< Chapter 34 Who is the Sh
Chapter 34: Who is the She–Wolf Dominic Likes?
Chapter 34: Who is the She–Wolf Dominic Likes?
(Aria’s POV)
I couldn’t help but frown when I caught Claire’s hostile glare from across the room. What was she so upset about? Alexander was no longer beside her, and I honestly didn’t care where he had gone. It was no longer my
concern.
With a dismissive exhale, I turned away from her, refusing to engage in her silent challenge. I had more important things to focus on tonight than Claire Watson’s jealousy.
Around us, a small crowd had formed, all trying to catch Dominic’s attention. I wasn’t surprised. As Alpha King of the Northern Territory, his presence at gatherings like this was rare. These werewolves wouldn’t waste the opportunity to curry favor with him.
Dominic, however, looked completely indifferent to their fawning. A subtle impatience flickered across his features as he answered their questions with practiced politeness. His silver–gray eyes occasionally drifted to me, as if checking that I was still there.
One of the werewolves, a sleek businessman in an expensive suit, glanced past Dominic and noticed me standing slightly behind him.
“Alpha Blackwood,” he said with a practiced smile, “is this your intended mate?”
My breath caught. This charade was going further than I’d anticipated.
Dominic’s lips curved into a confident smile as he turned slightly toward me. “Yeah,” he answered simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
The floodgates opened immediately. Suddenly, I was bombarded with compliments from people who hadn’t spared me a glance before.
“Such elegant taste in fashion!”
“Your eyes are enchanting in this lighting!”
“What a perfect match you make with Alpha Blackwood!”
I couldn’t help but laugh internally at the absurdity. These people were praising me only because they thought
I was Dominic’s chosen mate. If they knew I was just Alexander’s soon–to–be–ex Luna, they wouldn’t give me a second look.
“What’s wrong? Are you bored?” Dominic tilted his head to look at me, his voice low enough that only I could
hear.
I studied him for a moment. In his perfectly tailored black suit with subtle dark patterns, he looked different from his usual casual self. The laid–back, sometimes lazy demeanor that I’d grown accustomed to had been replaced by something more commanding, more regal.
“No,” I answered with a dry laugh, not wanting to seem ungrateful.
“Then I’ll take you out for some fresh air?” he offered, clearly noticing my discomfort despite my denial.
< Chapter 34 Who is the Sh
I glanced at the circle of influential werewolves surrounding us. They were all waiting for their chance to speak with Dominic. It would be selfish of me to pull him away.
“No, Dominic,” I said quickly. “You chat first. I’m going to the bathroom.”
His silver–gray eyes held a gentle smile as he nodded. “Go soon and come back.”
I slipped away, relieved to escape the suffocating attention. The Hallway outside the grand hall was blessedly quiet, with only a few wolves passing through. Large windows lined the corridor, offering a spectacular view of the moonlit territory below.
Taking a deep breath, I moved toward the windows, enjoying the momentary solitude. My wolf settled contentedly beneath my skin, appreciating the brief respite from the overwhelming scents and sounds of the gathering.
“So you’re Dominic Blackwood’s new toy,” a familiar voice cut through my peaceful moment.
I turned slowly, already knowing who I’d find. Claire Watson stood a few feet away, her emerald gown making her eyes seem even more vivid with anger.
“I’m not interested in talking to you, Claire,” I said flatly, preparing to walk past her.
She stepped into my path, her face a perfect mask of righteous indignation. “We need to talk, Aria.”
“No, we don’t.” I tried to move around her, but she blocked me again.
“You’ve completely misunderstood Alexander’s relationship with me,” she insisted, her voice lowered but intense. “And now you’re throwing yourself at his good friend? How desperate can you be?”
The accusation made my blood boil. After everything she’d done, she had the nerve to call me desperate? “That’s rich coming from you,” I retorted, my patience evaporating. “The woman who picked up her drunk ex from my apartment and then had the audacity to act offended.”
Claire’s emerald eyes narrowed. “That was different. Alexander needed help-”
“Save it,” I cut her off. “I’m not interested in your version of events. If you want Alexander so badly, you can have him. Just keep him away from me.”
A strange expression crossed her face- something almost resembling triumph.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about,” she said, her tone suddenly businesslike. “I’ll convince Alexander to sever your mate bond if you promise to stay away from him.”
I stared at her, momentarily stunned by her directness. Was she seriously negotiating with me?
“I’ve been trying to leave him for weeks,” I said slowly. “He’s the one who won’t let go.”
Claire waved her hand dismissively. “I know how to handle him. Trust me, I’ll make him see reason.”
“Why would you help me?” I asked suspiciously.
Her lips curved into a self–satisfied smile. “Let’s just say it benefits us both. You get your freedom, and I get… what I deserve.”
The implication was clear. She wanted Alexander all to herself, and my continued presence was an inconvenience.
“Fine,” I agreed, seeing no downside. “Convince him to sign the mate bond severance papers, and you’ll never
Chapter 34 Who is the Sh
have to worry about me interfering again.”
Claire nodded sharply. “Consider it done.”
Without another word, she swept past me, the fabric of her emerald gown brushing against my legs as she disappeared down the hallway.
વાર
I stood there for a moment, processing what had just happened. Plad Claire just offered to solve my biggest problem? It seemed too good to be true.
With a slight shake of my head, I made my way back to the grand hall. The gathering was still in full swing, but Dominic was no longer surrounded by admirers.
I spotted him in a quieter corner, engaged in what appeared to be a serious conversation with Dr. Nathan Lewis. Neither of them noticed me approaching.
“-still being stubborn about it,” I heard Dr. Lewis say, his voice low but earnest. “You’ve wasted too much time
already.”
Dominic’s shoulder tensed slightly. “I know,” he replied. “But I don’t want to rush things and ruin everything. She’s been through enough already.”
“You’ve been watching her for years, Dominic,” Dr. Lewis countered. “How many more opportunities are you going to miss?”
Her? They were talking about a woman. A she–wolf Dominic liked?
My wolf stirred strangely within me, an emotion I couldn’t quite define rippling through her consciousness. It almost felt like… disappointment?
Before I could analyze the feeling further, Dominic noticed me and immediately straightened, his expression shifting to casual welcome.
“Aria,” he called, effectively ending his conversation with Dr. Lewis. “We were just talking about you.” Dr. Lewis smiled warmly. “I brought something I thought you might enjoy.” He held out a small box. “Wolf–apple pastries from Silver Glen Bakery.”
I blinked in surprise. “How did you know I like those?”
“Dominic mentioned it,” Dr. Lewis replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he glanced at his friend. Dominic cleared his throat. “I remembered you mentioning it once,” he said casually, though I couldn’t recall ever discussing wolf–apple pastries with him.
I accepted the box, deeply touched by the thoughtful gesture. “Thank you, both of you.”
“Oh, don’t thank me,” Dr. Lewis said with a grin. “It was all his idea. I just picked them up.”
The pastries looked delicious, their golden crust dusted with fine sugar. I took a small bite of one, and the tart–sweet flavor of wolf–apple immediately filled my mouth. It was perfect – exactly what my pregnant body had been craving without me even realizing it.
“This is amazing,” I said between bites, savoring the treat.
When I looked up, I caught Dominic staring at me with an unreadable expression in his silver–gray eyes. He seemed lost in thought, watching me with an intensity that made my cheeks warm.
Chapter 35 Truly Willing t
