It’s been a long time since pared my teeth
It’s been a long time since I bared my teeth
(Amber’s POV)
Dominic’s blue eyes held mine in the dim light of our bedroom. His voice was low, almost pained as he continued the story.
“My mother had no choice. She rejected Benjamin and bonded with my father.” Dominic’s voice cracked slightly. “They were completely incompatible–too far apart in years, too different in temperament. It made my mother’s life miserable.”
I thought about the implications, about the decades of resentment this must have created. “And Benjamin never knew the truth?
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“Not until the day of the mating ceremony. When he realized he’d been deceived, that he was being mated to someone else, he toppled the moonstone altar in protest. But by then, it was too late.
My heart ached for Grace, for Benjamin, for all the lives destroyed by William’s selfishness. I thought back to my own childhood, part of which was spent visiting the Blackwood Pack House, completely oblivious to this tragic history.
“I believe Ethan will use this opportunity to portray me as manipulative–just like William. He’ll claim I’m using you for revenge.”
“Ethan must have just learned the truth,” I realized aloud. “Given his attitude before, he couldn’t have known about his father
and Grace.”
Dominic nodded. “I suspect the recent events in the group chat angered Olivia enough to argue with Benjamin. Old wounds reopened, and Ethan overheard.”
My amber eyes widened as I marveled at how such a significant event could have been kept hidden for so long. The Blackwo Pack was built on secrets and pain.
“Why haven’t you taken more direct action against your father?” I asked softly. “Now that you control Shadowpeak, you have the power.”
Dominic’s eyes met mine, vulnerable in a way I’d rarely seen. “Because it wouldn’t bring my mother back. And because I’m not like him–I don’t use power to destroy lives.”
I reached up to touch his face, understanding washing over me. This was the difficult secret he carried–the knowledge that his own father had ruined his mother’s life for selfish desire.
“Your reasons for marking me don’t matter,” I said firmly. “My initial intentions weren’t pure either. I wanted to use our relationship to get back at Ethan.”
Dominic’s eyes softened at my honesty.
“But what matters is how you’ve treated me since. You’ve been kind, protective, supportive.” I ran my fingers over my mating mark. “I won’t break our bond just because Ethan tries to provoke it.”
Dominic pulled me closer, burying his face in my hair. “Thank you” he whispered.
(Dominic’s POV)
The moonlight wine I’d shared with Elliot Graves earlier that evening had loosened my tongue. We’d been negotiating a deal that would benefit Amber’s future at Moonlight Photography, and several glasses in, my usual iron control had slipped.
Now, as I held Amber in my arms, I realized I’d revealed more than I’d intended. Not for revenge, but to reassure her of my true intentions–that I wasn’t with her to settle an old score.
I watched her face carefully as she processed everything I’d told her. Was her comforting response stemming from pity?
“You’re thinking too much,” Amber whispered, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest.
“How can you tell?”
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It’s been a long time since bared my teeth
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“Your heartbeat changes.” She smiled up at me. “And your eyes get that faraway look.”
Icaptured her hand, bringing it to my lips. “You notice everything about me.”
“Not everything,” she teased. “You’re still mysterious in many ways, Dominic Blackwood.”
Her boldness ignited something primal within me. In one fluid motion, I lifted her into my arms, carrying her toward the
checkroom.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, her arms, automatically wrapping around my neck.
“I want to see you in something,” I said, my voice rough with desire.
I set her down and opened the wardrobe, pulling out a garment I’d purchased weeks ago—a traditional Luna gown in deep crimson with silver embroidery.
“Put it on,” I demanded, my eyes never leaving hers.
Amber’s cheeks flushed, but she took the gown without hesitation. “For you, Alpha,” she whispered.
The sight of her in the Luna gown, the traditional attire of an Alpha’s mate, sent Leo into a frenzy of possessive pride. The crimson fabric hugged her curves, the silver embroidery catching the light as she moved.
I pulled her in front of the full–length mirror, standing behind her so we could both see our reflection. My hands slid around her waist, pulling her back against me.
“Look at us,” I growled in her ear. “This is who we are. This is what we are.”
Amber’s eyes met mine in the mirror, her pupils dilated with desire. “Show me,” she challenged.
Right there, in front of the mirror, I claimed her. The Luna gown bunched around her waist as I took her from behind, both of us watching our reflection, seeing the power and passion of our connection.
Later, back in bed, Amber lay curled against me, her breathing finally slowing as midnight approached. Her eyelids were growing heavy, her responses becoming vague.
“Amber,” I whispered, stroking her hair. “Let me respond to Ethan’s message on your behalf.”
