5

“Mate.”

The word fell from Dominic’s lips, barely above a whisper like I wasn’t supposed to hear.

I looked at him in shock, Mate?

What was he talking about? The moon goddess never gives anyone a second chance mate unless they’ve been rejected or did the rejecting. So what the hell was he saying?

I blinked, my heart thudding so loud I could hear it in my ears.

“Mate?” I repeated feeling half laughing and half terrified. “You must be joking, Dominic. That’s impossible. You already had your mate.”

He didn’t answer right away, he just stood there staring at me like he’d seen a ghost.

What was going on? Has Dominic rejected Clara his mate? why? was that also why he called me back here? for what?

“Tell me the truth,” I said suspiciously, my voice sharper this time. “Where is Clara? Why did you bring me here? Why did you capture me?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair as if the answer weighed a ton. “You really want the truth?”

“That’s what I asked for, isn’t it?”

He looked away, his eyes darkening. “Clara..”

My stomach clenched at the sound of her name.

“Clara cheated on me,” he finally said. “Got pregnant for another wolf.”

I opened my mouth wide in shock for a moment. Clara his mate? The oh-so-perfect Luna?

He gave a bitter chuckle, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “I rejected her. Banished her from the palace. She was my mate, and I cast her out.”

I let put a small laugh, staring at his face in mockery, that was Karma and I was deep down glad it happened to him.

I cleared my throat and with a smile, i asked, “And what does any of that have to do with me?”

His gaze moved to me me, intensely and unreadable. “Everything.”

I frowned. “You’re not making sense.”

He stepped closer, and I instinctively shifted back. I do not want to get close to him in anyway

“Ever since you left, I've been cursed. I can’t sleep, can’t think, can’t breathe without seeing you.”

“huh? me?" I laughed, but it came out nervous. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I see you every night, Elena. You torment me in my dreams. You cry, you scream my name and you burn me alive. I thought it was some witch’s doing, but then the moon goddess showed me your face.”

My pulse spiked at the absurdity in his words, “Are you sick?"

He took another step forward, his eyes glinted under the dim light. “Do I look sick to you?”

He sounded so calm, yet there was something wild behind his voice that sent chills down my spine.

“You sound sick,” I shot back. “Completely delusional, actually.”

“Shut up, Elena,” he snapped, his tone sharp enough to slice through the air. “You know what I’m saying is true. Don’t you feel it? The bond? You can feel the bond too.”

I slowly stood up and glared at him, refusing to let him see the tremor that ran through my body. I would be lying if i told him i didn't feel it. Of course i did. I very much felt that pull, but what was the point? Why would i embrace the pull now after all these years? Why would i want to reconnect with such a beast like Dominic.

“I feel nothing,” I said, forcing a smirk. “Maybe you’re hallucinating because your precious Luna left you. I don’t know.”

His jaw clenched, and before I could blink, he slammed his palm against the wall beside my head, the sound echoed through the room. The chains on my wrists rattled. I could feel his hot breath too close.

"Lena, I know you hate me, after all these year, I understand that, I know I broke u. But I can......" He said as he slowly moved his hand to hold mine but I instantly pushed him off.

"No buts Dominic,“ I am not your cure,” I whispered. “I’m not your second chance. I am not the patch you put over the hole she left behind.”

"Lena!"

"Listen carefully, because I’ll never repeat myself. I, Elena Hale of Silverblood bloodline...."

Dominic’s eyes widened, his breath catched like he already knew what was coming. "Lena, please don't!" he interrupted but I didn't stop.

"Reject you, D......" I Could barely finish my words when I felt a soft and warm lips on my mouth. I blinked trying to understand what was happening just to realize that Dominic had planted his lips on mine.

I stood there frozen.

His hand wrapped around the back of my neck, holding me still as if he could physically stop the rejection from leaving my lips. What the heck?