Page 18

Most of the car ride was in silence. Dominic anxiously gripped the steering wheel, and often looked at me.

I crossed my arms across my chest as I shivered.

My clothes were soaking wet, and even Dominic turning on the heat in the car helped me to warm up.

I felt like some of my shivering could be due to my nervousness.

I placed my hands in front of the air vent, hoping the heat would warm me enough to stop shivering. Dominic reached over and turned up the heat for me.

"We are almost there, you can change into some of my clothes when we get there." Dominic announced.

It was dark out already, and I was sure my parents were worried about me. I decided that I wouldn't text them to let them know I was ok. They could worry all they want, I didn't care. Maybe they were so wrapped up in their own petty drama that they didn't care that I was gone.

I pulled my phone out of my book bag and saw I had some text messages. Unlocking my phone, I saw that I had over fifty messages from Nick.

"Texting your boyfriend, huh?" Dominic said bitterly. I could practically feel his jealousy.

"He isn't my boyfriend." I admitted. Nick and I never spoke about what we were to each other. Since nothing was official, technically I wasn't lying.

Dominic scoffed. "Oh really, does he know that?"

I didn't respond. Nick probably thought we were official. Why didn't I just say he was my boyfriend? Why would I care about what Dominic thought about it?

"So you're the kind of girl to have casual sex?"

"That's none of your business." I retorted, stung by his judgmental words. His icy blue eyes narrowed at my defiance, but he didn't respond, instead focusing on the winding road ahead. How did he know that Nick and I were intimate?

The jealousy I felt emanating from Dominic was all-encompassing, like a physical force in the compact space of the car. It filled me with a sense of unease as we drove deeper and deeper into the isolated woods.

We pulled up outside a large rustic cabin nestled deep within the forest. The only light came from the moon casting long shadows over everything, giving it an eerie beauty that made me shiver again. Dominic got out of the car first and moved swiftly to my side, opening my door for me.

As soon as I stepped out, I was hit by an overpowering scent of pine and something else, something wild and uniquely Dominic. It clung to me as I followed him up the wooden stairs and through the front door.

Dominic gestured for me to enter, and I walked through the door. Though his house looked like an old cabin on the outside, the inside was modern. A chandelier hung over the entryway and right in front of me was a staircase that led to the upper level of the house.

I followed Dominic up the stairs, knowing he was leading me to his room.

Once we were inside, he shut and locked the door behind me.

I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as we both stood in silence.

My body began to shiver again, and upon seeing this Dominic walked over to his dresser.

He pulled out a shirt and a pair of joggers.

He handed it to me and pointed to a door across the room.

"There is a bathroom in there that you can change in." He said quietly.

I nodded and made my way over there.

I closed the door behind me with a soft click. The bathroom, like the rest of Dominic's house, was surprisingly modern. Gleaming tiles lined the walls and a large shower cubicle occupied most of one side. I quickly stripped out of my wet clothes, relieved to escape their cold, clammy grasp.

Slipping into Dominic's clothes offered an unexpected comfort.

They are warm, soft and smelled just like him—wild and piney with a hint of something else that made my heart flutter.

I looked at myself in the mirror as I pulled his shirt over my head.

His clothes were admittedly too big on me, but there was an inexplicable sense of security in his oversized shirt enveloping me.

When I stepped back into his room, Dominic was

leaning against the window, staring outside with his arms folded across his strong chest. His silhouette against the moonlit night was captivating and a little intimidating.

"Feeling better?" He asked without looking away from the window.

"Yeah." I whispered. I decided to sit on his bed and cross my legs under me.

I surprisingly felt comfortable in his room, on his bed.

He kept his room very neat, but his bed was unmade.

Still feeling cold, I wrapped one of his blankets around me.

I buried my face into the soft fabric, and inhaled his scent.

Warmth spread across my body as I smelt him.

