I woke to the sound of soft, steady breathing beside me, and my heart instantly seized in panic. The events of last night came crashing back and I bolted upright, clutching the blanket to my chest. Dominic stirred next to me, his arm draped lazily over his face as if he did not have a care in the world. The sunlight filtering through the curtains illuminated his features, his sharp jawline, the messy strands of hair falling across his forehead, and the faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
He looked peaceful. Content.
I, on the other hand, was a mess. My thoughts scrambled for clarity, guilt and longing clawing at me. What had I done?
“You’re staring,” Dominic murmured, his voice husky from sleep, his lips twitching into a lazy smirk as he cracked one eye open.
“I’m not!” I snapped, yanking the blanket tighter around myself, even though my face was burning red.
“Sure, you’re not.” He rolled onto his side, propping himself up on an elbow as his eyes roamed over me. “Good morning, by the way.”
“Don’t ‘good morning’ me,” I hissed, trying to sound annoyed, though the warmth spreading through me betrayed my attempt at indifference.
Dominic chuckled, and the sound sent a shiver down my spine. “Relax, Samantha. It’s not like I haven’t seen you before.”
“That was... last night was a mistake,” I muttered, turning away from him. But even as I said the words, I was not sure I believed them.
“Was it?” he teased. He did not believe me. Not for a second.
I shot him a glare, hoping it would be enough to shut him up, but his smirk only grew. Before I could fire back, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His fingers lingered, trailing down to my jaw.
“You’re blushing,” he uttered and infuriatingly smug.
“Am not,” I shot back, swatting his hand away.
He grinned, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “You are cute when you lie, you know that?”
“Oh, shut up.” I grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked him with it, hoping to wipe that stupid grin off his face.
But Dominic only laughed, catching the pillow mid-swing and tossing it aside. “Really? Resorting to violence this early in the morning?”
“Maybe if you would keep your mouth shut, I would not have to,” I retorted, but the corner of my lips betrayed me with a twitch of amusement.
He reached suddenly, grabbing my wrist and pulling me toward him, on top of his chest as his arms locked around my body. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, my heart racing so fast I was sure he could hear it.
“And yet, here you are,” he mumbled, his nose brushing against mine while his lips hovered for a light feathery kiss.
I shoved at his shoulder, but it was half-hearted, and we both knew it. “Dominic...” I started, my tone more a warning to myself than him.
His eyes narrowed at me suddenly, seeming like a thought had occurred in his head.
“What are you thinking?” he asked, his tone more serious now.
“That I should have locked the door,” I said, trying to deflect.
He chuckled. “Too late for that.”
I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder, but the moment I did, he took my wrist, pinned me on the bed, and pressed his weight against me just enough to remind me of how much trouble I was in.
“Dominic...” I started, but he cut me off.
“Where are the kids?” he asked as he shifted off me, giving me space to breathe.
“They are probably still asleep,” I replied, sitting up again and adjusting the blanket around me.
“Let’s check on them.”
Before I could protest, he was already up, pulling on his discarded pants. I scrambled to grab my robe, tying it tightly around my waist as I followed him into the hallway.
We entered the twins’ room quietly, and my heart softened at the sight of them curled up in their beds. Dominic approached Devon first, gently pulling the blanket up over his shoulders before moving to Diana and doing the same.
Watching him , so tender and careful, made me ache and longed for a family . He looked like he belonged here, was where he was meant to be. My wolf, who had been unusually quiet, stirred and whispered, Trust him.
Dominic turned to me, “They look just like you,” he spoke softly.
He nodded, his gaze lingering on them for a moment longer before he straightened and walked back to me. “Samantha,” he started, his brows furrowing slightly this time. “Are you keeping something from me?”
My chest tightened as panic flashed through me. He could not know. Not yet. I was not ready to tell him about the twins being his, and I had not talked to them about their father yet. I opened my mouth to deny it, but the words stuck in my throat.
“What do you mean?” I asked, feigning confusion.
He studied me for a moment, his keen eyes piercing through me as if he could see the truth I was desperately trying to hide.
“I mean,” he trailed, “your wolf.”
I blinked, completely thrown off. “My... wolf?” I thought he was asking about the kids, and now I just remembered that I was also keeping this from him. I bit the inside of my cheek to swallow the guilt that crept inside me. I had too many secrets from him.
“You still don’t have it?” he asked.
My wolf stirred in my mind, as she insisted, Tell him, Samantha. He’s our mate. He deserves to know.
I ignored her, keeping my face neutral as I met Dominic’s eyes. How could I explain something even I didn’t fully understand? My wolf had been absent for so long, silent and unreachable. Then, after the twins were born, she returned like a ghost of something I thought I never had.
I shook my head in response to his question and yet his gaze still remained, watching whatever reaction I would have so I forced my face to remain neutral.
“Hmm. I thought...” he wondered as he stepped away from the twin’s bed. “You felt different, so I thought it must have something to do with it.”