Chapter 33
Dominic POV
Vivian is talking.
A lot.
She’s bouncing beside me as the guys and I walk from the basketball court toward the hallway, her ponytail swishing like it’s personally powered by pure optimism. She’s going on about our “first real date,” even though I haven’t agreed to anything.
…so I was thinking the little café near the library. It’s adorable, Dom. They have these cute mugs and that cinnamon foam you like-”
Marcus elbows me from the other side. “Dude, you better say yes. That place is expensive. If she’s offering to pay, marry her.”
Vivian giggles. “Oh, Mason! Dom’s not that cheap.”
“He is,” Tyler chimes in. “Ask him how many times he’s reused a protein shaker.”
I roll my eyes. “That proves absolutely nothing.”
“You had mold in it, dude,” Mason mutters.
I raise a brow. “That was dirt from the field. You know it.”
Vivian slips her hand around my arm, pressing in a little too close. Normally, I’d enjoy the attention. Normally, her perfume and warm smile would stroke my ego just right.
But it’s all felt wrong since that day.
Like I can’t breathe right when she leans in.
My mind floats to Ellie’s face again. Her instant rejection.
I grit my teeth. Fantastic. Now I’m irritated again.
“Anyway,” Vivian continues, oblivious, “I want our first real date to be memorable. Maybe after the café we could
“Viv,” I say, trying to be polite, “can we talk about this later?”
She blinks, thrown off. “Oh… sure. I didn’t mean to overwhelm-”
Marcus mutters, “She’s gonna plan the wedding next.”
Tyler snickers, “Already did.”
Vivian’s cheeks puff with embarrassment. “You guys are such jerks.”
We turn the corner-and something catches my eye.
A bench.
Two people sitting close.
Ellie.
1/3
+25 Bonus
And Lucas.
My stomach hits the floor.
Lucas leans in-my breath stops halfway in my throat-and he kisses Ellie on the cheek.
The sound in my head goes dead silent.
The Basketball slips from my hand. My jaw locks so hard I feel the pressure in my skull. Something hot and sharp ignites in my chest-like a fuse catching flame.
Marcus stops mid-step. “Uh… Dom?”
I can’t answer.
Lucas pulls back, grinning. Ellie looks startled, caught between laughing and swatting him away.
And then she turns. Her eyes meet mine.
The air punches out of my lungs like I got hit.
Vivian steps closer to me, following my gaze. “Oh.” Her tone tightens.
Tyler mutters under his breath, “Think he wants to die.”
Marcus lets out a low whistle. “Damn. If Lucas has a death wish, he could’ve just asked.”
Vivian looks up. “Dom… are you okay?”
I’m not.
Something inside me-the part tied to the stupid mate bond I didn’t ask for twists painfully. Possessive. Angry. Territorial in a way that makes no rational sense.
I force a breath, but it feels like inhaling broken glass.
“That’s-” My voice comes out too rough. I swallow. Try again. “That’s nothing. Just… annoying.”
But I was already moving, and I don’t remember deciding to move.
One second I’m standing at the gym doors, watching Lucas kiss Ellie like he owns the right, and the next I’m storming across the courtyard like a threat with legs.
“Unbelievable,” I mutter, every step fueled by the burn in my chest. “She’s actually—”
Lucas is still smirking. Ellie’s still pink-cheeked from that stupid kiss. And before either of them can pretend nothing happened, I’m in front of them.
“What the hell was that?” I snap.
Ellie’s eyebrows lift, like I’m the crazy one here.
I gesture sharply at her and Lucas. “Throwing yourself at someone else already? Really?”
Her mouth falls open. Not in shame, in absolute disbelief. “Excuse you! Throwing myself? Are you kidding me? You’re one to talk!”
I double down because that’s what I do. “Yeah, Ellie. I am kidding you. Because apparently, you couldn’t wait five minutes before–”
2/3
