Samantha’s POVThe knock on the door was unexpected, especially at this hour. I had just put the twins back to bed after they were woken up by the thunder. Devon had fallen back asleep almost immediately, but Diana kept her eyes on me, as if watching for any sign of trouble, I assured her and handed her the wolf stuffed toy before I kissed her forehead and promised her everything was fine.“Dominic? What are you doing here?” I asked, barely masking my surprise as I opened the door to find him standing there, looking as though he had just walked out of a war zone. His shirt was wrinkled, his jaw tight, and his eyes carried the kind of intensity that made my pulse quicken.He did not answer right away, his gaze flicking behind me before settling on my face. “We need to talk. Now.”“It’s barely dawn,” I countered, glancing over my shoulder to check if the twins were still asleep. “This could not wait?”“No,” he replied firmly, stepping past me into the house without waiting for an invita
Samantha’s POVTrust was one thing that once it was broken it could no longer be fixed. And I knew that even if I tried to trust him again, I would not be able to completely do it. To return to the Silver Crescent pack and live with him, be his Luna, it would be a nightmare that would keep me on my tiptoes, walking on a tiny thread that would shatter me once again with even one minor mistake he would make. Could I risk it? Could I gamble with my heart again? It was a difficult decision especially since it was not just me who would be in this, I now have the twins to worry about too. I did not want them to undergo what I went through. It would break me to see them suffer because of their own father.My heart felt like it had been thrown into a storm, torn between the past that refused to loosen its grip and the present that demanded something I was not sure I could give.“Trust you?” I repeated softly, more to myself than to him. My voice wavered, barely a whisper, but he heard it. Of
Samantha’s POV“You’re trembling,” Dominic uttered.I inhaled deeply and balled my hands in an attempt to stop the slight trembling for I did not even realize I was until he pointed it out. Dominic stepped closer with his eyes fixed on mine, full of longing and wanting, and his presence burned like wildfire in the midst of the pouring rain outside.“Don’t.” The word came out before I could stop it, shaky and unconvincing, as if I were begging him and warning him all at once. My mind was in a mess and his presence was making it even worse. I was already conflicted about which decisions to make in our situation, and yet my heart was still adding up to the stress, including my wolf that had been pacing around and purring in my head since he arrived. “Don’t what?” he asked, taking another step closer, so close I could feel his breath ghosting against my skin.I opened my mouth to reply, but the words got stuck in my throat. Don’t look at me like that. Don’t say my name the way you do. Do
Samantha’s POVI woke to the sound of soft, steady breathing beside me, and my heart instantly seized in panic. The events of last night came crashing back and I bolted upright, clutching the blanket to my chest. Dominic stirred next to me, his arm draped lazily over his face as if he did not have a care in the world. The sunlight filtering through the curtains illuminated his features, his sharp jawline, the messy strands of hair falling across his forehead, and the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.He looked peaceful. Content.I, on the other hand, was a mess. My thoughts scrambled for clarity, guilt and longing clawing at me. What had I done?“You’re staring,” Dominic murmured, his voice husky from sleep, his lips twitching into a lazy smirk as he cracked one eye open.“I’m not!” I snapped, yanking the blanket tighter around myself, even though my face was burning red.“Sure, you’re not.” He rolled onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow as his eyes roamed over
Samantha’s POV“You’re imagining things,” I replied, crossing my arms on my chest as if it could comfort me from my own lies. “It’s not possible. I am past the age of awakening. If I did not have a wolf all this time, I am not going to suddenly get one now,” I denied.Dominic’s eyes narrowed as he focused on me and we both stepped out of the twins’ bedroom. “I know what I felt, Samantha. You—”“You are wrong,” I interrupted immediately, my voice rising slightly, more defensive than I intended. My wolf stirred inside me. ‘Stop this’, she growled, impatiently and laced with authority. ‘Tell him. He’s our mate.’No. I argued, shoving her presence away from my mind. And as I noticed Dominic still trailing behind me, I spoke again. “You’re reading too much into it. I am still the same wolfless Samantha you looked down on, remember? Nothing’s changed.”Dominic’s steps faltered. I did not want to start a fight this morning, but… his questions were bringing me back to the past when he used to
Dominic’s POVI stepped closer to her and brushed her arm, trying to calm her down and make her understand that it was her that I sincerely wanted, and not Olivia. “Olivia means nothing to me, Samantha,” I said but she laughed bitterly, taking her arm away from my touch. She did not believe me. “Nothing? She is in your pack, always around you, practically glued to your side. That’s what nothing looks like?” she retorted and I sighed, dragging a hand through my hair as frustration tried to surface. “Samantha, I know how it looks, but it is not what you think.”“Then explain it to me,” she demanded, stepping closer. She was cold, and challenging, but I could see the pain in her eyes. “Because from where I stand, it seems like she is more to you than you are willing to admit.”I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Olivia and I were close in the past,” I admitted, watching her expression closely. “But I changed, Samantha. I no longer engaged myself with Olivia. And she is
