Dominic’s head snapped toward me, his eyes darkened with a swirl of emotions—hurt, confusion, and something desperate. His grip on Hammer faltered, and with a clatter, the weapon fell to the ground. His attention shifted entirely to me.
"Etta," his voice broke, rough but pleading, "just show me why. What happened? I need to understand. Why is my happy, vibrant mate now cowering before me? Why, Ets?"
The rawness in his voice made me falter. My breath hitched as I summoned the strength to speak, though my voice trembled, weak even through the mindlink. "You drugged and branded me, Dominic. How can you not understand? I thought I could trust you. I thought you'd never hurt me," I sobbed, the words tumbling out in jagged fragments.
He recoiled slightly, confusion etching deep lines into