She nodded sleepily. “Mmm, okay. You handle it.”
As she drifted into sleep, I reached for her phone. I sent Ethan three messages in quick succession.
The first: “I know about Benjamin and Grace. Dominic told me everything.”
The second: “Stop trying to manipulate our relationship. It won’t work.”
And the third, simply: “This is Dominic Blackwood.”
I set the phone aside and pulled Amber closer, satisfied that Ethan would understand the message perfectly.
(Ethan’s POV)
I paced my apartment, my mind still reeling from what I’d overheard. The truth about my family, about my father and Dominic’s mother–it was too much to process.
My grandfather, William Blackwood, had forced Grace to mate with him, destroying her chance at happiness with my father. And my father had been deceived into mating with my mother, a woman he never truly loved.
It explained so much–the tension at family gatherings, my fathers resentment toward William, the cold distance between my parents. Our entire family was built on lies and manipulation.
But what interested me most was whether Dominic’s reason for marking Amber was solely to get back at William. That explanation seemed more palatable than acknowledging the truth–that my uncle and my ex–fiancée, might truly be fated
It’s been a long time since bared my teeth
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mates.
Noah, my wolf, paced restlessly inside me, confused and angry. We’d lost Amber, lost standing in the pack, and now discovered Your family history was a lie.
I grabbed my phone and sent a message to Amber: “We need to talk. I know Dominic’s true motives for marking you. It’s about revenge against William.”
I waited, staring at my phone. One hour passed. Then two. Noah grew increasingly agitated, sensing my frustration.
Finally, after three hours, my phone chimed. Three messages in quick succession.
The first: “I know about Benjamin and Grace. Dominic told me everything.”
My heart sank. If Dominic had already told her the truth, my leverage was gone.
The second: “Stop trying to manipulate our relationship. It won’t work.”
Anger flared within me. She was so blind, so easily manipulated by Dominic.
Then the third message appeared: “This is Dominic Blackwood.”
Rage exploded through me. Dominic was using Amber’s phone, answering for her, controlling her communications. With a roar
of frustration, I hurled my phone against the wall, watching with satisfaction as it shattered.
Noah howled in fury inside me, his anger matching my own. We’d been outmaneuvered again.
(Amber’s POV)
The next morning, I woke to find Dominic already dressed, checking his emails on his phone. I stretched lazily, feeling pleasantly sore from our activities the night before.
“Good morning,” I murmured, reaching for my own phone.
I saw the messages Dominic had sent to Ethan and couldn’t help but smile, imagining Ethan’s reaction. His anger and frustration would be delicious to witness.
“You handled that perfectly,” I told Dominic, running my fingers over my mating mark. I felt our connection pulsate enthusiastically at my touch.
Dominic looked up from his phone, his blue eyes warming as they met mine. “I thought you might be upset that I answered for
you.”
I shook my head. “Not at all. I trust you to protect our relationship from outside interference.”
He came to sit beside me on the bed, taking my hand in his. “I’ll always protect what’s ours, Amber.”
I leaned up to kiss him, resolving to let him handle all future interactions with Ethan. My alpha mate would shield our relationship from those who sought to destroy it.
A period of relative calm followed. Ethan made no further attempts to contact me, and the other pack members seemed to have accepted the new status quo.
This peaceful interlude ended when Paige returned from the neighboring territory and finalized the Moonlight Photography shoot with Shannon Miles.
“The shoot’s been moved up,” Paige informed me over the phone. Shannon wants to do it at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow instead of the evening slot we’d planned.”
I frowned. “That’s unusual. Most models prefer afternoon light.”
“I know, but her agent was insistent. My sister–in–law has staked her reputation on this shoot, so we need to accommodate them.”
ife been a long the since i bored my teeth
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The next inorning, Paige and I arrived at my studio at 5:00 am to prepare. We set up the lighting, arranged the props, and waited
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o’clock came and went. Then seven. Then eight
By ten o’clock, Shannon was officially four hours late, and Paige was turning
“I can’t believe this,” she muttered, checking her phone for the hundredth time. “No call, no message, nothing”
“Why do you think she changed the schedule in the first place?” I asked, adjusting a light stand
Paige sighed. “I think she found out you were the photographer, she’s deliberately causing trouble”
I squeezed Paige’s shoulder reassuringly, “Don’t worry. We’ll make this work, even if Shannon shows up at the last minute.”
As if summoned by our conversation, the studio door burst open. Shannon Miles rushed in, breathless and flustered, with Ryan Quinn following close behind.
“I’m so sorry I’m late!” Shannon exclaimed, her silver–gray eyes wide with apparent distress. “There was a terrible mix–up with my driver!”