Samantha’s POV“Why were you kissing him?” Devon’s question cut through the awkward silence. He looked so confused.I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. What could I possibly say to a kid who just caught his mother kissing someone he barely knew?Dominic was the first to recover, crouching down to Devon’s eye level. “Well, buddy… that’s a great question. Do you think I shouldn’t kiss your mom?” he questioned, glancing briefly at me.Devon’s arms crossed over his chest, his tiny lips pursed into a pout. “Yes. Only me and Diana can kiss Mommy,” my son replied.Dominic glanced back at me, his lips twitching with amusement, while I stood frozen, unsure whether to intervene or let this play out.“Hmm,” Dominic mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “That doesn’t seem very fair. What if your mom wants someone else to kiss her? Like, say… me?”“No!” Devon exclaimed, stomping his foot. “Mommy doesn’t need anyone else’s kisses. She has mine!”“Devon, sweetheart,” I said, finding
Dominic’s POV“Why are you in Mommy’s bed?”The voice startled me out of a deep, content sleep. My eyes flew open, and the first thing I saw was the two small figures standing at the side of the bed. Devon had his arms crossed over his chest with a suspicious and accusing look, while Diana clung to his side, her head tilted as she curiously studied me.I blinked a few times, trying to orient myself and trying to avoid Devon’s glares toward me because I knew that this little kid had already warned me hours ago, and yet, he still found me with his mom, worse, on the bed.“What are you two doing here?” I whispered, sitting up carefully so I would not wake Samantha since we barely slept at dawn when we went back to bed. She was still fast asleep beside me, her dark hair spilling across the pillow, and how I wished I could have this view every morning, and with the kids. My heart warmed at the thought.Devon ignored my question, narrowing his eyes. “Why are you in Mommy’s bed?”His voice w
Samantha’s POV"Do you even realize how much you affect me?" Dominic murmured, his breath brushing my skin as his lips pressed against mine again, hungrier this time.I barely had a chance to think, much less respond. Every kiss, every touch, sent my mind spinning. It was maddening, and addictive. His hands rested on my waist, fingers curling slightly, like he needed to keep me close or risk losing me again.And the worst part? I did not want him to let go.But I could not ignore the chaos bubbling inside me. The guilt gnawed at the edges of my mind, the doubt clawing its way into the heat of the moment. My twins.I pulled back slightly, pressing my hands against his chest. And I felt his heartbeat thundered beneath my fingertips, matching the erratic rhythm of my own. “Dominic, wait.”His brows furrowed and the intensity in his eyes softened just a fraction. “What’s wrong?”“I…” I struggled for the right words, my chest heaving as I tried to calm my breath. “I can’t… We can’t just…
Samantha’s POV“Step aside?” I interrupted, “You are out of your mind if you think I am handing over my kids to you or anyone else. I would die before I let that happen.”“How noble,” she drawled. “But don’t fool yourself into thinking this is a choice, Samantha. You are playing a losing game. You are weak. And when you fall, those kids will be left to pick up the pieces. Do you really want that for them?”My hand trembled with the force of my grip on the phone. “You don’t know a damn thing about me or what I am capable of. And if you come near my children, if you even think about trying to take them again, you will regret it.”“Oh, I’m trembling,” Olivia mocked. “You think you can scare me, Samantha? You think your little threats mean anything? I have dealt with bigger obstacles than you, and I have crushed them all. You are nothing.”“Try me,” I spat. “Come near my children, and I will show you exactly what I am capable of. You think you are ruthless, Olivia? You don’t know the firs
Samantha’s POV“Mom, why does your face go red every time Alpha Dominic is around?”Diana’s question made me choke on my water. I coughed, sputtering as Diana giggled uncontrollably and Annie raised a single, knowing eyebrow from across the dining table. My cheeks burned hotter than the sun, and I struggled to compose myself, waving off Annie’s attempt to hand me a napkin.“I don’t—” I started, then stopped, realizing any denial would only make things worse. Devon was staring at me with his arms crossed, his face far too serious for a six-year-old, while Diana leaned forward eagerly, clearly enjoying my discomfort.“You do, though,” Diana chirped, grinning. “It’s like you are allergic to him or something. You always act weird.”“I do not act weird,” I muttered, stabbing at the salad on my plate with far more force than necessary.“You totally do,” Devon said, smirking now. And that smirk, it was the same one Dominic wore when he knew he had the upper hand in a situation. Oh, great. My
