Ashen's POV
It's been days,was at home when the phone rang,I picked it
The moment I heard his voice, my blood turned to ice.
"Hello, slut."
My breath hitched. My fingers went numb around the phone.
"No response?" my uncle mocked. "That's unlike you, boy. What, did your new Alpha muzzle you already?" He let out a cold, cruel laugh. "I heard you finally spread your legs for one. Good. At least someone is putting that useless body of yours to work."
I couldn't speak. I couldn't breathe.
He continued, his voice dripping with venom. "You do remember, don't you? What you owe me? What you took from me?"
I swallowed hard, my throat aching.
"My sister is dead because of you," he spat. "And now, it's only right that you pay me back. I'm coming for you, omega. I'll take what's mine."
A violent tremor ran through me. My knees locked.
No. No, no, no—
The phone was yanked from my hand.
I barely registered Dominic's presence until I saw his eyes darken, his face twisting into something murderous as he pressed the phone to his ear.
"Who the fuck is this?" he demanded, his voice dangerously low.
My uncle only laughed. "Ah, so the little slut really did get himself an Alpha."
Dominic went rigid, his entire body coiling with tension.
"You must be the fool taking care of my broken little nephew," my uncle continued smoothly. "Tell me, Alpha, how does it feel knowing your omega is nothing but a murderer? A worthless whore—"
Dominic crushed the phone in his fist.
The shattered pieces fell to the floor, but the suffocating silence that followed was worse.
My body felt wrong too hot, too cold, too shaky all at once. My ears were ringing. I felt like I was there again, back in that house, trapped under his gaze
"Ashen."
Dominic's voice cut through the fog.
I blinked. He was in front of me now, crouching, his golden eyes sharp and searching.
His touch was gentle when he took my chin, tilting my face toward him.
"Ashen, look at me."
I did.
"He's not going to touch you," Dominic said, his voice like steel. "He's not fucking coming near you."
A breath shuddered out of me. My chest ached. My hands curled into fists to stop their trembling.
"You don't get it," I whispered, my voice cracking. "You don't know what he's capable of."
Dominic's gaze turned lethal.
"No," he said, his voice dripping with cold fury. "But he's about to find out what I'm capable of."
Dominic's words sent a shiver down my spine.
His grip on my chin was firm but careful, like he was afraid I'd break. I wasn't used to this—someone looking at me like they cared, like they'd kill for me.
And maybe that should've scared me.
But it didn't.
It was my uncle who terrified me.
I wrenched my face away and turned my back to Dominic, crossing my arms over my chest. My breathing was still uneven, but I forced myself to steady it.
"He's coming," I murmured. "You don't understand what that means."
Dominic scoffed. "I don't need to understand. He's not setting foot anywhere near this pack."
I clenched my jaw. "You don't know him."
"No," Dominic agreed, "but he sure as hell doesn't know me either."
His voice was cold, controlled but beneath it, there was something dangerous. Something lethal.
I turned to him, narrowing my eyes. "What are you going to do?"
Dominic smirked, but there was no humor in it. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
A lump formed in my throat.
"He's my problem, Dominic," I muttered. "Not yours."
His smirk faded. His expression hardened.
"No, Ashen," he said, stepping closer. "He was your problem. But you're mine now. So that makes him my problem."
My heart stuttered.
You're mine now.
I hated how those words made me feel,like I wasn't alone anymore.
Like maybe, for the first time in years, someone was willing to fight for me.
But I couldn't let myself believe in that.
People like Dominic? They didn't stick around. They didn't fight battles that weren't theirs.
I turned away again, my voice cold. "Do whatever you want."
I started walking toward the stairs, but before I could take another step, Dominic grabbed my wrist.
My breath hitched. His grip was warm, firm, but not painful.
"I mean it, Ashen," he said, his voice softer now. "I won't let him hurt you."
I swallowed hard.
I wanted to believe him.
I really, really did.
But I didn't know how.
I went for training to get my mind off things, pushing my body harder than usual, trying to drown out the echo of my uncle's voice. But then
I felt it.
A slow warmth creeping up my spine, my muscles turning sluggish. My skin prickled, a cold sweat breaking out even though I felt too hot inside.
No. No, no, no.
Not now.
Not here.
The unmistakable slickness gathered between my thighs, my scent thickening in the air. I swallowed a curse, my hands curling into fists as I forced my legs to move.
I have to get home. Now.
