10. The Awakening

I saw the shock in Lance’s eyes.

“What do you mean about your father?” he asked, his voice laced with confusion. “My father is the victim here!”

I shook my head slowly, firmly.

“No, Lance,” I said, my voice trembling but clear. “Our father died because of your father. He committed treason!”

“No… lies!” Lance shouted, his voice rising with fury as he took a step toward me. His hand reached out like he wanted to grab me—like he still thought he had power over me.

The second he moved closer, something inside me snapped.

I didn’t even understand what was happening at first. But my body responded before my mind could catch up. It was like a dam breaking. Heat surged through me, so intense it felt like my skin would tear apart.

My breathing hitched. My hands started to tremble.

And then, in one sudden, uncontrollable burst, I changed.

It was raw, painful, overwhelming. Bones cracked, skin stretched, and everything I thought I knew about myself fell away in an instant.

Everyone stepped back immediately.

Gasps filled the air. Some of the warriors raised their weapons out of instinct. Others just froze in place, too shocked to react.

Even Lance looked stunned.

I growled lowly, my breathing heavy, warning anyone who dared to come closer.

"Cassie!" I heard Adrian call me.

And just when it felt like the tension would snap, just when I thought someone would attack or run, Dominic stepped in.

“Cassie,” he said, his voice deep but steady. “It’s me.”

My muscles tensed, my instincts still running wild. Part of me didn’t want to hear his reason. Part of me wanted to stay in this powerful, untouchable form forever.

But then, his hand gently reached out.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said.

Slowly, my body returned to normal. I shifted back, no longer the monster from earlier.

“Cassie…” Lance began to step forward, but Dominic immediately blocked his path.

His presence was overwhelming, like a wall of power slamming into the room.

“Leave this place, Lance,” Dominic said in a sharp, commanding tone. “From now on, if we ever see you here again, or even if one of my guards catches sight of you or anyone from your pack near this territory…”

His voice dropped lower, more dangerous.

“…it will be an all-out war.”

He didn’t blink. He didn’t stutter.

“And I won’t hesitate to kill you, and the rest of your tribe.”

Lance stood frozen, the defiance draining from his face. He didn’t say a word. But I could see it in his eyes—rage, frustration, and something deeper.

He glanced at me, and slowly, his expression changed.

He smirked.

“This isn’t over, Cassie,” he said. “You will be mine again.”

I stood there, frozen in place, as his words dug deep into my heart.

“I won’t stop until you come back to me,” he continued. “You know your place. You don’t belong here. You’re weak, and in the end, you’ll come running back to me.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. But every word hit me like a blade—sharp, cruel, and meant to wound.

Then, with a loud command to his pack, Lance turned and walked away.

“For now, we retreat!” he shouted.

One by one, his people followed him, disappearing into the woods. As soon as they were out of sight, my knees buckled beneath me.

I collapsed to the ground, my body trembling and my energy completely drained. The weight of everything—Lance’s words, the confrontation, the truth about our fathers, what happened to me—it all crushed down on me at once.

Adrian rushed to my side and caught me before I could fully hit the ground.

“It’s going to be alright,” he whispered, holding me close. “He’s gone now. He won’t hurt you. We won’t let him get close to you again.”

His voice was calm, but his hands were shaking slightly, just like mine.

He was about to lift me up when suddenly, Dominic stepped in between us.

Without saying a word, he reached down and scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing. His grip was strong and secure, and his body radiated heat and raw strength.

Adrian hesitated, surprised, but didn’t argue.

“Take care of the others,” Dominic ordered, his voice low but firm. “Make sure our warriors and everyone else are safe. I’ll take care of Cassie.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Adrian said respectfully, stepping back to assist the others.

I couldn’t speak. My throat was tight, and the exhaustion made my body feel like it wasn’t mine. Even if I had wanted to struggle, to say no, to push him away—I couldn’t. I didn’t have the strength.

So I let him carry me.

Dominic walked forward with me in his arms, silent and focused. He didn’t look down at me, but I could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat against my side.

I just let myself be held.

And somehow… it felt safe.

When Dominic brought me inside the pack house and carried me to the room where I had been staying, I expected him to leave as soon as he set me down.

He didn’t.

Instead, he gently lowered me to my feet beside the bed, but his eyes were cold—distant, unreadable. There was no trace of comfort or warmth in his expression. I sat there awkwardly, unsure of what to say. He wasn’t moving. He just stood at the side of the bed, arms crossed, gaze fixed on me.

“Why are you still here?” I asked, finally breaking the silence.

He didn’t respond.

“You should’ve stayed here in the room. You shouldn’t have shown yourself to him.”

My breath hitched when he suddenly scolded me.

“And now,” he continued, “Lance knows you’re in my territory, and he won’t stop until he gets to you. And more people from my side might get involved because of you.”

His jaw clenched. His voice came out low and laced with frustration. “You should’ve left it to me.”

I could hear the disappointment in his tone.

“I’m s-sorry,” I said softly, “but I couldn’t just stand by and let Lance attack your people. I just wanted to help!”

He looked at me with narrowed eyes. “I could’ve handled him. You didn’t have to interfere.”

His words hit me hard, and I felt a sudden weight in my chest.

“D-Do you hate me?” I asked, my voice breaking slightly. “Because that’s what it feels like right now. Like you despise me.”

I looked away, trying to hold back the sting behind my eyes. “Why did you even bring me here if all you feel is disappointment? Why did you bother?”

He inhaled slowly.

“I brought you here because Adrian risked his life for me.”

He paused, then added, “That doesn’t mean you automatically belong here.”

I looked at him, stunned.

“I need to make sure you’re worthy,” he continued. “I need to make sure you reach your full potential.”

Those words cut through me.

Worthy?

Something in his voice made me feel like he was searching for something in me. Like he saw a version of me I hadn’t discovered yet.

Like he was trying to confirm something.

But I didn’t know what that was.

So I stayed silent, lowering my gaze. I couldn’t argue. I didn’t have the strength. And he still wasn’t leaving.

Minutes passed in silence. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears, feel the weight of his presence still standing nearby.

Then, quietly, I asked, “What happened to me earlier? That… surge I felt. It was like power rushing through my veins. It felt—different.”

He didn’t answer right away. When he finally did, his voice was cold.

“I don’t know.”

He sat down at the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, still not looking at me.

The silence stretched again—until he finally spoke.

“I have a proposal,” he said suddenly. “A way to stop all of this.”

My brows furrowed. “What kind of proposal?”

He turned his head and met my eyes with a look so serious it made my stomach drop.

“Marry me.”