?Chapter 984:


    His chin settled atop my head, his warm breathced with a subtle edge of jealousy as he muttered in a hushed, gritty tone, “That night at the hotel, I stayed up waiting for you, but you slipped into yton’s room, didn’t you?”


    My chest tightened, and I flinched, ducking my head to evade his piercing stare. “I went looking for you, but… yton found me instead.”


    My words came out as a feeble protest, nervousness threading through my voice.


    Dominic’s fingers brushed my cheek, nudging my face toward his. His eyes narrowed, sharp with usation as he pressed, “Don’t try to fool me. You willingly ran to him, didn’t you?”


    I coughed softly, attempting to bury my unease, and shot back with defiance, “That’s not true!”


    But he wouldn’t relent, his arms coiling tighter around me as if to stake his im, irritation flickering in his tone. “Ever since you stepped into the pce, it’s been yton you favored. Even after you left, there’s always been a parade of men at your side, one right after the other!”


    His gaze zed with raw jealousy, as though he might consume me whole. Yet beneath the storm of his emotions, I glimpsed the fierce devotion and longing shimmering in his eyes.


    His voice dropped, rough and tinged with desperation. “You’re such a free-spirited, untamed woman! I want to lock you up so you’ll belong to me and no one else.”


    His words stung, lodging in my heart like a barb. Anger red within me, and I shoved him back, my voice trembling with hurt and indignation. “How can you say that about me? I never asked for any of this. I’m a victim too!”


    The more I spoke, the more wronged I felt. I surged forward and bit down hard on his shoulder, unleashing all my bottled-up frustration.


    He gasped at the sharp sting but didn’tsh out. Instead, he pulled me closer still.


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    I rested against him, tears brimming in my eyes, my voice breaking as I choked out, “Back then, you all forced yourselves on me, even wanting to share me. Do you have any idea how much that broke me? And now, with that aphrodisiac twisting me, forcing me to make love with others… I’ve borne this agony alone. I’m the one who’s suffered most, and yet you point the finger at me!”


    Tears broke free, streaming down my face. Dominic’sposure shattered. He fumbled to dry my cheeks, his voice soft and frantic. “It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have said it. Don’t be upset, please?”


    But the flood of painful memories only fueled my sobs, tears spilling without end.


    Seeing me cry so hard, his tone grew frantic, his usual steadiness crumbling. “I’m sorry. I’m an idiot. If you’re mad, take it out on me—just don’t hold it in.” His plea tugged a wateryugh from me. I gave him a light swat, teasing through my sniffles, “You’re always finding ways to rile me up.”


    At the sight of my smile, relief washed over him. He drew me back into his arms, his broad hand smoothing my hair as he spoke with quiet resolve. “Makenna, don’t worry. I’ll track down the antidote and make Antoni answer for what he’s done.”


    As I nestled against him, soothed by the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, a calm settled over me. I whispered back, “I trust you.”


    Then, out of nowhere, he cradled my face in his hands, his gaze locking onto mine with a gravity and hope I’d never seen before. “Makenna, would you choose to be my true mate?”


    His words sent a shiver through me, a tender warmth blossoming within. I stared into his eyes, lost in a timeless pause, and in their depths, I unraveled the unspoken vow and love that had quietly lingered there all along.


    Makenna’s POV:


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