Chapter 6
Samantha’s POV
A low rustle came from the trees, and every nerve in my body went on high alert. I skidded to a stop, my paws digging into the earth as my senses sharpened. Someone was out here. I could feel it, the prickling awareness crawling along my spine.
A soft breeze carried a familiar scent, unmistakable, I could guess who it belonged to. Dominic. My wolf bristled at the recognition, and without hesitation, I shifted back into human form, hurriedly pulling on the clothes I had stashed behind a thick oak earlier before I went for a run.
I barely had a moment to catch my breath before Dominic emerged from the shadows, stepping into the silvery moonlight that was just rising in the sky. He was shirtless, sweat glistening on his skin, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. His muscles were carved like hard sculptures, displaying power and strength. His body was forged through years of battle and discipline. Every inch of him exuded dominance—his broad shoulders, the taut expanse of his chest, the strength in his arms that spoke of untold years of training, he was like a warrior who had stepped out of my worst nightmares and deepest desires.And god, how it affected me. My body reacted to him before my mind could even catch up, every nerve in me had begun lighting up like a live wire, sending more shivers down my spine. His presence was suffocating, yet highly addictive, and intoxicating, like a poisonous aphrodisiac that I would be willing to drink. I wanted to step back, to regain control, but I couldn’t. The heat from his body pulled me in like a magnet, the scent of him—wood, sweat, and something darker, something only I knew—flooded my senses. My pulse raced, blood rushing to places I hadn’t even realized had been dormant for years.
The memory of him, the feel of his body against mine, and the way he made me feel so alive, all came rushing back, crashing into me like a tidal wave.
Every inch of him reminded me of everything I had lost and everything I still craved. His eyes, dark and fierce, locked onto mine, and I felt like I was drowning in the depths of them. His lips, slightly parted, were a cruel invitation, and I found myself wanting, no — needing — him in a way I could not fight.
“Running away again, Samantha?” His voice was a low rumble, deep and husky, and the way he looked at me, with those stormy eyes that seemed to pierce through every defense I had built over the years, sent a wave of conflicting emotions crashing over me.
I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay calm, though my heart beat wildly.
“I wasn’t running away,” I shot back, and my voice was surprisingly even steadier than I felt. “I was... blowing off steam.”
I saw his eyes darken even more as he scanned my disheveled dress, his gaze landing on one strap that fell off my shoulder. I followed his gaze and I immediately fixed my dress as well as tried to cover up the trace of my erect nipple on the thin fabric with my long hair. I heard a growl rumble in his chest— in disapproval at what I did.
He took a step closer, like a predator claiming its prey, but I stepped back, stepping on a twig, it snapped and made me jolt in surprise. He was focused on me, not tearing his gaze from watching, assessing me. Even after all these years, his proximity had a way of stripping away my armor. I cursed myself for it, for the weakness that twisted my insides and made my pulse race.
Dominic’s gaze roamed over me, intense and searching. “Blowing off steam?” he repeated, his eyes narrowing slightly, suspiciously. “Since when did you like to run at nightfall? Alone?” he asked, and I could sense what he was trying to know.