Chapter 28
Samantha’s POV
“I think I deserve the truth.” Dominic’s demanded.
1 stiffened, my nails digging into my palms as I faced him. His eyes burned with accusation, suffocating me with the lies and secrets I had kept hidden.
“The twins,” he continued, his voice softening but no less tense. “Who are they, Samantha? Are they yours?”
My lips pressed together in a hard line, and I bit back the instinct to respond. He did not deserve an answer. Not after everything he had done. But the silence stretched between us, heavy and oppressive, and I knew he would take it as guilt.
“They are none of your concern,” I replied firmly. I did not owe him an explanation, after everything he had done. He had chosen Olivia over me, over us.
His jaw tensed, the frustration in his eyes flaring brighter as he retorted. “That’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
I folded my arms across my chest as a defense and comfort, every muscle in my body coiled like a spring as he stepped closer. The proximity made my skin prickle with awareness, the pull of the mate bond humming faintly beneath the surface, and I hated that I was being affected by his mere presence. I hated how my body reacted to him, how even now, after everything, his presence could stir something I had buried long ago.
“Samantha, do not play this game with me.” His tone dropped, still commanding. “If they are mine—”
“They are not!” I snapped, cutting him off. My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I did not care. “And even if they were, you lost the right to ask the day you chose her.”
I saw the flicker of pain in his eyes, a flash of vulnerability that made my chest tighten. But I did not let it sway
- me. Not this time.
“You have no claim here, Dominic,” I said, despite the emotions that swirled inside me, wanting him close, but I had to choose to push him away, even though my wolf was protesting, craving for our mate. But no, I had to do this, to protect us. “Leave.”
“I am not going anywhere,” he uttered stubbornly, his jaw set in defiance.
Of course, he would not. He never knew when to back down, when to walk away.
“If you think I am going to walk away-
“That is exactly what you are going to do,” I cut in, taking a step toward him. “You don’t get to waltz back into my life and demand answers. Not after everything.”
The fire in his eyes shifted, anger flaring to the surface. “You think hiding them is the solution? If they are mine, I have a right to know.”
I laughed bitterly. “A right? You think you have a right to them? To me?”
“You are not the same person I knew,” he said, shaking his head as if he did not recognize me.
“No, I’m not,” I shot back, my eyes locking with his. “That person was broken and naïve, She is gone. And so is any obligation I had to you. Now, leave, Dominic. This is Killian’s territory, not yours. You do not belong here. And you already have your answer, they are not yours, Dominic. Don’t be delusional.”
1/2
+25 BONUS
Chapter 28
The words came out harsher than I intended, but they needed to be said. I needed to push him away, to make him see that there was no place for him in my life anymore.
His gaze bore into me, stern, as if searching for cracks in my lies. I forced myself to hold it, even though it felt like my insides were twisting into knots.
Then I turned, my movements stiff as I started to walk away, I could not bear it any longer, any more softness in his hard eyes, I might have broken, so I had to leave.
But before I could take more than a few steps, his hand shot out and grabbed my arm.
And there was that tingling sensation that immediately engulfed me, making my breath hitch. Heat exploded through my skin where his fingers touched, searing and electric, like a live wire connecting us. My heart pounded against my ribs as the mate bond roared to life, drowning out every rational thought.
“Then let me at least see the twins,” he challenged. “I would know if they were ours or not.”
I clenched my jaw, fighting against the pull, against the way my body betrayed me in his presence. “You have no right to demand anything, Dominic,” I snarled, yanking my arm back. “You are not seeing the kids.”
“Why?” he pressed, his eyes narrowing suspiciously at me. “Is it because I’m right?”
“No.” My voice wavered slightly, but I quickly steadied it. “Let me go now and leave.”
Before I could take another step, Killian stepped in between me and Dominic.
“You heard her,” Killian warned. “Let her go and leave now”
But Dominic did not back down. Instead, his focus shifted to Killian, his hand flying to grab the collar of his shirt.
“What’s your f–cking problem?” Dominic growled. “You don’t want Samantha to talk to me or show me the twins. Why? You’re scared they will return to me?”
Killian smirked, his calm demeanor infuriating Dominic further.
“That’s enough!” I shouted, stepping between them and shoving Dominic back. The anger boiling in my chest erupted, and I glared at both of them my voice trembling with frustration as I reprimanded them. “I said stop! Both of you!”
Killian stepped back, fixing his shirt with a smug grin, but Dominic’s glare remained fixed on me.
“This isn’t over,” Dominic growled.
“Get the message yet, Dominic?” Killian taunted from behind me.
I ignored Killian, my focus solely on Dominic. My chest was heaving, my emotions a tangled mess of anger, pain, and the lingering pull of the bond.
“This isn’t over yet” he uttered yet Killian smirked, shaking his head.
“You think you can just take whatever you want, Dominic. But Samantha is not yours anymore. She hasn’t been for a long time.”
Dominic’s gaze lingered for a moment longer before he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with my fists clenched and my heart raging against my chest.
I swallowed hard, breathing from the suffocation of my lies. But even as he went in his car, I knew this was not the
end. He would be back.
And when he returned, I was not sure if I would have the strength to push him away again.
