Ashen's POV
My anger crumbled into something far worse.
Tears burned in my eyes, and before I could stop myself, I sank to the floor, my knees hitting the cold wood with a dull thud. My breath hitched, ragged and uneven, my chest tight with something too heavy to hold in.
"Why did you help me?" My voice cracked, raw and trembling. I clenched my fists against my thighs, my nails biting into my skin. "You should've let me be in pain. I—I could handle it." My throat burned, the words tasting like acid.
I should have handled it. I was supposed to.
"I'm a dominant," I whispered, the words shaking. "I don't need help. I can take the pain."
Dominic didn't say anything. He didn't move.
But I felt him.
Felt the weight of his presence pressing down on me, steady and unshaken. Like nothing I said could change the fact that he had helped me. That he'd do it again.
I squeezed my eyes shut, my nails digging harder into my palms.
"My uncle was right," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm worthless. A—a slut. I let you—" My breath stuttered, my stomach twisting in shame. "I let you give me release."
A sharp sound.
Like a growl ripped through gritted teeth.
Then—
Strong hands grasped my arms, yanking me up from the floor before I could protest. I barely had time to gasp before Dominic shoved me against the wall, his golden eyes burning with something dark and furious.
"Don't," he growled, his grip firm but not painful. "Don't you ever say that again."
I swallowed hard, my chest heaving, my pulse wild against my ribs. "It's true," I whispered. "You know it is."
His jaw clenched, his eyes flashing. "It's not."
I let out a hollow laugh. "You don't know anything—"
"I know you." His voice was like thunder, deep and unwavering. "I know the way you fight. The way you push. The way you break yourself just to prove you're stronger than the pain."
I sucked in a sharp breath.
His fingers tightened slightly on my arms, his head dipping lower, his breath warm against my skin. "You think taking pain makes you stronger?" he demanded. "That refusing help makes you more of a dominant?"
I tried to turn my face away, but he caught my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze.
His eyes weren't just angry.
They were furious.
Not at me.
At the man who had made me believe this about myself.
"You are not worthless," Dominic said, his voice rough. "You are not weak. And you are sure as hell not a slut."
My throat tightened. I shook my head, trying to break away. "Dominic—"
His hand slid from my chin to cup the side of my face. His touch was warm, grounding.
"You think I helped you because I pity you?" His voice dropped lower, softer, but no less intense. "You think I touched you last night because I see you as less?"
I squeezed my eyes shut. "Don't."
"I helped you," he said, his thumb brushing against my cheek, "because you're mine."
The words sent a violent tremor through me.
"I don't belong to you," I whispered, but my voice betrayed me.
It shook.
Dominic leaned in, his forehead almost touching mine, his scent wrapping around me. "Your body says otherwise."
I hated that he was right.
Because despite the fear clawing at my ribs, despite the shame trying to drown me, my wolf wasn't afraid.
It wanted him.
It trusted him.
And that terrified me more than anything.
"Please, Ashen. Give us a try."
Dominic's voice was low, rough with something I couldn't name. Desperation? Frustration? Maybe both.
I didn't dare look at him. If I did, I knew I'd break even more than I already had.
"I don't know who hurt you," he continued, his hand still cradling the side of my face, his thumb brushing against my skin like he was trying to soothe me. "But if you tell me, I will go get him."
My breath hitched. My fingers curled into fists.
"It's the Alpha you ran from yesterday, isn't it?" His voice was sharp now, edged with something dangerous. "Tell me, Ashen."
I clenched my jaw. Shook my head.
I couldn't.
Dominic exhaled heavily, his fingers trailing from my face down to my wrist. He didn't hold me tightly, didn't trap me. It was just… there. A reminder. A tether.
"You're not worthless," he murmured, his tone softer now. "And you being an omega doesn't make you less."
I let out a hollow laugh, bitter and sharp. "Doesn't it?"
His grip on my wrist tightened—not painful, but firm enough that I couldn't ignore it.
"No," he said fiercely. "It doesn't."
I swallowed hard, my throat burning.
"Being a submissive doesn't mean you have no power, Ashen." His golden eyes held mine, unwavering. Unshaken. "In fact, you have great power over me."
My breath stuttered.
No. That couldn't be true.
Dominic was an Alpha. A dominant. A leader feared by so many.
I was just… me.
Broken. Weak. A mistake.
"I don't," I whispered, barely able to get the words out.
"You do."
His hand lifted again, brushing against my hair, his fingers sliding down to the back of my neck. A slow, deliberate touch. Not claiming me. Not forcing me.
Just there.
Warm. Grounding.
"I feel it, Ashen," he said quietly. "And I know you do too."
I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking my head.
No.
I couldn't—
"I know you do," Dominic murmured, his breath warm against my temple. "Don't run from it."
I wanted to run.
But for the first time in my life…
I wasn't sure if I could.
I shoved him off, harder than necessary.
Dominic barely stumbled, but the warmth of his touch was gone, leaving only cold air against my skin.
I wiped at my eyes quickly, furiously. I shouldn't have cried. I shouldn't have let him see me like this.
"Get out," I said, my voice rough.
For a second, he just stood there, watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. I thought he might argue, might push like he always did.
But for once… he listened.
He turned without a word and walked to the door. My chest ached, my pulse thundering in my ears. I hated this feeling. I hated that he had seen me like this.
The door clicked shut behind him, and I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
I was alone again.
Exactly how it should be.
So why did it feel so fucking wrong?