Dominic's POV
We moved through the dense forest, the scent of damp earth thick in the air. Ashen was silent beside me, his steps slow but steady, his expression unreadable.
Ryker, on the other hand, was never one to enjoy silence.
"So…" he drawled, glancing between the two of us. "Are we gonna talk about how the hell you got captured, or are we just pretending that didn't happen?"
I shot him a look. "Not now, Ryker."
He huffed. "Come on, Dom. Rogues don't just capture you. And if they do, they sure as hell don't keep you alive unless they think they're getting something."
He wasn't wrong.
Ashen tensed beside me.
I noticed. Ryker noticed.
I spoke first. "It was an ambush. They were waiting for us. They wanted money in exchange for our release."
"They weren't smart," I admitted. "But they were organized."
Ryker frowned at that. "Organized rogues? That's not good."
"No," I agreed. "It's not."
Silence settled over us again, but I could feel Ryker still watching us.
Then, after a beat—
"You sure that's all they wanted?"
His voice was casual, but I knew him too well.
I kept my expression neutral. "Yes."
Ashen was still too quiet.
I glanced at him, but he kept his gaze forward, his fingers twitching at his sides. He hadn't said a word since we left the cave.
I didn't push him.
The car was waiting where we left it, tucked away on the side of an old dirt road.
Ryker yanked open the driver's door. "I'm driving."
I didn't argue. I had other things to focus on.
Ashen hesitated by the passenger door, his whole body radiating tension.
I walked up behind him. "Get in."
He stiffened. "I—"
"Ashen."
I wasn't asking.
His shoulders dropped slightly, defeat creeping in. Then, with slow, reluctant movements, he climbed into the car.
I followed, shutting the door behind me.
Ryker started the engine.
As the car rumbled to life, I cast one last glance at Ashen. His face was turned toward the window, but I could feel it.
The battle inside him.
The war he was still fighting,against me. Against himself.
He thought this was over.
He thought he could keep hiding.
He was wrong.
The ride back was tense.
The hum of the engine filled the silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves as we sped down the dirt road. The night was still, but inside the car, the air was thick—heavy with everything unspoken.
Ashen sat stiffly beside me, his arms crossed, eyes locked on the window like he could will himself somewhere else.
Ryker, ever the instigator, glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "You always this much fun on road trips, Omega?"
Ashen's hands clenched.
I shot Ryker a warning look. Not now.
Ryker just smirked but didn't push further.
The headlights cut through the darkness as we neared the pack's borders. I could already feel the shift in the air,the familiar presence of my territory. It should have been comforting.
But all I could focus on was the ticking time bomb sitting next to me.
Ashen had agreed to come back. For now.
But I could feel his restlessness.
I leaned back, turning my gaze on him. "You're coming straight to the packhouse with me."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue.
Progress.
Ryker let out a low whistle. "Damn, Dom. Usually, mates get a warm welcome. Maybe some flowers, a celebration,not a hostage situation."
I ignored him.
Ashen, however, finally turned from the window, his glare sharp. "I'm not his mate."
Ryker chuckled. "Yeah? You sure about that?"
Ashen's whole body went rigid. He was sure. Too sure.
I exhaled slowly, my voice lower now. Calm. But firm.
"You are," I said simply.
Ashen looked away again, but I saw it,the crack in his armor.
Ryker pulled up to the packhouse, parking the car. The engine cut off, leaving a deafening silence.
No one moved.
Then, without a word, Ashen opened the door and stepped out.
I was on him in seconds, my hand wrapping gently but unshakably around his wrist.
His breathing hitched.
I leaned in slightly, voice dropping.
"You can fight it all you want," I murmured. "But you're here. And you're mine."
Ashen ripped his arm away.
His glare was venomous, his voice shaking with rage,and something else.
"I belong to no one."
Then he turned and walked toward the packhouse.
I let him go.
For now.
After Ashen left for his new room,a maid showed him, I retreated to my office,a cramped space lined with maps and case files and began pacing. The low hum of the packhouse filled the silence, but my mind was anything but quiet.
How long had Ashen kept his secret? How long had he concealed that he was an omega? I couldn't shake the thought that his old pack probably didn't know, and that made it all the more dangerous. His suppressants were his crutch, a deal I'd reluctantly agreed to in order to keep him safe and under control. But what if they hurt him in the long run? What if each pill was a step toward weakening him beyond repair?
My pacing was interrupted when Ryker strolled into the office, leaning casually against the doorframe. A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he eyed me.
"Pacing again, Dom?" he teased, his tone light but with an unmistakable edge. "Afraid our little secret might come out, or just worried about your mate's fragile constitution?"
I shot him a glare, but the humor in his words did little to ease the tension in my chest. "It's not a joke, Ryker," I replied sharply. "How long has Ashen been hiding this? I'm certain his old pack doesn't know he's an omega. And if that ever comes to light"
Ryker interrupted with a chuckle. "Then we'd have a real hornet's nest on our hands. But seriously, Dom, you worry too much. You've got him, and he's not going anywhere."
I rubbed my temples. "It's not just about keeping him here. I agreed to let him keep taking his suppressants as part of our deal. But what if those pills are slowly killing him? I need to know more about this Blackroot extract and those silver shavings he mixes in."
Ryker pushed off from the doorframe and walked over, his tone softening a bit as he saw the genuine concern behind my hardened expression. "You care, Dom. You always do." He paused, eyes glinting with mischief as he teased, "Even when it comes to your omega, you're a nervous wreck."
I bristled at the remark, but I couldn't ignore the truth in it. Yes, I cared,more than I'd ever admit. "Don't start," I muttered, though the tension in my voice betrayed me.
I stared at the door Ashen had disappeared through, then back at Ryker. "Maybe," I conceded reluctantly. "But if his past catches up with us because he kept this hidden all these years… I'll have to face more than just a rogue's threat."
Ryker clapped a firm hand on my shoulder. "We've faced worse, Dom. And I'm right here with you. Just… try to trust that Ashen will do what he needs to do. And if not, we'll deal with it together."
I exhaled, the weight of responsibility mingling with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. The path was murky, the future unpredictable. But one thing was clear: I wasn't letting him slip away,not when I'd finally found him.
"Alright," I said, voice steadier now. "Let's keep an eye on him. And maybe, get some answers about these pills before it's too late."
Ryker grinned. "That's the spirit, Alpha."
For now, as I returned to pacing in quiet contemplation, I knew one thing for certain: I would never let anyone,least of all the world or fate tear him from me.