Chapter 123

Dominic’s POV

Night was dead quiet, but my brain? Man, no chance. Still spinning from that fight with Dante. His words kept looping, his voice, all jagged and desperate, cracking when he said, “I can’t lose her.” Like hell I could.

Yeah, I meant every word I said right back.

But standing there, watching her, so fragile, so still, it just hit me like a curse. Like the universe picked us out, said, “Hey, you two? Suffer.” Real funny, fate.

The pack was out cold. Healers bailed, guards parked outside, patrols making their rounds. All chill. Should’ve felt safe. Didn’t.

I couldn't sleep. Not with her stuck in that weird limbo, half here, half… somewhere darker.

So, yeah, I snuck out.

The hallway stretched out forever, shadows everywhere, moonlight barely doing its thing through those massive windows. My footsteps felt loud, even though I tried to tiptoe. An air stank of burnt herbs and melted wax he healer had placed there.

Before I went to her, I had to check on Dante. Needed to be sure he wasn’t in there, playing the hero.

His door was cracked. I peeked. There he was, seated at his desk, fist in his hair. He looked wrecked. Finally passed out, breathing slowly and heavily.

Good. Let him sleep.

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath till I let it go.

I turned and headed for her room. The heart is doing somersaults.

Opened her door and, boom, everything else just faded. The whole world went hush. Moonlight spilled in, painted her silver. She was sleeping, wrapped in sheets, not making a sound.

Her hair was a mess, dark and wild across the pillow. Skin pale but still gorgeous, though. It made my heart race.

She looked peaceful. But nah, I knew better. Even now, she was fighting. Body and soul locked in some invisible brawl nobody else could see.

“Elora…”

I didn’t mean to say it out loud.

Her lashes fluttered. She made this tiny noise, half sigh, half broken whisper. “Dominic…”

Yeah, that one word? Shattered me.

I just stood there, afraid to move, holding my breath. She was slipping in and out of consciousness, and that broke my heart.

Got closer, step by step. Didn’t rush it.

I dropped to my knees at her side and watched her for a minute. I tried to memorize everything... her face, the way she breathed.

Finally, I reached for her hand.

Warm. Barely, but enough. Enough to make something in me give a little.

Ran my thumb along her fingers, tracing every line. Her pulse was weak, but it was there, stubborn as hell.

And something shifted inside me. Not jealousy. Not want. Just a connection. Deeper than words. No logic, no reason. Just there.

I knew I shouldn’t be here. She wasn’t mine. Technically, she belonged to my brother, to some goddess, to the whole pack. But right now? I didn't care.

I brushed her knuckles again, and her hand moved.

My wolf stirred, all wild and restless. She feels you.

I swallowed, hard. “You need to rest, Elora,” I whispered. “You’ve done enough.”

She made another sound... soft, broken, weirdly familiar. Hit me right in the ribs.

“I wish you could hear me,” I said, voice barely audible. “Wish you knew everything I did, it was for you. Always for you. To keep you safe. To see you strong.”

Her breathing slowed, deeper now. Almost peaceful.

I should’ve left. Should’ve turned around, saved myself from this mess. But nope. Stayed right there, tracing circles on her hand, feeling something raw and wild in the space between us.

Then it hit again. That tug inside my chest. Like a thread pulling tight.

A bond.

Not hers and Dante’s. This was different. Quieter. Older. Still real.

My wolf growled, low and slyly.

She’s yours too… she just doesn’t know it yet.

I froze.

“What are you even saying?” I whispered to the dark.

You feel it. Don’t pretend you don’t. That pull shouldn’t be possible, but it’s there.

Jaw clenched. I tried to swallow the truth, but it kept clawing up. “It’s impossible.”

Nothing’s impossible when the Moon gets involved.

That voice echoed, deep and certain, right through my bones. My pulse was hammered. My grip on her hand tightened.

And the night just watched, silent as ever.

I looked down at her... really looked at her and it just stabbed right through me. All the things I’d been shoving way down, hiding under this mess of loyalty and guilt… it just exploded open.

This wasn’t just me.

You could see it in the way she stumbled over her words, the way her heart raced when our eyes met. She wasn’t confused, not really. It was like instinct told her something.

The moon goddess must be joking around if she wants to make Elora my second mate.

“You don’t even know, do you? You’re tied to both of us. The Moon’s got her claws in the pair of us.” I said, leaning in, forehead resting against the back of her hand, and my voice cracked as I whispered,

My wolf let out a low, rumbling sound, almost like a purr

I just sat there, my hand on my chest, trying to match my heartbeat with hers. I tried to sit calmly, but my heart was racing inside.

For the first time in a long time, she actually breathed calmly.

When I finally let go, there was this wash of color rising up her cheeks... a blush, like she’d just come back to life.

I smiled, but it didn’t feel like happiness. It was more like relief and fear.

Because yeah, now I know.

This mess wasn’t finished.

Not for me and her. Not for any of us.

I stood up to leave, and my wolf’s voice whispered through my mind.

She’s yours too, Dominic… she just doesn’t see it yet.

And as the door clicked shut behind me, it hit me harder than anything else.

Is that true? It scared the hell out of me. Way more than losing her ever could.