Nina rose and turned toward the door.

If he was this furious, he should have canceled the coronation.

A slow breath slipped out of her as she pressed two fingers to her temple, the faint ache there doing nothing to steady the thoughts circling in her mind. How exactly was she meant to apologize to a man who had just ordered her to disappear and never stand before him again?

The doors opened at her approach. She stepped into the hallway, her expression composed, her pace measured.

A pair of guards passed and bowed.

Nina acknowledged them with a slight nod and continued forward, turning the corner—

—and stopping abruptly as someone stepped into her path.

Her gaze lifted.

Her body stilled.

Dominic.

He stood tall, nearly Rodrigo’s height, his brown hair neatly kept, his eyes the same shade—calm on the surface, but carrying something darker beneath. His hands were clasped behind his back, posture relaxed, as though he had been waiting.

A smirk curved slowly at the corner of his mouth.

Nina blinked once, steadying herself, but didn’t move.

His gaze settled on her, sharp and unyielding, the kind that lingered too long, that searched too deeply, and something about it sent a quiet unease sliding down her spine.

"Well, well." His voice was smooth, unhurried, as if time bent for him. "The Luna of Vermont Pack."

The title rolled off his tongue like something rehearsed, stripped of respect, laced with amusement.

Nina held his gaze without flinching.

He stepped closer.

Before she could react, he took her hand and lifted it to his lips.

The contact lasted barely a second.

Nina pulled away sharply, her expression hardening as she rubbed her hand against the fabric of her dress, as though erasing the touch. Her eyes cut into him, cold and unimpressed, before she moved to step past him—

—but he shifted, blocking her path.

"Now," he said lightly. "I’m only trying to speak to my sister-in-law. We haven’t been properly introduced, have we?"

Nina’s jaw tightened.

Her eyes flicked down the corridor.

Empty.

Both directions.

No guards.

Her pulse quickened, the realization settling in her bones—there was nothing between her and whatever he chose to do next.

No magic.

No guards.

Just her.

She took a step back.

Dominic followed.

Another step.

He matched it again, the smirk on his lips deepening as his gaze darkened, amused by the space she tried to create.

Her back met the wall.

The cold surface pressed against her spine as she drew in a controlled breath, forcing her pulse to steady.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice even, her eyes locked on his.

Something flickered across his face—brief, unreadable—before his smile widened.

"Luna," he said softly, tilting his head as his gaze dragged over her, slow and deliberate, "I’m only here to congratulate you on your coronation."

His eyes returned to hers.

"You must be... special," he continued, almost thoughtfully. "To have survived what no one else did. Even the guards assigned to protect you."

A pause.

His voice lowered.

"How did you do it?"

Nina didn’t react.

She let a faint smile touch her lips.

"Who knows," she said lightly. "Perhaps the curse lifted at the right moment."

A beat.

"Too bad some people might have hoped otherwise."

The shift in him was immediate.

The smile vanished.

His gaze narrowed, locking onto her with something colder now, more focused.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly, lowering his head until his eyes met hers directly.

Nina held her breath for half a second.

Her face remained calm, her posture steady, even as her hands curled into fists at her sides.

A slow smile spread across her lips.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she replied. "If that’s all, I’ll take my leave."

She turned.

His hand closed around her arm.

Hard.

Before she could react, he shoved her back.

Her spine hit the wall with force, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs as a sharp cry tore from her throat. Her hands came up instinctively between them, her vision flashing for a split second as pain bloomed across her back.

Dominic’s forearm slammed against the wall beside her head, trapping her in place.

He leaned in.

Too close.

His face had lost all traces of amusement.

"I’m not done talking," he said quietly.

Dangerously.

"Where do you think you’re going?"

"Let me go," Nina snapped, her voice echoing down the corridor as she struggled against his grip.

Dominic let out a low, dry chuckle.

"Or what?" he murmured. "What exactly are you going to do?"

Her glare didn’t waver.

If she had her magic—

The thought cut off, sharp and useless.

Her eyes held his, unblinking.

Dominic’s smirk returned, faint but deliberate, as though he found something in her resistance worth entertaining.

"What will the Alpha do," Nina said, her voice steady despite the tension coiling beneath it, "when he finds out what you just did?"

For a brief second, Dominic stilled.

Then his gaze flicked past her shoulder—

—and returned.

"No," he said with a quiet laugh. "You’ll be dead by then."

His voice dropped, cold and final.

"The dead tell no tales."

The words hit harder than the grip on her arm.

The color drained from Nina’s face, her breath catching. But before he could do anything,

A hand clamped over his wrist.

Hard.

His grip broke instantly.

Dominic was yanked back, and he stumbled a step away.

Both of them turned.

Seven stood beside Nina, his hold still firm around Dominic’s wrist, his expression unreadable, his gaze fixed on Dominic with quiet authority.

"You cannot touch her," he said, his voice level.

Dominic looked down at his wrist, then back at Seven.

A slow smile returned.

"Seven," he drawled. "The loyal dog."

He twisted his arm free and straightened his shirt, composure slipping back into place as though nothing had happened.

"I was simply exchanging pleasantries with my sister-in-law." He spread his hands slightly. "Surely that isn’t forbidden."

Seven didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

Didn’t break eye contact.

The silence stretched just long enough to sharpen the tension again.

Then Dominic’s attention shifted.

His gaze slid past Seven and landed on Nina.

Slow.

Measured.

Lingering.

"You’ve piqued my interest," he said, a low chuckle slipping from his lips as he took a step back. "See you soon, Luna."

Then he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing faintly down the corridor until they disappeared.

Nina remained still.

Her chest rose and fell, the aftermath of adrenaline settling unevenly through her system.

’’Are you okay?’’

Seven stepped in front of her and asked.

She nodded, rubbing the spot on her arm.

Seven stared at her face for a second, then nodded.

’’I’ll take you back.’’

Nina nodded and followed him.

They walked silently for a few minutes, then Nina’s eyes drifted to him.

’’Keep this from the Alpha,’’ she said, her voice soft. ’’I don’t want to trouble him with something so small. He’s already made it clear he doesn’t want to be bothered with me, I can handle this myself.’’

Seven turned to her, Nina watched his frown going deeper. ’’Luna —’’ he started but she cut him off.

’’It was nothing. I can handle it.’’

Seven looked at her for a long moment, then turned forward.

He did not reply.

Nina kept her eyes ahead, her fingers pressing lightly against the bruise forming on her arm.

Seven was loyal.

Loyal men reported everything.

Her mouth curled at the edges.