Dominic's POV
The morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over Ashen's bare body tangled in my sheets.
My mark on his neck was still fresh, dark against his pale skin, and I felt my wolf stir with satisfaction at the sight.
Mine.
I ran my fingers through his soft, dark hair as he slept peacefully, his body pressed against mine. he looked... free. Vulnerable.
But I knew the moment he woke up, that stubborn, guarded side of him would return.
I'd broken through his walls last night — claimed him, marked him — but that didn't mean he'd stop fighting me.
And honestly... I wouldn't want him to.
Ashen's strength, his resistance, his fire...
That's what made him mine.
My mate.
My omega.
I felt the bond between us thrumming with power, stronger than ever now that he'd stopped the suppressants. But his body was still weak, adjusting to the natural instincts he'd been fighting for so long.
He stirred slightly, his brows furrowing as he let out a soft groan.
I smirked.
"Morning, baby."
Ashen's eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. For a moment, I saw panic flash in those stormy gray eyes, as if reality had just hit him.
He quickly tried to push away from me, but I tightened my grip around his waist, keeping him trapped against my chest.
"Let me go, Dominic," he hissed.
I chuckled darkly. "Not happening."
He struggled against me, but I could feel how weak he was from last night from the bond, from the heat that was slowly creeping up on him.
"You marked me," he said through gritted teeth, glaring up at me. "You... you forced the bond."
I growled lowly, leaning in until my lips brushed against his ear.
"I didn't force anything, Ashen. You begged for me to claim you," I reminded him with a wicked smirk. "And I gave you exactly what you needed."
His face flushed with anger and embarrassment, but beneath that...
I could smell his arousal.
His body craved me, even if his mind was still fighting the truth.
"You can hate me all you want," I continued, brushing my lips along the mark on his neck, making him shiver. "But your body knows who it belongs to now."
"Stop," he whispered, his voice trembling.
I sighed, loosening my grip just enough to let him move.
He sat up, pulling the sheets around his body as if it could shield him from what we'd done.
From what he was.
"I can't do this," he mumbled, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not... like the other omegas. I can't just submit to you."
I sat up behind him, resting my hand on his bare back, feeling the tension in his muscles.
"I never wanted your submission, Ashen," I said quietly. "I want your strength. Your fight. I want all of you... exactly the way you are."
He froze, his breathing uneven.
I leaned closer, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder.
"But you need to stop running from what you are," I murmured against his skin. "You're an omega, Ashen. My omega. And there's nothing weak about that."
He swallowed hard, refusing to looK at me
Our eyes locked, and I saw the war raging within him fear, desire, and something deeper.
Trust.
I leaned in, capturing his lips in a slow, claiming kiss. He resisted at first, but the bond between us was too strong.
He melted into me, letting me dominate the kiss, letting me remind him who he belonged to now.
When I finally pulled away, his lips were swollen, and his eyes were glazed with need.
"You're mine, Ashen," I growled against his lips. "And I'm not letting you go. Not ever."
Ashen's breath hitched, and I felt his walls crack just a little more.
He hated how much he wanted me...
And I loved it
I left Ashen in my bed, tangled in my sheets, and forced myself to head to my office.
My wolf was restless, already missing the warmth of my mate. The bond between us was stronger now that he'd stopped the suppressants, and I could feel every emotion radiating off him.
Confusion. Fear.
And deep down... desire.
I smirked to myself as I stepped into my office.
He can fight it all he wants, but he's mine now.
I sat behind my desk, attempting to focus on the reports from the recent rogue attacks on the northern border. But my mind kept drifting back to Ashen to the way he surrendered to me last night, the way his body responded, even when his mind tried to fight me.
My wolf purred in satisfaction.
Not even five minutes had passed before I heard soft footsteps approaching.
I looked up to find Ashen standing in the doorway, looking pale and exhausted.
I frowned.
He was still weak from stopping the suppressants. His body was adjusting to his true nature, and now that the bond was fully formed, his heat was creeping closer.
"What are you doing up?" I asked, standing from my chair.
Ashen avoided my gaze, shifting awkwardly on his feet.
"I couldn't stay in that room... I needed air," he muttered.
I raised a brow, slowly walking toward him.
"You're still weak. You should be resting."
"I'm fine," he snapped, though his legs wobbled as he tried to step back.
I caught him before he could fall, wrapping my arms around his waist and pulling him against my chest.
"Liar," I murmured, smirking as I felt his body melt against mine.
Ashen groaned in frustration, trying to push me away.
"Damn it, Dominic. I'm not some fragile omega who needs to be coddled."
I chuckled darkly, brushing my lips against his ear.
"No, you're not. You're my omega. And you're mine to take care of, whether you like it or not."
Ashen's breath hitched, his face flushing red.
Before he could respond, the door swung open.
Ryker stood there with an annoying grin plastered on his face.
"Well, well," Ryker smirked, leaning against the doorframe. "Looks like our terrifying Alpha has officially been tamed."
Ashen tensed in my arms, his face burning with embarrassment.
I growled lowly.
"Ryker," I warned, shooting him a deadly glare.
"What? I'm just saying," Ryker laughed. "I've never seen you so whipped before, Dom. It's... cute."
Ashen squirmed, trying to pull away from me.
"Let me go, Dominic," he muttered, clearly uncomfortable with Ryker's teasing.
I tightened my grip, refusing to release him.
"No."
Ryker chuckled. "Damn, Ashen. What did you do to our cold-hearted Alpha? I've known this bastard for years, and no one's ever been able to handle him. But you... you've got him wrapped around your little omega fingers."
Ashen's face burned even redder, and I felt the embarrassment rolling off him through the bond.
"Get the hell out, Ryker," I growled.
Ryker snorted. "Alright, alright. I'll leave you two lovebirds to it."
As he turned to leave, he glanced back with a smirk.
"Just... try not to break him, Dom. He looks like he can barely stand as it is."
Before I could lunge at him, Ryker slammed the door shut behind him, laughing like the annoying bastard he was.
I felt Ashen tense in my arms, his frustration boiling over.
"I hate him," he muttered.
I chuckled, tilting his chin up to meet my gaze.
"Get used to it. Ryker's an ass, but he's loyal."
Ashen glared at me. "I don't care. I want to punch him in the face."
I smirked, brushing my lips against his.
"Now that... I'd love to see."
Ashen tried to push me away again, but I tightened my hold, effortlessly lifting him into my arms.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he hissed.
"Taking you back to bed," I replied.
Ashen groaned in frustration as I carried him out of the office.
"I hate you," he mumbled against my chest.
"No, baby," I smirked. "You're just afraid of how much you're starting to love me."
I felt Ashen's heart skip a beat, and his body stiffened in my arms.
He didn't deny it.
And that...
That was enough for me.