One Kiss, No Escape

  Ava's POV 

  "I have a problem!" I groaned, as I let the warm water slide over my shoulders, sinking deeper into the tub.

  "Acceptance is the first step." Rhea mocked. I was certain that Dominic thinks I have mood swings. The confusion on his face before I bolted out of the room was going to hunt my dreams.

   “Not helping, Rhea." 

  But she just shrugged and retreated to the back of my mind, leaving me to face the consequences of not being able to shut my mouth. Even though his face and voice was to be blamed.

  I remained in the bathtub until the water became cold before wrapping myself in the towel the Omega who drew the bath had prepared for me. And since I didn't have any clothes, I put on the white shirt I had on earlier that day before throwing myself into the bed, one that felt like soft cloud.

   "Do you think Lucien regrets throwing us out of the Pack?” I asked Rhea after a while.

  She scoffed, "who cares?” She replied. "I like being here, where I don't have to work like an idiot just to please him.”

  I sighed deeply. 

   Back in the Redveil Pack, there was nothing I didn't do because I wanted to please Lucien. Making his breakfast the way he loved it, cooking soup when he wasn't feeling too well, cleaning his room while hoping that he would remember what we used to have, but now, despite not knowing who I was, there was already an Omega taking care of my needs.

  I fell asleep thinking about everything I left behind and my new reality.

   A small knock on the door jolted me awake. 

 For a moment, I didn’t move. Sleep still clung to my limbs, heavy and warm, and the bed felt too soft to leave. Then the sound came again, quieter this time.

 “Come in,” I called, my voice hoarse.

  The handle turned slowly. The door opened just enough for the girl to step inside, her gaze lowered in respect. Morning light streamed through the window behind her, painting the room in pale gold.

   “I brought you some clothes, and Alpha Dominic is waiting for you in the dining room." She said.

   From her smell, it was obvious she wasn't an Omega. She was definitely higher up but for whatever reason, she avoided meeting my eyes. Since it was too early to start questioning her, I pushed myself up from the bed and thanked her before going to take a bath.

   Thirty minutes later, I was walking towards the same room I ran away from last night. Just as I raised my hand to open the door, it swung open and this time, Dominic wasn't alone. He was surrounded by four people, three of whom I already met 

  My eyes met Dominic who was already looking at me. “Come, little wolf." He murmured softly and as usual, my body made its way to him.

  He pulled the empty seat beside him for me and I sat, not missing how several pairs of eyes followed his action.

   "Good morning, Luna.” They chorused, once I was settled.

  I paused, "erm…No, I'm not your Luna." I murmured, but it was loud enough for them to hear because they looked at each other.

   Dominic just put food on my plate without saying a word. “You've met Isla, she's Orion's mate." He said after a while and the girl waved at me.

  I found out that Orion was the Pack's Gamma and his twin brother, Zayden was the Delta. He was the one I saw the previous day alongside Sebastian, the Beta. 

  “Nice to meet you all,” And it really was because with faces like theirs, I could never get bored while I was here. "My name is Ava.” I told them and I felt Dominic freeze beside me and the conversation from last night came rushing back.

    "Nice to meet you, Ava.” Zayden said with a smile. "You're going to like it here.” He added and I decided I liked him but Dominic didn't think the same.

  "Stop glaring at him.” I whispered to him.

  He turned to face me, and suddenly it felt like we were the only ones in the room, as heat flooded my cheek with how his eyes stared at me.

  His gaze didn’t soften. If anything, it darkened, slow, intent, like he was studying a secret written only for him. “I’m not glaring,” he said quietly.

 “Yea right,” I breathed back. “Everyone can see.”

 “Good,” he replied. “I don't share what's mine." 

  My pulse skipped. Rhea made a choking sound in the back of my head and then started laughing. “I love me a man that knows what he wants.”

  “Not helping, Rhea!” I shot back.

  I reached for my cup just to do something with my hands, but Dominic’s fingers brushed mine first when he slid it closer. The contact was brief, accidental, yet heat climbed straight up my arm.

  Across the table, Zayden cleared his throat with a grin he didn’t bother hiding. Orion elbowed him lightly.

  “So,” Sebastian said smoothly, saving me from further embarrassment. “How did you sleep?”

  “Too well,” I admitted. “That bed is dangerous but I like it.”

 A small ripple of laughter moved around the table. The tension eased everywhere except beside me. Dominic still hadn’t looked away. “Your food is going to get cold, Alpha.”

   “I don't care. Eat." 

  “If you keep looking at me like that, the food will go down the wrong pipe." That did it as he finally looked away.

   The rest of breakfast went smoothly, the guys went on talking about Pack matters while Isla just listened without contributing. Dominic on the other hand kept adding more food to my plate.

   “I can't eat anymore.” I told him, pushing the plate away.

  "The doctor sa…" he started, “finish the milk then." He said instead and I did just that.

   “Once you're done, we need to get you some clothes." 

  “No need, I can just keep wearing yours until I have to leave." The moment the words left my lips, the room went silent as if I said a forbidden word. Dominic's hand tightened around the cup, I was scared it was going to break.

  The guys murmured something about training and warriors before running out of the room, leaving me with the man who looked like he was one second away from snapping but somehow, I still felt safe.

   "Little wolf,” he stood up, placing both hands on either side of my chair, caging me in with his face only a few inches from mine. “You’re not leaving.”

My breath hitched.

   And it definitely wasn't because of the words but because of how close he was. His scent wrapped around me, warm and steady, something dangerous and addictive all at once. My eyes dropped to his mouth.

Oh no.

 He kept talking, voice low, controlled. “From the moment you let me touch you, you became mine, my responsibility. Mine to keep safe.”

Mine.

  The word echoed, heavy and possessive. Instead of fear, a strange heat curled low in my stomach. I barely heard the rest of his speech because my attention was fixed on the shape of his lips and how easy it would be to close the distance.

What would he do if I kissed him?

Would he freeze… or pull me closer?

  My fingers twitched against the table. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

 “This is a terrible idea,” I told myself.

  “Since when do we have great ideas to begin with?" 

 I snapped back an inch, swallowing hard, dragging my gaze up to his eyes but he caught it. The way I was looking at him. The thought. All of it.

 His voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re thinking too loud.”

“I’m not–”

 He didn’t let me finish.

 His hand slid to my jaw, firm but gentle, tilting my face up. There was a single second where he gave me time to pull away.

I didn’t…I couldn't.

   His mouth covered mine, warm, claiming. The kiss wasn’t rushed, and it wasn't soft either. It was certain. Like a promise he had already made in his head. 

  My breath melted into his as the world narrowed to heat and heartbeat and the steady pressure of his lips.

Rhea howled in approval somewhere deep inside me.

 When he finally pulled back, his forehead rested against mine, his voice rougher than before.

“You were saying?” He asked, a smirk playing on his lips.