Claimed By A Midnight King

Chapter 35

Dominic’s POV

I was running out of time.

That was the thought that woke me in the predawn hours. That was the thought that wouldn’t let me stay in the lower levels anymore.

I’d been down here for nearly two days, waiting for Silas to bring new information. Waiting for Vespera to make another move. Waiting for the investigation to reveal something more.

But while I was waiting, Vivian was suffering.

While I was waiting, the pack was turning against her more with every passing hour. While I was waiting, Vespera was spreading more lies. And while I was waiting, the bond between Vivian and me was becoming a physical ache that wouldn’t go away.

Silas appeared in the war room around dawn.

He didn’t look like he’d slept.

“Vespera’s been meeting with some of the older warriors,” he said without preamble. “Late at night. In rooms away from the main tower. I don’t know what they’re planning, but she’s definitely orchestrating something.”

“How many warriors?” I asked.

“Maybe ten,” Silas said. “Maybe more. She’s being careful. Meeting them in small groups. Never all together where someone might see the full picture.”

“Are they loyal to her or to me?” I asked.

“That’s the complicated part,” Silas said. “Some of them are definitely loyal to her. But others… I think she’s using fear. Fear that Vivian is dangerous. Fear that you’re compromised. Fear that the pack needs to act before it’s too late.”

I stood.

The exhaustion that had been sitting on my chest for days finally lifted. The indecision finally resolved.

I was done waiting.

“Bring Vespera to the great hall,” I said. “Tonight. Tell her I need to discuss something with her privately. Make it seem routine.”

“And then?” Silas asked.

“And then we confront her with the evidence,” I said. “We let her know that we know what she did. And we see what she does next.”

“Dominic..”

“I’m not waiting anymore,” I said. “The longer I wait, the more damage she does. The more the pack turns. The more Vivian suffers.”

I moved toward the door.

“Tonight,” I said. “After the evening meal. Make it happen.”

But before I could do anything else, I had to see her.

I had to see Vivian and tell her that this was almost over. That I was done letting guilt keep me from her. That very soon, everything would change.

I climbed the stairs to the tower quarters in the middle of the day, not caring if anyone saw me. Not caring what rumors would start.

My wolf needed her. And I was finally, finally done fighting what my wolf wanted.

When I reached her door, I opened it without knocking.

She was standing at the window, the repaired window where her power had fractured the glass and she turned when she heard me come in.

For a moment, neither of us moved.

Then she spoke.

“Something’s changed,” she said. Not a question.

“Yes,” I said.

“The investigation,” she continued. “You know who did it.”

“Yes,” I said again.

I moved toward her slowly. Giving her time to stop me. Giving her a chance to tell me no.

She didn’t.

“Vespera,” Vivian said. “It was Vespera.”

“Yes,” I said.

“What are you going to do?” she asked.

“Confront her,” I said. “Tonight. In front of witnesses. With evidence. And let the pack see the truth.”

I was in front of her now. So close I could smell her. Could feel the heat of her body. Could feel the power that was thrumming just under her skin.

“And after that?” she asked.

“After that,” I said, “everything changes.”

I reached out and took her hand.

The moment my skin touched hers, the violet light bloomed across both our palms. Her power and my bond intertwining into something neither of us fully understood.

“I heard you,” I said quietly. “Two nights ago. I was outside your door. I heard you tell Mira that you loved me.”

Her breath caught.

“I’ve spent the last two days trying to convince myself that I needed to stay away from you,” I continued. “That I needed the investigation to be complete before I could accept what I felt. That I needed proof before I could love you.”

I brought her hand up to my chest. Over my heart.

“I don’t need proof,” I said. “I don’t need time. I don’t need anything except you. And I’m done waiting.”

“Dominic….” she started.

“Tonight,” I said, “after Vespera is dealt with, I’m going to take you to the great hall. I’m going to announce to the entire pack that you’re mine. That the bond between us is real. That anyone who has a problem with it can challenge me directly.”

“The pack will riot,” she whispered.

“Let them,” I said. “I’m done caring what they think. I’m done letting fear dictate my choices. I love you. And I’m not hiding that anymore.”

I pulled her close, careful of her back, and held her against my chest.

Through the bond, I could feel her shock. Her hope. Her fear that this was too good to be true.

“This is real,” I said into her hair. “I’m done fighting. After tonight, after I deal with Vespera, you and I are done hiding.”

“What if the pack doesn’t accept it?” she asked.

“Then they deal with me,” I said simply. “But I’m betting that once they see you’re innocent, once they understand that Vespera was manipulating them, they’ll start to understand what I see.”

I pulled back just enough to look at her.

“I see someone brave enough to survive in a place that hates her,” I said. “Someone strong enough to wake a power that’s been sleeping for ten years. Someone who loves me despite everything I’ve put her through.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

“I see my mate,” I said. “And I’m not letting her go.”

I held her like that for a long time. Just held her. Just let the bond settle into something that felt less like torture and more like home.

“You should go,” she said finally. “You need to prepare.”

“I know,” I said.

But I didn’t move. Just held her a little longer. Just let myself feel this the peace of finally, finally making a decision I wasn’t going to secondguess.

“Tonight,” I said. “After Vespera confesses, after the pack knows the truth, I’m coming back here. And we’re done with distance.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“It means,” I said, “that I’m going to mark you. It means I’m going to bond with you in a way that makes it impossible for anyone in this mountain to question who you belong to.”

Through the bond, I felt her fear. Her excitement. Her absolute certainty that this was what she wanted.

“Okay,” she whispered.

I kissed her forehead and forced myself to let go.

“I’ll send Mira to you,” I said. “So you’re not alone before it happens.”

Then I left before I could change my mind. Before the anticipation of what was coming could keep me from doing what needed to be done.