I woke slowly, my body tangled in warmth that wasn't just the blankets. My first thought was how good it felt—safe, steady, like I belonged here. My second thought had me jerking awake in sheer panic.
Dominic.
My legs were wrapped around one of his, my arm draped over his chest, fingers grazing the rough ridges of his scars. My face was buried in the crook of his neck, his scent—woodsy, wild, undeniably him—invading my senses. And worse? His arm was securely wrapped around my waist, keeping me pressed against him like he belonged there.
Or maybe, like I belonged there.
I sucked in a sharp breath, but the moment I moved, Dominic shifted, tightening his hold on me. My stomach clenched as his body pressed even closer. Heat crept up my neck, my heart hammering against my ribs. I should move. I needed to move. But for a single, terrifying second, I didn't want to.
It was confusing, this push and pull inside me. The urge to run warring against the undeniable pull of the bond.
I clenched my teeth. No. I wasn't staying. I couldn't.
I carefully untangled myself from Dominic's grip, holding my breath as I slipped from the bed. His hand twitched in his sleep, reaching for me even as I pulled away. I ignored the pang of something I refused to name and took a slow step back. My heart pounded as I turned toward the door. I didn't have a plan, but staying here? Letting myself get wrapped up in this bond, in him? That wasn't an option.
I moved quickly, padding across the room, my breath shaky as I reached for the handle. My fingers barely grazed the cool metal before a low, warning growl rumbled from behind me.
I froze.
My pulse pounded in my ears, but I forced myself to glance over my shoulder. Dominic wasn't in bed anymore.
He wasn't even human anymore.
A massive wolf stood in the middle of the room, eyes locked onto me with an intensity that turned my blood to ice. His fur was dark, nearly black, and his sheer size was staggering—larger than any wolf I'd ever seen in pictures or on TV. And his eyes… those were still Dominic's eyes. Piercing. Unwavering. Trapping me in place.
I opened my mouth, but no sound came out.
This wasn't real. It couldn't be real.
But the sharp, primal scent of him, the way his massive paws barely made a sound against the floor as he took a step toward me, told me otherwise.
A whimper—an actual whimper—escaped my throat, and I did the only thing my body would let me.
I ran.
The hallway was empty as I sprinted down it, my bare feet slapping against the hardwood. I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get out, had to breathe, had to—
Something blurred in my peripheral vision.
Then a solid force collided with my side.
I hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from my lungs. Before I could scramble up, an even larger weight pinned me down.
Panic clawed at my chest as I turned my head, my cheek pressing into the cool floor.
Dominic. His massive wolf form loomed over me, blocking out everything but him. My breath came in quick, ragged gasps as I braced for whatever came next.
"You alright?"
The new voice wasn't Dominic's.
I twisted my head and found Lucas standing a few feet away, arms crossed over his bare chest, watching me with something like amusement. Unlike Dominic, he was still human, though the sharpness in his gaze told me he had been fully prepared to shift if necessary.
I opened my mouth, closed it, then swallowed hard. "He's a—"
"Werewolf?" Lucas finished for me, smirking slightly. "Yeah. We all are."
All? My stomach flipped. My eyes flicked back to Dominic, who still hadn't moved off of me. His weight was solid, warm, unyielding. His growl had faded, but he was still watching me, ears twitching like he was waiting for me to bolt again.
"Get off me," I hissed, finding my voice.
Dominic didn't move.
Lucas sighed. "You're scaring her, Alpha. Maybe shift back?"
The weight disappeared in an instant. One moment, Dominic was a massive wolf. The next, he was, well-.
Human.
And very, very naked.
I barely managed to slap my hands over my eyes before I got a full view, but not before catching a glimpse of tanned skin, defined muscle, and a body that looked like it had been sculpted by some divine force.
Heat flooded my face. "Oh my god, put some clothes on!"
A deep, rumbling chuckle made my stomach flip in the worst—and best—way.
"You can look now," Dominic said, amusement lacing his voice.
I cracked open one eye, relieved to see that Lucas had tossed him a pair of sweatpants. They sat low on his hips, his chest still bare, the muscles of his stomach flexing as he stepped closer.
Too close.
I took a shaky step back, but the wall stopped me. Dominic didn't touch me, but I felt the heat of him, felt the energy in the space between us.
"You were trying to run." His voice was quiet, but there was something rougher beneath it. Something that made my chest tighten.
I lifted my chin. "What did you expect me to do?"
His eyes searched mine, and for the first time, I saw something other than dominance and control. I saw restraint. Hesitation. Like he was afraid of pushing me too far.
"Everything is different now," I whispered, the realization crashing into me like a tidal wave. The bond. The wolves. Him.
Dominic exhaled, his hand lifting. I flinched on instinct, but he didn't grab me. He just let his fingers brush over my wrist, featherlight. A test.
A choice.
The warmth spread, settling in my bones, quieting the chaos. But even as it soothed, it terrified me.
"Lena." My name was a low rumble, a plea wrapped in something unbreakable.
I wanted to pull away.
I wanted to lean in.
I didn't know what I wanted.
Everything was falling into place. And at the same time, it felt like my entire world was crumbling beneath my feet.