
My mother exhales slowly, like she’s losing patience she didn’t intend to spend. “You’re adults now. Both of you. You don’t get to run from responsibility because it’s uncomfortable.”
“Responsibility?” I bark. “You mean control.”
She straightens. “I mean the future. She is your fated mate,” she continues. “Marked by destiny, blessed by the Moon Goddess herself. You don’t get a better alignment than that.”
I scoff. “This is unbelievable.”
“What’s unbelievable,” she snaps back, “is how determined you are to sabotage something good because you refuse to face your own feelings.”
I step closer, lowering my voice. “You don’t know what I feel.”
“I know exactly what you feel,” she says. “You’re afraid.”
The word lodges deep, a flash of anger flushing me.
My mother gestures toward the hall. “Go wash up.
“No.”
Her gaze hardens. “Dominic, you will behave tonight,” she says sharply. “You will sit at the table, you will speak civilly, and you will not humiliate her again.”
My chest tightens. “I never wanted to-”
“Enough,” she cuts in. “Tonight, we fix this.”
Comments
