Her heart pounded like a war drum. This close proximity between her and Dominic was slowly driving her insane. The way he held her should've felt wrong. It was too intimate, but it was stirring something wild and reckless inside of her.
His arms finally released her, but the weight of his gaze didn't waver. His silver-grey eyes locked on hers, smouldering with something dark. Something that looked too much like desire.
"Are we really going to keep pretending?" he asked, the sound of his husky voice sending knots tightening in her stomach.
Isla backed away, her fingers shakily pushing her red hair from her face. "I don't know what you mean."
Dominic tilted his head, his expression unreadable. "You were very clear about drawing lines between us earlier. But here you are."
She parted her lips to give him a response, but the words were stuck in her throat. It didn't help that he looked like a sight for sore eyes.
He gestured towards her, and her eyes followed his hand downward.
Only then did she realize that the thin silk of her night clothes clung to her damp skin and was translucent in certain places. To her horror, the outline of her full breasts and the hard peaks of her nipples were visible.
A strangled gasp escaped her lips, her arms flying up to cover herself. She turned away, her face flushed a bright red.
"You can think whatever you want," she stammered, embarrassed. "But this won't happen again. Even if you're bleeding out, I'll stay away."
Without another word, she fled the bathroom, refusing to glance back at him, her dignity in tatters.
It was ridiculous for her to act like a virgin, especially in front of a man she'd slept with. But Dominic was different.
The way he looked at her was different.
Mikael had never looked at her like that even when they'd been on good terms with each other.
It didn't help that the pull of the mate bond was insanely unavoidable.
Although she'd made up her mind to keep the boundary between them, Isla couldn't trust herself.
***
The next day,
Isla stared at the entrance of the event centre she'd just arrived at, nervousness creeping into her. Earlier, Dominic had suddenly announced that they were going to attend a banquet conducted by a member of the werewolf council.
Apparently, he wanted to let the public know of her affiliation with him just before the wedding. It infuriated her, considering the fact that he'd promised that the wedding would be a small one.
"Is this really necessary?" Isla hissed under her breath, glaring at him.
Dominic's lips twitched. "Of course, darling."
"Don't call me that," she snapped, annoyance brewing inside of her.
"You don't get to tell me what to do," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
He seemed to be enjoying this way too much.
She clenched her jaw. "We agreed on a private ceremony."
"We did. But I changed my mind." He offered her his arm. "You don't need to know why."
She reluctantly took it, letting him lead her inside the grand hall.
"We're not doing anything humiliating like dancing, are we?" she muttered.
His smirk was maddening. "Smile for the cameras, sweetheart. You don't want to ruin your first public appearance with me."
She forced out a strained smile as the blinding flashes of the paparazzi lit up the place. Although Isla was the daughter of a very popular man, she'd always lived a quiet life. Therefore, she wasn't prepared for all of this at all.
As the evening progressed, Dominic paraded her through the crowd, introducing her to allies and enemies alike. Eventually, they found their seats, and she managed to breathe.
Her phone buzzed in her purse. She'd just received a text message from Archer. It read:
'Call me when you see this. It's urgent.'
"I need the bathroom," she told Dominic, who gave her a curt nod.
Inside the restroom, she dialled Archer's number. He answered instantly.
"Isla," his voice was tense. "Is Dominic near you?"
"No."
"We just discovered what he really wants from you."
She exhaled shakily. "He told me. Revenge against my father."
He hesitated. "He told you that? No, Isla...it's worse than that."
"What do you mean?" she whispered, dread sinking into her bones.
"He wants—"
She didn't hear the rest. Someone had just called her name.
Her blood ran cold in her veins.
That voice was Mikael's. She could recognise it even in her sleep.
She ended the call and turned slowly. "Who's there?"
There was no response.
Her breath caught in her throat, panic twisting her gut. She bolted for the hallway, her skin prickling.
Mikael. Was he here?
Had he somehow managed to find her again?
Was he watching her again?
She knew she needed to get back to Dominic as quickly as possible.
As she hurried into the hall, the hair on the back of her neck stood stiff. She had the feeling that someone was watching her.
Turning to look behind her, her feet came to an abrupt halt. From the far end of the hall, someone was watching her. Dressed in a black tuxedo, his brown eyes filled with menace, was Mikael.
Panic-stricken, Isla hurried away, feeling sick to her stomach.
"Isla?"
She froze at the sound of Dominic's voice. Spinning around, she ran straight into him, nearly collapsing into his chest as her knees buckled from relief.
"What is it?" he asked, alarm creeping into his usually unreadable expression.
"I...I thought I saw Mikael," she whispered.
His face hardened. "Where?"
"Near the restroom. But...I don't know. Maybe I imagined it."
"Are you afraid?" he asked, suddenly.
She looked up at him, her eyes wide. She was afraid. Deep down, she was still haunted. Mikael's betrayal had carved something permanent inside her, a phantom pain that never quite faded. Even now, she could feel his presence like smoke in her lungs.
Dominic's hands were warm as they closed over hers, grounding her.
"You're mine now," he murmured. "And Mikael knows better than to touch what's mine."
A tremble fluttered in her stomach. She could have pulled away, but his words… they comforted her.
"Dominic?" A high-pitched feminine voice said, catching their attention.
Dominic and Isla turned to see a delicate-looking woman with her silver-blonde hair in a high bun. She had skin as pale as porcelain, a sharp contrast to the red lipstick coating her lips. She had an air of innocence around her. But the seductive look in her green eyes made Isla suspect that it was all a facade.
"Carina," Dominic said. Recognition flickered across his face.
"It's been years since we last saw each other. How have you been?" She asked, leaning in for an embrace. She stayed in his arms for a longer time than necessary, and Isla hated that she noticed that.
"I heard that you met your fated mate. Congratulations," Carina said with a smile.
There was something about her that was off, but Isla just couldn't figure out what it was.
"Congratulations on finding your mate," Carina literally purred.
Dominic smirked. "Do you really mean that?"
She laughed. "You rejected me more times than I can count. I just thought… eventually, you'd give in."
There was history there. Undeniable tension. Isla felt it crawl across her skin.
Carina turned her feline gaze on her. "And what's your name, lucky woman?"
Isla nearly scoffed.
"Isla," she said instead.
"That's a pretty name. Be sure to invite me to the wedding. I doubt he will." She winked.
"I'll keep that in mind," Isla said, her smile tight.
The rest of the night passed in a blur of strained smiles and dagger-like glances. Carina clung to Dominic's side, and he let her.
When it was finally time to leave, Carina embraced Isla, her strong flowery scent irritating Isla's nostrils.
"It was nice meeting you, Miss Isla. You're so lucky to be engaged with Alpha Dominic," she said as she pulled away from her.
Isla forced out another smile. "It was nice to meet you too."
Then Carina looked back at Dominic, her eyes shooting invincible hearts at him. "I didn't come with a car. How about giving me a ride to my hotel?"
Watching her irritated Isla to no end.
Dominic glanced at his fiancée with a gaze that was almost taunting.
"What about you? Do you want me to give you a ride to the pack house?" He asked, and Carina's gaze shifted to meet Isla's.
"Surely, you can just take a taxi, right?" She asked, flashing her a sickeningly sweet smile.
She stared between them, her heart burning with something that wasn't quite jealousy, but not far off either.
Even if it was all just a contract, would he truly leave her all alone just for Carina's sake?