Chapter 66

The words left her mouth before she could think better of it, and immediately she regretted them. She barely knew Dominic. Calling him by nickname felt too intimate, too forward. She waved her hand quickly. “Well… I was just kidding. I’m more used to calling you Alpha or Dominic,” she added, forcing a bitter smile. Dominic’s expression hardened slightly, and she felt the weight of his disapproval. He paused, then finally said, “You can call me what you want.” Sloane blinked. Wait… what? “A… Dom?” she asked hesitantly. He simply nodded. “Yes.” Her mind scrambled. Was this real? Some strange hallucination? She scratched at her hair, trying to steady herself. It’s just a name. That’s all. No need to overthink. “Uh… Sloane,” Dominic said again, calm, measured, but with a warmth she hadn’t expected, like he was speaking to an old friend rather than a subordinate. Her heart skipped. “Ah?” He didn’t miss the subtle flinch, and the corner of his lips lifted almost imperceptibly. “Justin Frank