After He Dumped Me, I’m His Fated Mate

Chapter 3

The moment Caspian asked the question, the entire square went silent.

Every eye turned toward Dominic.

I could already imagine how humiliating the answer would be.

How had he treated me?

Like a healer who happened to keep him company.

Someone he called when he needed comfort.

Someone he dismissed when he didn't.

Last night, he'd handed me a recommendation letter and told me to disappear to the border.

If I told the whole truth, the consequences would go far beyond a canceled marriage alliance.

Caspian had a hundred different ways to erase Ashfall Pack from the map.

Dominic knew that too.

He stood rigidly on the platform, pale as death.

But he didn't kneel.

And he didn't beg.

He simply looked at me.

Regret.

Pain.

And the bewilderment of a man who had just been slapped across the face by fate itself.

For a moment, I almost laughed.

I reached out and rested a hand on Caspian's arm.

"Brother," I said softly. "Let me answer."

Caspian studied me briefly before stepping back.

I walked to the center of the platform and stopped in front of Dominic.

I was a head shorter than him.

But I gave up nothing in presence.

"Alpha Dominic," I said, my voice carrying clearly across the square, "I'll answer my brother's question for you."

"For the past year, you haven't treated me badly."

Dominic stopped breathing.

"But you haven't treated me well, either."

"You gave me a place to stay and paid me for my work."

"When you wanted company, you remembered me."

"When you made decisions, you never once asked what I wanted."

"Last night, you told me you were marrying the King's noble sister."

"And then you told me to know my place and not embarrass you."

A wave of shocked inhalations swept through the crowd.

Somewhere in the front rows, an Alpha muttered a curse.

Dominic's fists tightened until his knuckles turned white.

"Sera, I—"

"I'm not finished."

He fell silent.

"When you petitioned for this alliance," I continued, "you added one condition."

"That you would form a mate bond with me."

"My brother originally refused."

"It was me who convinced him to give you a chance."

"Because I wanted to see for myself what kind of Alpha you were."

"So I hid my identity and came to your pack."

Dominic's pupils contracted sharply.

At last, he understood.

This entire year had never been about him choosing me.

It had been me evaluating him.

"I saw an Alpha willing to fight for his pack until his last breath," I said.

"That part impressed me."

"But I also saw an Alpha who throws away people the moment he no longer needs them."

"An Alpha who refuses to listen to what his own wolf is trying to tell him."

I paused and met his eyes.

"The protection, resources, and warriors you want—I can give you all of them."

"But a mate bond isn't a business transaction."

"You thought marrying the King's sister would save Ashfall."

"But now..."

"Whether that bond happens."

"Whether this alliance happens."

"That's my decision."

Dominic looked as though someone had punched a hole straight through his chest.

Never in his life had his fate rested in someone else's hands.

And the person holding it now—

was the woman he'd cast aside the night before.

At last, he understood.

The recommendation letter he'd so casually handed over wasn't a farewell to some insignificant healer.

It was a goodbye to Ashfall's last chance at survival.

From beside me, Caspian spoke calmly.

"The ceremony is canceled."

"The alliance can be discussed another time."

His gaze settled on Dominic, utterly devoid of warmth.

"As for my sister's mate..."

"You're not the only Alpha interested."

He tilted his chin toward the entrance of the territory.

I followed his gaze.

A silver-white vehicle was slowly crossing into Ashfall land.

On its door gleamed the crest of Glacier Peak Pack.

Inside my head, Nyx made an amused sound.

"Oh."

"He's here."

I smiled.

And when Dominic followed my gaze—

the last traces of color vanished from his face.