LENA
I woke later with a gasp. I had fallen asleep on top of the blankets, and I was shivering with cold. For a moment, I thought I'd imagined everything that had happened. The intensity of Dominic's presence, the overwhelming connection he claimed was between us, seemed like a strange dream. But the warmth in my chest told me it wasn't. And the reality of the situation crept back, like a shadow looming over me.
I pushed myself up from the bed, tripping over wobbly legs. The room was still dim, the only light coming from the crack in the curtains where the sun barely touched the edge of the sky. It was morning, I realized, but it didn't feel like morning. It felt like I was still trapped in the night.
I couldn't stay. I had to leave. Every inch of my body screamed at me to get out, to run, but the bond. That damn bond. It pulsed in my chest, a constant reminder that he was somewhere near and that he would be back. He wasn't far. Dominic. And no matter how much I wanted to fight it, part of me wanted to stay, to know what would happen next. Because, really, where did I have to go?
I shook my head, trying to clear the haze of confusion that had settled over me. I needed to get away. I needed space. I stood up, my feet brushing the cool hardwood floor as I moved toward the door. It was so, so quiet.
Just as I pulled open the door to peek out, a voice interrupted the silence.
"Whoa, easy there, Houdini."
I yelped, stumbling back as I turned to see a young man leaning casually against the doorway. His dark eyes sparkled with amusement, and there was an easy grin on his face as if he'd been expecting this.
"Didn't mean to scare you," he said, holding up his hands. "Okay, maybe a little. But only 'cause your reaction was worth it."
I glared at him, pressing a hand to my racing heart. "Who the hell are you?"
"Evan," he said with a small bow, like he was introducing himself to royalty. "Unofficial welcome committee, designated babysitter, occasional mischief-maker." He straightened with a smirk. "And the guy standing between you and whatever grand escape plan you were cooking up."
I crossed my arms, frustration bubbling up. "I don't belong here. I don't even know what's going on." My voice was sharp but cracked at the end as panic washed over me.
Evan tilted his head, considering me. "Yeah, I get that. This whole place can be a bit much." His smile softened a little, losing its teasing edge. "But for what it's worth, you're not the only one who's ever felt out of place here."
Something about the way he said it made me pause. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged. "Just that this world isn't exactly what you're used to. And you're well, you're different." He studied me for a second before his grin returned. "In an interesting way. Not a bad way."
A strange shiver ran down my spine at his words. Different. The way he said it made it clear that he wasn't just referring to my being new here.
"I don't want to be here," I said stubbornly. "I want to leave."
Evan let out a dramatic sigh as if I'd just told him I wanted to ruin his whole day. "Yeah, that's not really in the cards right now. Look, I get it. You're freaked out, everything feels upside down, and Dominic is- don't tell him I said this- a lot."
"That's an understatement."
Evan chuckled. "Fair. But he's not some psycho trying to lock you away in a tower, I promise. He's just—" He hesitated. "—dealing with his own mess, same as you. Only his is wrapped up in centuries of tradition, instincts, and a bit of a god complex."
I snorted despite myself. "At least you're honest."
"I try," he said with a wink. "Anyway, I'm here to make sure you don't do anything drastic, like climb out a window or try to fight your way past a bunch of guys who would really rather not have to stop you."
My shoulders sagged slightly. As much as I hated to admit it, I wasn't going anywhere. Not yet.
Evan must have sensed my resignation because his smile turned almost victorious. "Tell you what. I'll make it easier for you. If you promise not to bolt, I'll introduce you to my sister. She's way better at explaining all this stuff than I am, and she's got more patience than Dominic. Probably more than me, too, but don't tell her I said that."
I hesitated. Talking to someone else—someone who wasn't trying to claim me, trap me, or keep me here—sounded like the first reasonable offer I'd gotten.
"Fine," I muttered. "But I'm not promising anything beyond that."
"Fair enough." Evan grinned and pushed off the doorway. "I should let Alpha know you're awake, anyway."
I frowned. "Alpha?"
Evan smirked but didn't elaborate. "Don't worry about it." And with that, he turned and walked off down the hall, leaving me with more questions than answers.
Before I could dwell on it too much, the door opened again, and Dominic stepped in, his presence as commanding as ever. His gaze immediately flickered over to where Evan had been standing before locking onto me.
"You're trying to leave again," he said, his voice soft but still firm.
"I wasn't going anywhere," I said quickly, though my voice betrayed my unease. "I was just talking to Evan. About everything."
Dominic's gaze softened, though there was still tension in his jaw. "Evan's a good guy. But you don't need to talk to him about this." He walked closer, and despite my instincts telling me to step back, I sat on the edge of the bed instead.
"I'm not trying to make this harder for you," I said quietly, my hands wringing together in my lap. "But I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I didn't ask for any of this. I don't understand it."
Dominic's expression softened, and he knelt down in front of me, his large hands gently taking mine. The touch was so warm, so soothing, that a strange calmness washed over me. For a moment, all my fears, all the confusion, seemed to fade.
"I know this isn't easy," he said, his voice low. "But we'll figure it out, Lena. Together. You're not alone in this. You never will be."
And for the first time since I'd arrived, I felt a flicker of peace. The bond that had felt like a trap now felt comforting, like a safety net beneath me, holding me steady. The urge to run didn't fade completely, but for that brief moment, I didn't feel so lost.
Dominic's touch lingered on my hands, and the warmth between us settled in my chest, quieting the storm of emotions I couldn't control.
"I won't force you into anything," he added softly. "But I'm not going anywhere. And neither are you."
I swallowed, nodding slowly, even though a part of me still wanted to break free. But for now, I allowed myself to breathe. It wasn't everything I wanted, but maybe it was enough, at least for the moment.