Samantha’s POV“Why did I let this happen?”The question hung in the air like a fog I could not escape, pressing down on my chest as I sat on the edge of the bed with a towel wrapped tightly around me. The faint warmth of the water still lingered on my skin, but it was nothing compared to the fire that had raged between us just moments ago. My reflection stared back at me from the small mirror across the room, but it was not just my face I saw. It was the conflict within, the confusion, the shame. And something else, something I was not ready to admit.I ran my fingers through my damp hair, pulling it away from my face as if that would somehow clear my thoughts. But nothing helped. My mind kept replaying the way his hands felt on me, the way his lips claimed mine like they were meant to. And worse, the way I had wanted it.No, I had not just wanted it… I had needed it.The realization sent a shiver down my spine, one that had nothing to do with the cool air in the room. What was wrong
Samantha’s POVOlivia’s face still lingered in my mind, the way she had looked at me before I left the pack grounds. That smug smile. That group of wolves hanging on her every word like she was some queen. It was not new to me anymore. Olivia always thrived on being the center of attention, making sure I was on the outside looking in. But today, it had gotten under my skin in a way I could not shake.The way she tilted her head with a smile just wide enough to feel like a challenge made my stomach stir. She did not even have to say anything. That was the worst part. She knew how to needle me without lifting a finger.I let out a heavy breath as I sank deeper into the couch. My shoes were still on and my bag dropped somewhere by the door. I did not even have the energy to care. My body felt like it was running on fumes, but my brain would not shut off.What was I even doing there? Going back to that pack, and walking into this mess, it felt like I had walked into a fire willingly. And
Samantha’s POV“They are going to hate me,” I muttered under my breath, my fingers clenching the hem of my sweater as we walked on the uneven dirt path toward the pack house, and as we passed by several pack members, their eyes were trained on me with questioning gaze.Dominic’s stride did not falter as he gripped my hand tighter. “They will respect my choice,” he remarked, with a faint hint of frustration that he did not bother to hide.Respect his choice? The concept felt foreign to me now, like something out of reach. “You don’t understand. I did not just leave, Dominic. I disappeared. I abandoned my role, my place, my duties. Do you have any idea how much damage that must have caused?” My voice cracked despite my efforts to keep it controlled.He stopped so abruptly that I nearly stumbled. Turning to face me, he cupped my cheek with his free hand, his dark eyes boring into mine as he spoke. “They will understand, and they will accept you because you are their Luna. You always hav
Samantha’s POV“You are seriously not going to tell me what’s going on?” I asked in disbelief. I had to muster some courage and put up with all this makeup, high heels, and a red dress just for the night to be put on hold. I thought he wanted to fix us, but he could not even properly be with me even just for a night. Well except when we were in bed.He sat stiffly in his chair, barely meeting my eyes as he reached for his drink, taking a huge gulp before as if it could soothe his nerves.“It’s pack business,” he said evenly, carefully controlled, like he was talking to a mere business partner he did not give a shit about. Was I that to him? “An emergency. I need to handle it,” he added, and I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. “That’s it? You are not going to explain anything? You dragged me out here, acted like this was important, and now you are just going to bail?”His jaw tightened, and he finally looked at me with his gaze filled with a mix of frustration and guilt. “Samantha, I
Samantha’s POV“You’re going, and that’s final,” Annie said, cutting through my thoughts as I stared at the red dress laid out on my bed. “You have spent the entire day pacing back and forth like a caged animal. The least you can do is see where this date leads,” she added and I sighed.I shook my head, biting my lip. “I don’t know, Annie. What if this is a mistake? What if he is just… doing this for the kids? Or to make himself feel better? I don’t want to end up—”“Stop.” Annie’s hands landed on my shoulders, forcing me to turn and meet her gaze. “You deserve this, Samantha. You have been punishing yourself for so long that you have forgotten what it feels like to just live a little. And Dominic…” She sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. “I see the way he looks at you. Whatever his reasons were before, they are different now.”I opened my mouth to argue, but her expression left no room for debate. Instead, I glanced back at the dress with its vibrant red fabric shimmering soft
Samantha’s POV“I almost called Killian.”The confession tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop it. Annie froze mid-motion and the rag she was using to wipe the kitchen counter dangled from her hand as she turned to look at me.“You did what?” she asked surprised and with a tinge of disapproval in her tone.“I didn’t,” I said quickly, burying my face in my hands. “But I almost did. When I woke up and found the kids and Dominic gone, I panicked. My first instinct was to call Killian for help,” I admitted. I was scared that Dominic would take my kids away and it was only Killian that I thought could help me. Even after learning from Annie that Dominic took the twins for a walk, I was still paranoid that he might have tricked her and actually took the kids away from me.Annie set the rag down and leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. “Samantha, you really thought Dominic would just take off with them?”I lifted my head and looked at her, my chest tightening with shame. “For