Chapter 9

The metallic tang of blood clung to the air as Justin Frank lay motionless on the table, his skin pale and clammy, the shallow rise and fall of his chest a battle barely fought. Machines beeped, doctors circled, and desperation thickened like smoke. Dominic’s presence cut through it all like a blade. Then his voice came, deep and commanding. “Sloane. Start healing him.” Every head snapped toward her, standing near the wall. One of the senior doctors took a step forward. “Alpha, with respect, this man’s injuries are beyond repair. Even with her ability, if she intervenes and fails.” Dominic’s gaze fell on him, a weight no one could bear for long. His wolf surged just beneath his skin, invisible yet suffocating. The man faltered, words drying in his throat, and stepped back in silence. “Now,” Dominic ordered again, softer but more dangerous. Sloane moved, brushing past the others. Their expressions twisted in veiled relief. Let her take the fall, their thoughts whispered silently. Better her reputation ruined than ours. None of them believed Justin could survive. She laid her palms over his battered chest, her breathing steadying as she sank into the rhythm of both her medical training and the spark of power thrumming in her veins. Her voice murmured instructions, sharp and precise, as if she were conducting a symphony of medicine and magic. At first, Justin’s pulse faltered, each beat weaker than the last. Sweat beaded at her temples, her hands glowing faintly with the warmth of healing energy. The room held its breath. Then suddenly the monitor spiked. His breathing grew stronger. His skin flushed with color. The impossible became reality. The doctors froze, disbelief etched into every line of their faces. He’s alive. She did it. Dominic’s lips curved into a rare smile, pride gleaming in his eyes. Relief washed through Sloane like a tide, her body sagging slightly as the tension drained from her shoulders. She did it. She knew she could but this, this felt like a dream come true. She was truly talented and now everybody in the room respected her for her talent. Moments later, outside the emergency room, the heavy doors swung shut behind them. The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. Dominic turned to her. “You saved him,” he said quietly. “Thank you.” Sloane’s gaze flicked up to meet his, unwavering. “I’ll accept your thanks, Alpha Volkov. But I need something in return.” His brows arched, interest sharpening his features. “Name it.” “I need protection,” she said, voice firm. “Not only here in this territory. Everywhere. No matter where I am. Is there any expiry date on it?” Dominic’s wolf stirred at the challenge in her tone. He didn’t hesitate. “Then you have it. As long as you walk this earth, my protection is yours.” Her shoulders eased, a hint of relief softening her face. “The deal ends,” he added, his eyes locking with hers, “only when you say it does.” The promise still lingered in the air between them when Dominic’s expression shifted, unreadable but firm. “There’s one more thing, Miss Sloane,” he said. “You’ll move back into my villa.” Her brows arched in suspicion, lips parting. So that’s why he agreed so quickly, she thought bitterly. She crossed her arms. “Is that the real price for your protection, Alpha? Forcing me under your roof?” Dominic’s gaze softened, the weight of his aura easing just enough to make his next words feel strangely personal. “It’s because of Jeremy.” Her irritation faltered. “Jeremy? Is he sick?” A small smirk tugged at Dominic’s lips. “No. He just… likes you. More than you know. And when he’s happy, his health improves. He’ll get stronger if you’re around.” For a long heartbeat she studied him, looking for any hint of manipulation, but found only honesty. She knew something was wrong with Jeremy, and it felt like Dominic did not know what was going on with his nephew. If she agrees she could take care of Jeremy and by the moon goddess wished she could heal him too. With a sigh, she relented. “Fine. I’ll go.” ** That night, she settled into the unfamiliar luxury of his home, though sleep evaded her. The moonlight spilled silver across the polished floors as she drifted through the darkened halls, her curiosity pulling her forward. Then she froze. In the living room, Dominic sat hunched on the couch, his usually controlled posture crumbling. His entire face was flushed crimson, veins bulging at his temples and neck, as if his body was rebelling against him. His hands clenched the cushions like claws. “Dominic!” she cried, rushing forward. Almost instantly, one of his doctors appeared carrying a small case. The man hurried to Dominic’s side, thrusting a handful of pills into his palm. Dominic swallowed them down with a pained growl. Sloane’s voice shook. “What happened to him?” The doctor spared her a glance, grim but calm. “Alpha is allergic to milk.” Her stomach dropped. Guilt slammed into her chest, cold and merciless. She had offered him the warm glass only hours earlier, trying to bridge the distance between them. “Oh goddess… I. I didn’t know.” Dominic’s hand shot up, stopping her words. Even now, sweat glistening across his skin, his voice carried command. “Stay away, Miss Sloane.” But she couldn’t. Her feet moved before her mind could stop them. She knelt beside him, close enough to feel the heat radiating off his body, close enough to see the cracks in his mask of control. “Dominic…” she whispered, her hand almost reaching for his. His chest rose sharply, the tips of his ears burning red. For the first time, the cold, untouchable Alpha looked… flustered. Vulnerable. Her nearness stirred something wild in him, and when his eyes flicked to hers, the intensity there made her breath catch. Dominic, the man feared by all, was blushing. Unaware of Dominic's dilemma, Sloane stayed by his side until the angry flush in his face began to fade, until his breathing leveled out into something steadier, less raw. The doctor quietly retreated after handing him water, but lingered in the corner, rigid as stone, clearly praying not to be noticed. Sloane exhaled, her guilt twisting tight in her chest. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “If I’d known, I never would’ve offered it. I should have asked first… I should’ve known.” Dominic’s eyes flicked toward her, the storm in them unreadable. She pressed on, her voice softer. “So this… this whole mess arose because of me.” The words hung between them. Even the doctor shifted uneasily, plastering himself against the wall as if distance might save him from the Alpha’s temper. The proximity between them still felt dangerous, charged with something she couldn’t name. Finally, she forced the question out, her tone betraying both her fear and defiance. “How… how are you going to make me pay for this?” The room went still. Her heart thudded against her ribs, every instinct screaming at her to retreat, but her body wouldn’t move. She was too close, close enough to feel the heat of him, close enough to see the faint blush still burning beneath his skin. But Dominic’s lips curved, slow, deliberate, wolfish.