<b>hapter 132 </b>


    Dominic’s POV


    The words hung in the air between us, sharp and dangerous.


    “If you can’t ept that I have my own friends, my own life, maybe we shouldn’t be doing… whatever this is.”


    My wolf howled inside me, a primal sound of fury and–I was loath to admit–fear. She was threatening to leave. The very thought sent a wave of rage through my body so powerful that I had to clench my fists to keep from reaching


    for her.


    I stared down at Reba, her gray–green eyes defiant despite the flicker of uncertainty I detected in them. Her scent -honeysuckle and rain–filled my nostrils, clouding my judgment. She looked up at me, her expression a mixture of wariness and something else… something that made my blood run hot.


    “Little doe,” I whispered, leaning close to her ear, letting my voice carry the Alpha timbre that made others instinctively submit, “do you want to leave me?”


    My wolf paced restlessly within me. How dare she think that human professor could rece me? She was mine. Only mine. The thought of her walking away, of her scent mingling with another man’s, made my vision blur with rage.


    “You can’t use your body to solve every argument, Dominic!” Reba pushed against my chest, her small hands warm through the fabric of my shirt. The resistance only made my wolf more determined, more possessive.


    I caught her wrists in one hand, gentle but firm. “That professor wants more than friendship,” I growled, my face inches from hers. “I can smell his desire for you every time he’s near. He wants to mark you, possess you. Can’t you


    see that?”


    Her eyes widened, indignation shing across her features. “That’s ridiculous! Adrian is just-”


    “Adrian,” I repeated, the name tasting bitter on my tongue. “You’re on a first–name basis with him now?”


    “He’s my professor!” she eximed, struggling against my grip. “And even if he did want something more–which he doesn’t–that’s not the point. The point is that you don’t own me, Dominic. You can’t dictate who I talk to or spend time with!”


    Something in her words made me pause<b>, </b>a cold realization washing over me. The fear in her eyes wasn’t just frustration–it was something deeper. Suddenly, I saw myself through her eyes: domineering, controlling… like my father. The thought made me recoil.


    “I didn’t mean that,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I would never-”


    <b>The </bparison hung between us, unspoken but palpable. I released her wrists immediately, sitting back on the edge


    of the bed.


    9:00 <b>Thu</b>, Sep <b>25 </b>


    To my surprise, tears welled in Reba’s eyes. “I know,” she said softly. “But sometimes… sometimes you make me feel like I’m just a human ything to you. A temporary amusement until you be Alpha and need to choose a proper mate.”


    <b>93 </b>


    Is that what she thought? That she meant so little to me?


    “You’re mistaken, little doe,” I said, my voice rough with emotion I rarely disyed. “You’ve never been just a ything.”


    Reba reached out, her fingers tentatively touching my face. The simple gesture sent a tremor through my entire body. How could such a small touch affect me so deeply?


    “I’m sorry, Dominic,” she whispered, her eyes searching mine. “I shouldn’t have threatened to leave. I was just… scared.”


    Instead of answering, I leaned forward and captured her lips with mine. My fingers threaded through her chestnut curls, cradling the back of her head as I tilted her face upward. Words had never been my strength–I was morefortable with action, with showing rather than telling. I poured everything I couldn’t say into that kiss: my fear of losing her, my rage at the thought of another man touching her, the confusion of these feelings I’d never experienced before. My thumb traced the delicate line of her jaw, feeling her pulse quicken beneath my touch as her body gradually rxed against mine.


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