Dominic pov
Ashen kissed me like he wanted to hurt me.
Like he wanted to prove something to himself, to me.
His fingers twisted in my shirt, pulling me closer, his teeth grazing my bottom lip, testing. Challenging.
I let him.
For now.
But the moment he tried to take control, the moment he thought he had the upper hand—
I flipped us, shoving him back against the nearest wall.
He gasped, the sound getting cut off as I crushed my lips against his, swallowing every protest, every sharp breath.
He tasted wild.
Frustration and heat, defiance and something dangerously sweet.
And fuck, I wanted.
I dragged my hands down his sides, feeling the sharp rise and fall of his chest, the way his body tensed, torn between resisting and giving in.
I deepened the kiss, pressing my weight against him, my knee sliding between his legs
Ashen shoved at my chest.
I barely moved.
His breathing was ragged, lips swollen, his pupils blown wide.
I smirked. "Running already?"
He glared. "You're insufferable."
"And yet—" I leaned in, brushing my lips against his throat, feeling the way his pulse raced beneath my touch. "You still came looking for me."
His breath hitched, but he refused to yield.
Not yet.
"You think you're so fucking smug," he muttered.
I grinned against his skin. "Because I am."
His nails dug into my shoulders. "I hate you."
I chuckled, my hands slipping lower, fingers digging into his hips. "No, you don't."
His chest heaved, his body taut, fighting himself more than me.
I tilted my head, my voice dropping. "Say it, Ashen."
He swallowed.
I slid my hand up his throat, not squeezing just holding. Just reminding him that I owned him.
"Say it," I murmured.
His lips parted, his breath uneven—
And then—
A sharp knock at the door.
I growled, my patience snapping like a frayed rope.
Ashen took the distraction, shoving me back with a smirk. "Looks like your win will have to wait, Alpha."
I almost lost control right then and there.
Instead, I leveled him with a look, letting my eyes darken, letting my power curl in the space between us.
His smirk faltered.
I leaned in, brushing my lips against his ear, voice a promise—
"You're already mine, Ashen."
And when I pulled back, when I turned toward the door, I felt the way his breath caught.
Felt the way he knew—
He was losing this fight.
The knock at the door was the only thing keeping me from pinning Ashen right back against the wall and forcing him to admit what we both already knew.
Instead, I exhaled sharply, forcing my wolf back into its cage as I strode toward the door and yanked it open.
Ryker stood on the other side, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
His gaze flicked over my shoulder to where Ashen stood, still breathless, still ruined from my touch.
I didn't miss the way his lips were swollen, the way his pupils were still blown wide.
Ryker's mouth twitched. "Interrupting something?"
I growled. "What do you want?"
His amusement faded. "We have a problem."
I clenched my jaw. "Of course we do."
Ryker stepped back, waiting. I could feel Ashen watching me, could feel the heat of his frustration, his hunger.
But this wasn't over.
Not by a fucking long shot.
I turned my head just slightly, my voice a low, quiet promise. "Don't think this means you've won, Ashen."
He lifted his chin, eyes blazing. "I never lose."
My smirk was sharp, dangerous. "Neither do I."
I didn't wait for his response.
I stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind me.
Ryker walked beside me down the hall, his pace steady, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he huffed a laugh. "You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"
I smirked. "More than I should."
He shook his head. "You're going to break him."
I stopped.
Turned my head just slightly.
"No," I murmured. "I'm going to make him realize he was broken long before I ever touched him."
Ryker studied me for a long second.
Then he sighed. "Whatever you say, Alpha."
I resumed walking, my smirk fading. "Now, tell me about this problem."
Because as much as I wanted to turn back, to drag Ashen to his knees and end this game
There were still enemies at our gates.
Ryker led me into my office, shutting the door behind us. His usual easy demeanor had faded, replaced by something sharp, alert.
I leaned against my desk, arms crossed. "Talk."
He exhaled. "Adam's been stirring shit."
I stiffened. "How?"
"He's been running his mouth, getting some of the pack riled up. Saying an Omega has no place as warrior. That it was weak to let Ashen keep his rank."
A low growl rumbled in my chest.
Ryker continued. "It's not just talk. He's trying to gain support. A few of the older wolves are listening."
Fucking idiots.
I dragged a hand down my face, forcing myself to breathe. To think.
I had expected this. I knew some of the pack wouldn't take Ashen's reveal lightly. That there would be those too blinded by their outdated beliefs to see the truth—
That Ashen was stronger than any of them.
But that didn't mean I would tolerate it.
I met Ryker's gaze. "Who else?"
He hesitated. "No one important. Not yet."
I nodded slowly. "Shut it down."
Ryker smirked. "How hard?"
I arched a brow. "Hard enough that no one else gets any ideas."
He grinned. "Got it."
I exhaled, my mind already moving a hundred steps ahead.
I would handle Adam personally.
Because if there was one thing I didn't fucking tolerate—
It was threats to what was mine.
And Ashen?
Whether he accepted it yet or not—
He was mine.
It didn't take long to find Adam.
He was in the training yard, surrounded by a few low-ranked wolves wolves too weak to challenge me but foolish enough to whisper behind my back.
I stepped onto the field, and the conversation died.
Adam stiffened. He was big, broad-shouldered, his wolf strong but he wasn't me.
And he fucking knew it.
I didn't stop walking until I was right in front of him, close enough to see the flicker of hesitation in his eyes.
I smirked. Coward.
"You've been busy," I said, voice calm.
Adam lifted his chin. "Just talking."
I hummed. "Talking?"
He crossed his arms. "A warrior should be strong." His eyes darkened. "Not some Omega in disguise."
A few murmurs rippled through the others.
Wrong fucking move.
Before Adam could blink, I struck fast, brutal.
My fist slammed into his gut, knocking the air from his lungs. He stumbled back, gasping, but I didn't stop. I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off his feet like he weighed nothing.
Silence.
All eyes on me.
I leaned in, my voice a deadly whisper. "Say that again."
Adam clawed at my grip, choking.
I loosened my hold just enough for him to suck in a breath.
He didn't speak.
Smart.
I let him drop. He collapsed to his knees, coughing, struggling to catch his breath.
I crouched down, gripping his jaw, forcing him to look at me. "You want to question my warrior?" My voice was soft. Dangerous. "Then you question me."
Adam's entire body tensed.
Because he knew he couldn't.
No one fucking could.
I stood, looking around at the others. "Anyone else have something to say?"
Silence.
Good.
I turned back to Adam. "You forget your place again?" My eyes burned into his. "I'll remind you in ways you won't survive."
I left him there, gasping in the dirt.
Because there was no debate.
Ashen was my warrior.
And I dared anyone to challenge it.