Samantha’s POVThe call from the twins brought me back to reality, clearing my head from the highs. Devon’s voice still rang in my ears, and I had to cut this trip short and get home to them as soon as possible. Whatever was going on here with Dominic could not compare to the urgency of being there for my twins.My fingers tightened around the phone, and a wave of realization hit me so hard that I felt my knees weaken. Dominic was my mate. My wolf had confirmed it, the strong attraction, the pull drawing me closer to him, it was the mate bond tugging, aching to be fulfilled. It felt like fate had reached out to mock me, ripping away any sense of control I thought I had. All those years of trying to move on, of telling myself I was strong enough to build a life without him, now felt like a cruel lie.Why did I have to suffer his betrayal and neglect first before I was made to realize that we were fated to each other? Why did fate have to play dirty on me? It’s unfair! Now that I had
Dominic’s POVI stood there, stunned, long after Samantha’s figure disappeared, leaving her words echoing in my head. “Do you still want to find your fated mate?” I had not been prepared for the sharp edge of that question or the way her voice had almost cracked when she said it, like she was keeping something inside, something she did not want me to see.My mind spun, grasping for answers, but none of it made sense. Samantha had never shown any sign of being my mate before. She had never had a wolf, and even when I had searched for my fated mate years ago, there was nothing about her that set off that primal connection.My wolf stirred restlessly, more agitated than I had felt in years. ‘She can’t be our mate,’ I told him, a denial that sounded weaker by the second. Yet the pull was there, so intense and undeniable, clawing at the edges of my control, wanting to be freed, to be fulfilled. There was something in me that ached to be satisfied, a longing for a mate that had been sittin
Samantha’s POVI barely managed to push the door shut behind me before my knees trembled and I dropped on the floor. The room was quiet, too quiet, and for a moment, all I could hear was the pounding of my heart in my ears. I pressed my back against the door, closing my eyes and trying to steady my breathing. Dominic’s presence had a way of ripping scars and opening old wounds, making everything feel raw again. But I could not let that get to me. I had to stay focused, to keep my head on straight for Devon and Diana.My phone buzzed in my pocket, yanking me out of my thoughts. I pulled it out, and my breath caught when I saw the caller ID: Annie - Home.Panic twisted in my chest as I quickly answered. “Annie? Is everything okay?” I tried to keep my voice steady, pushing my worries away, but my nerves were on edge.“Samantha,” Annie, the human nanny I had trusted to care for my twins, spoke in a soft tone. “Sorry to bother you, but the twins called you earlier, yeah? I noticed this on
Samantha’s POVI stepped into the conference hall, and I immediately felt the heavy atmosphere. It was suffocating for someone like me. The aura of the Alphas and Betas from different packs filled the space, it felt powerful, intimidating, as if it was trying to force me to cower in fear and bow my head in submission. Yesterday was different since there were more lower ranks in the event hall, serving us, but now, only the heads, right hands, and trusted advisors of the Alphas were present. My eyes immediately sought out Dominic, a compulsion I could not seem to shake. He stood near the front, exuding authority and power, and his presence seemed to be dominating the room as if he were born to command it. Even from here, I could feel the pull, the undeniable draw that I hated and craved in equal measure.But before I could dwell on it, my gaze shifted. The rogue stood in the center of the room, restrained and surrounded by soldiers. The sight of him made my skin crawl, like little spid
Samantha’s POV“The Alpine Bar is just down the street,” one of the Alphas recommended but the others refused, uttering bad experiences in the said establishment. I had not expected the meeting to end on such a strange note. The moment the rogue incident was resolved, the Alphas and Betas seemed eager to blow off steam as they planned to go to one of the nearest bars in the area. Jokes were shared, and a few of them were already laughing, the threat of the hybrid seemed to have been pushed aside for a temporary escape.We all left the conference hall once they had decided on a place, but I was not in the mood for a drink.“Sam!” Killian called, jogging up to me with a mischievous grin. “Come with us. We could use a little distraction, right?” he convinced. I folded my arms, already shaking my head. “Thanks, but I’ll pass. I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”Killian groaned dramatically, his hand over his heart. “You’re no fun,” he teased, acting like he had been hurt by
Samantha’s POVWhy did he do that? Dominic had kept Olivia by his side after all these years, for sure, there must be going on between them. But, why did he push her away, ignore her? and the way he stared at me intensely as if he wanted me to hold him instead of Killian. Though he never asked… I should stop being delusional and acknowledge the fact that he could not let go of Olivia. Because if he really wanted me instead of her, he would have left her long ago. But he did not.Killian slumped in the passenger seat, groaning softly as I buckled him in. His head lolled against the window, and his eyes were barely open. I slid behind the wheel, and started the car, the engine purring to life. II gripped the steering wheel, trying to focus on getting Killian back safely, but my thoughts wouldn’t stop racing.Dominic. The way he acted… did not fit the image I had of him. He had always kept me at a distance, cold and uninterested. But tonight, his behavior had been anything but detached.
Dominic’s POVSamantha had always been a mystery to me, but lately, she was something else entirely. After six years since she vanished, she returned like a very different person— fiercer and more outspoken.I could not stop thinking about her. Everything about tonight, about her, felt off. She was no longer the Samantha I remembered. The shy girl who used to blush every time I so much as glanced her way had vanished. This Samantha did not shrink back. She met my eyes, fired back sharp words during our encounters, and held her ground like she did not care what I thought of her anymore.And it threw me off.It was not just her attitude that had changed; it was her whole presence. She walked into a room like she belonged there, like she did not need anyone to grant her a place. The way she carried herself now— it made me see her differently, and I hated that it made me question things I had always thought I knew.For years, I had convinced myself that Samantha had somehow planned our ar
Dominic’s POVThe taste of her name still lingered on my lips as I opened my eyes fully. And then, everything shattered.It was not Samantha.My heart plummeted like a stone as reality hit me with the force of a punch. My vision cleared just enough to see Olivia’s face inches from mine, her lips swollen, her expression smug and satisfied. A wave of nausea hit me and cutting through the haze of alcohol.“What the hell?” I growled, my voice rough. I shoved her off me with more force than I intended, and she stumbled back, her smirk replaced with a pout.“Dominic, what’s wrong with you?” she whined, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. “You were the one—”“That’s enough,” I snapped, sitting up unsteadily. “What do you think you’re doing?”Her pout deepened, her lower lip jutting out as if that could undo what had just happened. “What do you mean? I thought…”“You thought what? That I wanted this?” My head throbbed, anger replacing the drunken fog. “We are nothing, Olivia. Nothing.
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