chapter 14

I looked up through strands of hair that had fallen across my face. Dominic Sterling stood ten feet away, his tall figure radiating power even in casual clothes. The navy henley he wore stretched across his broad shoulders, the sleeves pushed up to reveal muscular forearms. My pulse jumped at the sight of him.

"This is not the place or time to settle your personal disputes," Dominic continued, his voice low but carrying. His eyes briefly met mine, a flash of blue so intense I couldn't look away. "All of you, leave. Now."

William's demeanor changed instantly. The wildness in his eyes receded, and he straightened, smoothing his shirt with visibly trembling hands.

"Future Alpha," he said, his tone suddenly respectful, almost subservient. "I apologize for the disturbance. My mate betrayed me, and I lost my temper—"

"I don't care about your excuses," Dominic cut him off. "This is a public place with human witnesses. Control yourself, or the Council will hear about this."

William paled visibly. "Yes, of course. I'm leaving."

He shot me one last venomous look before turning and walking away, shoulders rigid with barely contained rage.

I remained slumped against the pillar, pain throbbing through my shoulder and wrist. Sofia crouched beside me, blood trickling from the scratches on her face.

"Thank you," I said softly to Dominic, meeting his eyes again. Something flickered in those deep blue depths—recognition, confusion, and something that made my skin warm despite the pain.

"Can you stand?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral, though his gaze lingered on me a moment too long.

I nodded, using the pillar to push myself upright, unable to suppress a wince.

Dominic's gaze shifted to Sofia, taking in her injuries. "Those need to be cleaned properly. Werewolf scratches can cause infection in humans."

"We'll go to the hospital," I began, but Dominic shook his head.

"Get in my car," he said, nodding toward a sleek black Maybach. "I'll take you to have those wounds treated."

"That's not necessary," I protested, my heart rate increasing at the thought of being alone with him again. My body remembered his touch all too vividly.

"And wait hours in the emergency room?" Dominic's tone left no room for argument. "My clinic is ten minutes away. Get in the car."

Sofia and I exchanged glances. She nodded slightly, and we followed Dominic to his car. He opened the rear door, his fingers brushing mine as he helped me in. That brief contact sent a jolt through me.

As he drove, I watched his profile from the back seat, studying the strong line of his jaw, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel. Memories of our night together surfaced unbidden—those same hands moving over my skin, his mouth hot against my neck. I shifted uncomfortably, my body betraying me with a flush of heat.

The clinic was in an upscale part of the city. Inside, Dominic arranged for a nurse to take Sofia to treat her scratches. Before I could follow, his hand touched my elbow, sending another ripple of awareness through me.

"You need to be examined too," he said, his voice lower than before. "That shoulder took a hard hit."

He led me to a private examination room, his palm resting lightly against my lower back. Each step seemed to heighten my awareness of him—his scent, his proximity, the subtle heat radiating from his body.

The click of the door closing behind us sounded final somehow. Dominic turned to face me, his eyes lingering on my face, then slowly traveling down my body in a way that made my breath catch. I felt exposed under his gaze, though fully clothed.

He seemed to be scenting the air, his nostrils flaring slightly. Did he remember how I smelled? How we smelled together?

"So," Dominic said finally, his lips curving slightly. "We meet again."