I turned on my heel, barely aware of the startled looks from the other warriors as I bolted from the training grounds. My breathing was heavy, sharp. My vision blurred slightly as the heat coiled tighter, my body betraying me.
Then—
"Hey, dipshit."
I flinched at the voice. Adam.
Not now, not him.
"Not now," I snapped, my voice sharper than usual as I tried to shove past him.
Adam, of course, had other plans.
"Excuse me?" He stepped directly in my path, his smirk widening. "Why the hell are you running?"
I gritted my teeth, moving to push past him, but then—
He stilled.
I barely had time to react before his nostrils flared, and his smirk twisted into something cruel.
"Wait." His voice dropped an octave. "What's that smell?"
Shit.
I stepped back on instinct, but his eyes were already locking onto me with an expression I didn't like.
His smirk widened, his pupils dilating slightly. "No way." He gave an exaggerated sniff. "Is our little Ashen finally turning into a real omega?"
My stomach twisted.
My scent—fuck, everyone can smell it now.
Eyes were already turning toward us. I felt the weight of their stares, the way the whispers started spreading.
Heat burned my face. Humiliation. Rage.
I shoved at Adam's chest, but he barely moved, his grin only growing.
"Get off me, you idiot," I snarled, but he just laughed.
"Wow," he drawled, shaking his head with mock sympathy. "And here I thought you were just a weak warrior, but look at you leaking in the middle of training like a bitch in heat."
My pulse pounded in my ears.
I couldn't do this.
I wouldn't do this.
I turned sharply, forcing my shaking legs to move.
"Ashen—"
I didn't let him finish.
I ran.
I ran like my life depended on it, ignoring the laughter behind me, the whispers, the way my body screamed for something I refused to give in to.
I had only one thought in my head.
Get home. Get to Dominic.
I barely remembered getting home. My legs burned, my chest ached, but I didn't stop moving until I was inside, slamming the door behind me.
I pressed my back against it, gasping for breath, my whole body trembling.
This can't be happening.
My heat had never come this fast before. The suppressants were supposed to last longer—why the hell weren't they working?
A sharp wave of need coiled in my stomach, making my knees nearly buckle.
I clenched my jaw, digging my nails into my palms. No. No, I will not give in.
I needed to shower. I needed to hide this scent before—
The front door swung open.
Dominic.
I barely had time to react before he was in front of me, his eyes sharp, scanning me like he already knew.
I must've looked wrecked flushed, sweat-damp, chest rising and falling too fast.
"Ashen," he said lowly, his voice thick with something unreadable.
I swallowed hard, pressing myself further against the door like I could disappear into it. "Don't."
His jaw tightened. "What happened?"
I shook my head. "Nothing. I just—I need to be alone."
I tried to move past him.
He blocked me.
"Ashen." His voice was lower this time, firmer. "You're in heat."
I squeezed my eyes shut. "No, I'm not."
His scent crashed into me—dominant, sharp, overwhelming. My body responded instantly, a humiliating whimper slipping past my lips before I could stop it.
Dominic cursed under his breath.
I hated this. Hated the way my body betrayed me.
His eyes darkened. "Who touched you?"
The question hit like a slap. My pulse jumped. I swallowed hard, staring at the floor.
"Adam," I muttered.
Dominic went still.
My chest tightened, panic clawing its way up my throat.
"And now everybody probably knows," I continued bitterly. "I told you I should have run away."
Dominic's nostrils flared, his hands curling into fists.
He was pissed.
But I wasn't done.
"This is exactly what I was afraid of. People finding out, treating me like some weak little omega." I forced out a laugh, but it was hollow. "I bet Adam's already spreading it. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole damn pack knows by now."
Dominic growled lowly, the sound vibrating through my chest.
"No one will dare talk about you like that." His voice was like steel. "Not unless they want to answer to me."
I flinched at the raw protectiveness in his tone.
I didn't want his protection.
I wanted to stand on my own.
But standing was getting harder when my body felt like it was burning from the inside out.
I forced my voice steady. "Just let me go, Dominic."
His eyes flicked over my face, searching.
Then he exhaled, stepping aside.
I bolted upstairs, slamming the bathroom door shut behind me.
Turning on the water, I gripped the sink, staring at my reflection.
My pupils were blown wide, my face flushed. I looked wrecked.
I clenched my fists.
I won't give in to this.
No matter how much my body begged otherwise.