Chapter 101

I waited, nervously waiting for an answer. Heart pounding in my chest as the silence stretched between us.

Dominic said nothing. For a long, aching moment, he just looked at me. There was something in his eyes—conflict, restraint, longing—but it wasn’t rejection. Not really. Not in the way that counted.

It wasn't agreement either, and I couldn't help but be disappointed though not surprised by that.

“You deserve more than a rushed romance, Renee,” he said gently, his voice low and steady. “We’re not there yet. And I don’t want you to look back on this with regret.”

I tried not to let my disappointment show. I looked away from him, but I nodded. But then he stepped forward, cupped my cheek with a tenderness that made my knees threaten to give out, and kissed me.

It wasn’t just a kiss.

It was the kind of kiss that silenced everything else in the world. My thoughts. My breath. My anxiety and doubts, too. Warmth spilled through me, rattling my bones. It said everything his words couldn’t. That he wanted me. That he was already mine. That we weren’t done by a long shot, but to be patient.

When he pulled away, he rested his forehead against mine and whispered, “Goodnight, Renee.”

I didn't even remember getting into the condo, but I did. I stood in the foyer, dazed and leaning against the front door, fingers trembling where they brushed my lips.

“Rough night?” Arielle called from the kitchen, her voice light and full of amusement. “Or just a really good one?”

“I’m fine,” I said too quickly.

“Oh, she’s absolutely glowing,” Zeke said, glancing up from the barstool where he was sipping something that smelled like cinnamon and whiskey. “She’s in that post-kiss daze.”

I tried to walk past them with dignity. It didn’t work.

“Did he finally grow a pair and kiss you properly?” Dev teased, his tone delighted as he placed a bowl of something steaming on the table.

My face burned. “It wasn’t like that.”

“It’s always like that,” she said, grinning wickedly. “Tell me he at least used tongue. Or should we send him a tutorial?”

“Ari,” I groaned, flopping down onto the couch and burying my face in one of the throw pillows.

They laughed. I let them tease. It was easier than maybe considering asking them how this was all supposed to work.

The truth was… I hadn’t expected to feel this shaken. This disarmed.

That kiss had unraveled me, confirmed something, and made me question a lot more. I didn’t stay long in the living room. I wanted to give them privacy for whatever kind of impromptu date night this was. My legs carried me to my room like they had a will of their own, my thoughts spinning in circles. The second the door closed behind me, I let myself fall onto my bed and stared at the ceiling.

Everything was shifting. Not just around me, but inside me.

I could still feel the imprint of Dominic’s hand on my cheek, the ghost of his breath against my skin. It was maddening. This push and pull between patience and hunger. Between knowing the timing wasn’t right and still burning with need.

I'd never felt like this, not even in my past life when I thought I was in love with Tyler.

I sighed, rolled over, and that’s when I noticed it.

The mark.

A soft, silvery-blue glow pulsed beneath my collarbone where the Goddess’s mark was. I touched it lightly through my shirt, my fingers trembling.

It was warm. Comforting.

I didn’t know if it was from the kiss, or from something deeper between us that was slowly growing and surfacing.

I curled onto my side, clutching a pillow to my chest. My heartbeat had slowed, but my thoughts hadn’t. I closed my eyes, searching for stillness.

Sleep found me quickly.

Peace followed and a thrilling sense of excitement. I was running. Darting through the trees like a shadow, like light cutting through the canopy. My bare feet kissed moss and stone, and the wind tangled through my hair. I felt free, alive. Untouchable.

Behind me, I felt him. I heard him laughing. Heard my own laugh bubbling up in the air.

I didn't know who it was exactly, but I knew that they weren't a threat.

He wasn't a threat.

This was a game. I climbed up an outcropping of rock and hid in the shadows. He emerged from the underbrush, scanning the area for me.

He was a white wolf. Massive and graceful, fur like moonlight streaked with silver, claws glowing with an eerie iridescence. I shifted. His ears pricked up then he was rushing towards the rock formation. I turned and ran away. I could feel him weaving through the trees behind me. Playfully chasing, though we both knew that it would be the work of nothing for him to catch up with me.

Every step I took, he took faster.

Every laugh I released, he answered with a low, rumbling growl of amusement.

And I laughed and squealed evading him, enjoying the fact that he was letting me evade him.

I laughed in that dream the way I hadn’t in weeks. It was wild and full of something too big for words. Joy. Fear. Anticipation.

I didn’t want him to catch me though I wanted to be caught. Just as I turned, slowing, ready to face him, the dream ended.

I sat up in bed with a gasp, drenched in moonlight, heart thudding against my ribs like it was still in that forest, but I was grinning widely.

Close. He'd been so close. I wondered if who ever it was was frustrated.

I sat up scanning the room. The condo was quiet.

Too quiet.

Arielle wasn’t laughing in the kitchen anymore. Had they gone to bed?

I got up, heading toward the door. I heard nothing, but the mark on my chest was still faintly glowing.

My body still felt electrified from the chase. My lips tingled from the kiss. I exhaled slowly and reached for my phone on the nightstand.

There were two unread messages.

Neil: Get some rest, Renee. I'll see you at work with cake to celebrate.

Dominic: If at any time you have doubts that I want you, I want you comfortable enough to say so. Just know that when the time is right, I won’t hold back. Sweet dreams, Renee.

I blinked at the screen, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. I typed back quickly to Neil first.

Can it pretty please be chocolate? And no celebrations in order. I'm just glad it's all over.

Then I hesitated before switching over to Dominic’s message. I didn’t want to sound too eager or desperate, but I also didn’t want to pretend I hadn’t started replaying his lips on mine either… or thinking about all the other kisses we shared and they were all setting a fire in my blood.

Your timing was perfect. I’m not going to sleep at all now, thanks to you.

Almost immediately, the little typing bubbles appeared.

Dominic: You won't be alone in that, but you need rest, Renee. Don't stay up too late.

I grumbled at that, expecting more from him. Maybe I had to be the flirty one? I dropped the phone onto the bed, covered my face, and groaned.

No, Renee. Play it cool. He'd already made it clear that he wasn't going to rush us forward, which was great, but now that Tyler and Vivian were dealt with, I really… didn't want to wait.

I wanted my new life and all that it could entail. A knock sounded at my door.

“Renee,” Arielle called, voice far too chipper for someone whose sleep schedule was always suspect. “You okay?”

I opened the door.

Her brows lifted at the look on my face. “What didn't he do right?"

I huffed. "It's not like that."

She grinned and handed me a steaming mug of something herbal. “Drink this. Then sleep. You’ll need energy for getting under your alpha daddy's skin.”

I sipped the tea, glowering at her. "Don't call him that."

"You prefer just daddy?" She tilted her head. "Though I'd say Lord Blackfang gives off more of that I'll spank you and we'll both like it vibe."

I scoffed."Good night, Arielle!"

“You know,” she added as she turned to leave, “for what it’s worth… I think he’s right to wait. You’re going to burn hot with either of them, but if you’re not careful, it’ll be over before it starts.”

“Was that advice?” I asked.

“A little. Don't want you diving into an ocean when you've never even splashed in a bathtub." She winked and vanished down the hall. "Have good dreams… or sexy dreams. Good sexy dreams."

I shut my door and crawled back into bed willing myself back to sleep. I didn't end up running through the forest again, but I couldn’t help but smile all the same.