LENA
Dom must have seen the conflict in my eyes because he gave me a small, almost reassuring smile. "Come on," he said, tilting his head down the hall. "There's still more to see."
We kept walking, and I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, feeling awkwardly self-conscious. Every footstep echoed on the polished wood, every whisper of voices from the rooms we passed prickled against my skin.
"So," I said, trying to lighten the mood, "do you ever get lost in this place?"
Dom chuckled, a low, rich sound that made my chest tighten unexpectedly. "Used to. When I was a kid, I spent hours hiding from my instructors. There's a whole system of passageways behind the walls too—easy to disappear if you know where to look."
I widened my eyes in mock horror. "Secret passages? Great. As if this place wasn't intimidating enough."
He smirked, clearly amused by my reaction. "I'll show you one sometime," he said, voice dipping slightly. "But you have to promise not to run off and hide in them."
"No promises," I shot back, flashing him a grin before I could think better of it.
For a second, Dom just stared at me, his smile fading into something softer, almost reverent. I quickly looked away, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze.
We rounded a corner, and a large window flooded the corridor with late afternoon light. Outside, the grounds stretched endlessly—rolling hills, a dense forest at the edges, the whole world painted gold by the setting sun. I slowed down, pressing my hand against the glass.
"It's beautiful," I murmured, my breath fogging the pane.
Dom stopped beside me. "It is," he agreed, but when I glanced at him, he wasn't looking at the view. He was looking at me.
I swallowed hard, the intensity of his stare making my heart pound faster. It was cheesy, but my face still flushed.
"You're different than I expected," he said suddenly.
I turned to face him fully. "Different how?"
He shrugged, a slow, deliberate motion. "I thought you'd fight harder. I thought you'd push back more."
I frowned. "I still might," I said, lifting my chin slightly.
Dom laughed again, the sound low and genuine. "Good," he said. "I was hoping you would."
Before I could figure out what that meant, we were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A young woman with short, copper-colored hair came bustling down the hall, carrying a stack of papers. She skidded to a stop when she saw us, her eyes widening slightly.
"Alpha Dom," she said breathlessly, dipping her head respectfully.
"Anna," Dom acknowledged with a nod. "What's wrong?"
Anna shifted nervously, clutching the papers tighter. "Nothing wrong, sir. It's just that Council wants an update on the new arrival." Her eyes flicked to me for a split second before snapping back to Dom.
I stiffened instinctively, feeling like a bug under a microscope.
Dom's jaw tightened subtly. "Tell them she's settling in. That's all they need to know for now."
Anna nodded quickly. "Yes, sir. Of course." She turned on her heel and hurried away without another word.
I watched her retreating figure, unease curling in my stomach. "Council?" I echoed, glancing at Dom.
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The governing body for the packs in this area. They oversee... well, everything. Don't worry about them. They're just curious. It's not every day someone new comes into our world."
I wasn't reassured. "Curious sounds a lot like 'suspicious.'"
Dom smiled faintly. "They're both, probably. But it's my job to protect you. And I will."
There was a finality to his words that made me shiver—not from fear, but from the strange comfort they offered. Part of me wanted to believe him. Part of me already did.
"Come on," he said gently, as if sensing the heaviness in the air. "You should meet more of the team."
We made our way to another room—this one even cozier than the last, with a long oak table surrounded by chairs. Several people were already seated, deep in discussion, but they all looked up as we entered.
"This is Lena," Dom introduced. "She'll be staying with us for a while."
A woman with sharp cheekbones and bright blue eyes offered me a warm smile. "I'm Maris," she said. "Welcome."
Next to her, a burly man with a buzz cut gave a short nod. "Jonas."
There were a few others—Amira, lean and quiet; Nate, who looked like he was constantly two seconds from cracking a joke; and Sam, who simply raised a hand in greeting.
They each welcomed me in their own way, and though the wariness lingered in some of their eyes, I could feel the effort they were making. It mattered more than I realized.
As Dom and the others started talking about logistics and pack matters—most of it going over my head—I found myself drifting toward the massive stone fireplace. A framed photograph sat on the mantel: a group shot, younger versions of Dom, Lucas, Maris, a beautiful blonde I hadn't met yet and others, laughing together with arms slung over shoulders.
"You were all friends before you were leaders," I said softly, more to myself than anyone else.
Dom's voice came from behind me. "Yeah. We grew up together."
I turned to find him closer than I expected, his expression unreadable.
"It wasn't always easy," he continued. "Responsibility changes people. Some for better, some for worse."
I nodded slowly, understanding more than he probably realized.
He studied me for a long moment, then reached out and gently tucked that same rebellious strand of hair behind my ear. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a tremor through me.
"You don't have to be afraid here, Lena," he said quietly. "Not of us."
I wanted to believe him. God, I wanted to. But trust wasn't something that bloomed overnight. It was something earned, little by little.
Still, standing there with Dom so close, with the fire warming my back and his words sinking into my skin, it was hard to remember why I was supposed to keep my walls up.
"I'll try," I whispered.
Dom's mouth tilted into a small, satisfied smile. "That's all I ask."
The conversation behind us shifted gears, and Dom turned his attention back to the others. I lingered by the fireplace a few seconds longer, steadying myself.
When I finally moved to join them, Dom glanced at me and—subtly, almost imperceptibly—reached out, brushing the back of his fingers against mine.
It was nothing. It was everything.
And for the first time since stepping into this mansion, into this impossible life, I didn't feel quite so lost.