"Go ahead and make yourself at home." He said with a chuckle. I looked up and saw that he was finally away from the window and walking towards the bed.

Feeling embarrassed, I pulled my face away from the blanket. "Sorry." I whispered as my cheeks flushed red.

"Don't be." He quickly responded as he sat next to me.

The warmth of his body was like a beacon, drawing me in despite my reservations. His proximity sent jolts of electricity through me, making my heart rate spike. He just sat there silently for a moment, those icy blue eyes locked onto mine.

"You don't have to be sorry, Elaine," he said softly, his gaze never wavering. There was a strange, almost hypnotic intensity about Dominic that I found both frightening and compelling.

"I...I actually feel safe here," I admitted in a whisper, surprising myself with the truth of it.

A ghost of a smile played on his lips. "Good," he said. His tone was low and soothing, but there was something else beneath it—a hint of possessiveness or perhaps satisfaction—that made me swallow hard.

"Your clothes are comfortable," I added, hoping to steer the conversation away from the confusing emotions swirling inside me.

"I'm glad," he replied, the faint smile still playing on his lips.

"You can borrow them anytime you want to.

" His words hung in the air heavily between us, carrying an unspoken promise that made my heart flutter again.

The casual way he laid a claim on me was both unsettling and strangely reassuring.

I looked down at my lap, letting my fingers trace aimlessly over the fabric of his joggers.

I wasn't exactly sure why I was here or what this would mean for my relationship with Nick.

My thoughts drifted back to those numerous unread text messages, each one a constant reminder of how complicated this situation really was.

"Do you think about him a lot?" Dominic's deep voice cut through my thoughts like a blade of ice as he broached the subject I'd been trying so hard to avoid.

"Nick?" I asked, stalling for time. Suddenly, Dominic's room felt too small. His gaze bore into me and it felt as if he could see every thought.

"Who else would I be talking about? The non-existent Thomas that you lied to me about?" He said sarcastically.

I felt my heart drop when he mentioned my lie. Lying was not something I did often, and I felt ashamed for doing so.

"No, I don't think about him a lot..." I paused, at a loss of things to say. "T-this thing with him is relatively new."

"Oh, so you two are a thing?" He said bitterly, and I could feel a sting of betrayal coming from him.

"I-I don't know." I admitted. "But we didn't come here to talk about that."

Dominic sighed and looked down. "You're my mate." He stated with confidence.

His mate? What does that even mean? "You can't just claim me like that."

Dominic sighed and looked me in the eyes. His eyes were an icy storm, brewing with emotion. "You don't understand..."

I tried to cut in but he stopped me by saying, "Will you please just hear me out before you say anything?"

I sighed and nodded. I didn't give him much of a chance to explain himself whenever we talked, so I decided to be quiet and just listen to him.

Dominic grabbed my hand and placed it on his cheek. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "His scent is all over you and it's driving me insane." Dominic admitted with a strained voice.

He can smell Nick on me? I was going to say something, but I remembered my promise to him and bit my tongue. Dominic continued to lean into my palm, and I found myself wanting to comfort him. I started to rub my thumb across his cheek.

Dominic sighed before pulling me into his chest. I was shocked by it, but I didn't mind. His arms wrapped around me protectively, pulling me close. His warmth was intoxicating and I let myself relax into the embrace, comforted by his strong heartbeat against my ear.

"We're werewolves, Elaine," he confessed in a whisper that vibrated through his chest and into my body.

The word hung in the air between us, heavy and undeniable. Werewolves. I should have been terrified or at least surprised, but instead, some part of me felt like it already knew.

"You're a... w-werewolf?" I stuttered out, my voice barely more than a whisper against his chest. Dominic pulled back slightly to look into my eyes. His icy blue eyes were filled with a mix of fear and hope, as if he was scared of how I'd react but hoped that I'd understand.

"Yes." He nodded, his gaze never leaving mine. The intensity of his stare made my heart race. A moment passed before he spoke again. "And you're my god-given mate."

