It was no surprise that, after such an intense confrontation, Dominic met with Patricia in secret that night.
"That boy is beginning to get on my nerves," Dominic thundered. "You shouldâve seen him throwing his weight around in the meeting with the alphas."
"Tell me something," Patricia sighed, rubbing her temple. She added her own grievance. "The boy had the nerve to order his Beta to change all my staff in the pack house and replace them with his own people. When I dared to confront him, do you know what he said to me?"
Dominic didnât say a word, his expectant silence telling her to go on.
At once, Patriciaâs demeanor shifted; she lifted her chin and fixed Dominic with the same arrogant stare Asher was known for. She even dropped her voice, imitating him: "Henryâs widow, why are you worried about the house staff? Shouldnât you be busy mourning my father?"
Patricia broke the act with a scoff. "You shouldâve seen his audacity. Although..." her tone darkened, "for a moment there, I swore I was staring at my late husband. The boy is just too damn similar to him. Henry trained him well."
"Perhaps a little too well," Dominic said, eyes thoughtful. "If heâs anything like Henry, then Asher Nightshade already suspects we want him out of the way. The boyâs always been a little too smart for my liking."
Patriciaâs poise cracked. "Does he know the two of us...?" She let the question die, suddenly aware of the walls. Even with her own people guarding the door, and loyal to death, Asherâs presence within these walls left her unsettled.
She whispered, "What do we do? Should we just end him tonight and be done with it?"
"No." Dominic shook his head. "Itâs too late for that. Alpha King Elijah arrives tomorrow, and Asher is still his heir whether we like it or not. It would look bad if the heir were murdered on his watch, and heâd have to root out the culprit to save face."
He went on to say in a low tone. "Had we known the boy would be this difficult, we shouldâve arranged an âaccidentâ on his way here."
"Or poisoned him," Patricia added. "A slow one, something that eats him from the inside until he withers." She blew out a frustrated breath. "But then, the boy is as paranoid as his father."
Dominic reached out, threading his fingers through Patriciaâs hair, letting them linger. "The only option now is challenging him outright."
"Youâre stronger than he is, youâd defeat him," Patricia said with a coy smile. "Iâll find a way to give you an advantage. I promise."
She didnât say more, but the glint in her eyes told him enough. She had something planned for Asher.
Dominicâs lips stretched into a wide smile. "My love," he murmured, before leaning in to steal a kiss once. Twice.
However, the quick brushes only seemed to ignite the hunger in him, and by the third time, Dominic devoured her fully, his lips crushing against hers, the pressure hard and demanding.
Patricia stiffened at first, but the heat between them rose too fast. His hand slid to the back of her neck, holding her in place as his tongue pressed greedily into her mouth.
The air between them thickened, the kiss turning urgent, the kind that left no room for breath. His other hand roamed beneath the folds of her skirt, rough fingers sliding across her thigh as if he had been starving for this touch all night.
Patricia gasped, managing to break the kiss, her lips swollen, while her voice rushed with panic. "Dominic, this is not the time. There are too many eyes." Her gaze darted toward the door, her mind racing with the danger of being caught.
But Dominic was relentless, his eyes dark with hunger. "Donât worry, Iâll be quick," he swore, though his rough kiss said otherwise.
Dominic pressed Patricia hard against the wall, the force of it knocking the air from her lungs. She clung to him instinctively, her legs wrapping tight around his waist. Then he pulled down his pants and entered her in one move, groaning as he settled in her moist heat.
Patricia sighed in pleasure. It felt so good.
Then he was thrusting into her hard and fast just the way she wanted it. Patricia had to bite down on her lips, smothering the moan that threatened to escape.
Dominic was a beast, plowing through her until while her nails raked down his shoulders, leaving welts heâd wear proudly. And it wasnât long before he pushed her off the edge.
Patricia pressed her face into his chest to muffle the cries he ripped from her, while his growl reverberated through her as his forehead thudded against the wall, the sound swallowed by their ragged breaths.
They collapsed together trembling, and damp with sweat. Their gazes met, and they smiled. That had been awesome.
Dominic eased her back to the ground, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
"Stay safe," he murmured.
"You too," Patricia whispered back, steadying herself.
And then Dominic slipped into the darkness, leaving her chambers as quietly as he had entered.
With Dominic gone, Patricia slipped into the bathroom and scrubbed his scent off her body. She bathed thoroughly, but that wasnât enough.
When Patricia returned to her chambers, she opened a small lacquered box, rubbing a strange cream over her skin before lighting a stick of incense. Dominic had gotten both for her from the black market. They were specially made for masking scent so no werewolf could trace what had transpired.
This was how they had cheated right under Henryâs nose without suspicion. Although they had always been careful.
Feeling clean, hidden, and satisfied, Patricia slid into her bed. Her body melted into the silken sheets, her lips curled with triumph.
It must have been near midnight when she felt a presence in the room.
Her eyes flew open only for gray, slitted eyes to stared back at her from the darkness.
Patriciaâs heart slammed against her ribs. Terror seized her throat, and she opened her mouth to screamâ
"Silence."
The compulsion wrapped around her like a noose, freezing her in place. Horror widened her gaze, her body going rigid as Asherâs smiled at her darkly.
"Itâs high time we talked, donât you think... mother?"