Alarick came trotting toward me. My hand moved instinctively, fingers weaving into the thick fur at the scruff of his neck. He leaned his massive head against my hip, his weight grounding me in a way words never could.
Dominic stood a few feet away, arms crossed. When he finally spoke up, his voice was firm yet layered with unspoken emotion. “Hammer is the strongest warrior in Black Lake. Your safety is my priority, Greta.” His eyes softened slightly, but his tone remained steady. “You’ll always attract attention because you’re mated to me. That’s something neither of us can change.”
He paused, and a faint, self-deprecating smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “But you were right when you teased him. A part of me chose him because of his reputation with women. I knew he’d understand