He seemed so sure of this. I thought this was another one of his delusions, but when I looked into his eyes I felt like he was telling the truth. What is wrong with me? He is clearly insane. I shouldn't believe a word he says.

"I know you probably think I'm crazy, but I am telling the truth." His eyes glowed gold.

I jumped back when I saw them. "W-what is that?" I stuttered out.

"My eyes? That's just my wolf." He paused after seeing the confusion in my eyes. "When I look at you they glow because you're my mate."

So Dominic knew that his eyes glowed. Did that mean that I wasn't imagining it? Did it mean that he was really a werewolf? A werewolf- something out of a fairy tale book. It was definitely something hard to believe.

"I can prove it to you, but I don't want to scare you." He said while moving a piece of hair that had fallen over my eyes. Prove it? How?

"Dominic... I-I..." I had no clue what to say. Either he and I were both delusional or he was actually a werewolf.

"Elaine," Dominic murmured, cutting off my stammering words. He moved his hand up from my arm, tracing the line of my jaw tenderly with his thumb, his touch soothing as it was confusing. "You don't have to say anything right now."

"But I..." The protest died on my lips as he shook his head slowly.

"It's a lot to take in. I know." His voice was soft and for the briefest moments, his stoic facade cracked and there was a vulnerability in his icy-blue eyes that had never been there before.

My mind was racing with questions and fears. Werewolves were things of myths and legends, they didn't exist in real life. Was this a dream? Would I wake up soon?

Dominic seemed to sense my internal turmoil, his powerful arms drawing me closer to him again. The warmth radiating from him felt reassuring, calming my racing heart.

"I'll give you the time you need, Elaine," he said while rubbing my back.

I felt comforted by the action. I didn't know how to feel about all of this.

My heart wanted to believe him, but my head was screaming at me to run.

I blocked out those thoughts as I instinctively nuzzled my head into his chest.

I tried not to think of anything at the moment. All I knew was that his arms around me felt really good. Better than Nick ever made me feel. Maybe Dominic and I were destined in some sense. A broken girl and a delusional boy. A boy who had permanently made his mark on me.

"Why did you bite me?" I whispered.

"Because you're my mate. Though, I probably shouldn't have done it when I did. I just saw you talking to another boy and instinct took over." He placed a kiss on the top of my head. "I didn't want any man near you, so I marked you as mine. I'm sorry if I scared you." He whispered.

"Is that why my scar tingles every time you are near?" I asked. Maybe I shouldn't have admitted that to him.

His icy-blue gaze darkened at my question, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. "Yes," he said after what felt like an eternity. His thumb gently traced the jagged scar on my shoulder, as if trying to erase the painful memory etched into my skin.

"All werewolves can sense their mates, especially when they're close," he began to explain, his voice taking on a solemn tone. "The mark... it's a bond between us. It binds me to you, and you to me."

"But why... Why me?" I found myself musing aloud, lost in the labyrinth of Dominic's revelations. His words spun around in my mind like a cyclone, tearing down the barriers of reality as I knew it.

Dominic seemed to ponder my question for a moment before finally voicing his answer. "I think... that's something only fate can answer," he said, his eyes mirroring the confusion that now clouded mine.

My heart pounded against my chest. I felt dizzy with all of the information being dropped on me. Everything he said explained all of the crazy things I was feeling, but it was still so hard to believe.

"What happened today, Elaine? I felt your panic and sadness and rushed to find you out in the middle of the woods." His voice was laced with concern.

I felt a swirl of emotion as he reminded me of what happened today. "M-my mom is moving out of the house." I began to cry.

Dominic placed a kiss on my head and pulled me closer into him. "Your parents are getting divorced?" He asked in a soft voice, as if he were afraid of breaking me. I nodded into his chest.

"Elaine, I'm so sorry." He whispered.

I continued to cry until exhaustion overcame me.