Chapter 54: Moonberry Wine
Chapter 54: Moonberry Wine
(Aria’s POV)
I stood frozen in the middle of Dominic’s bedroom, staring at the single large bed dominating the center of the room. The door had closed behind the servant, leaving us alone in the spacious chamber of the Blackwood compound.
“Are we sleeping in the same den?” I asked again, my voice barely audible as panic began to set in.
Dominic’s silver–gray eyes gleamed in the soft light as he looked at me with mild amusement. “What did you expect? We’re supposed to be intended mates.”
My heart raced wildly as I frantically scanned the room. There wasn’t even a couch where one of us could sleep. Just that one massive bed with its silken sheets and fluffy pillows.
“Can’t you go to another room?” I suggested desperately, wrapping my arms around myself protectively. My wolf was getting agitated beneath my skin.
Dominic shook his head and moved to the door, opening it slightly. He gestured for me to look with a knowing expression.
“See for yourself,” he murmured, his breath warm near my ear.
I peered through the c***k and immediately spotted an elderly female werewolf standing vigilantly in the hallway. Her back was straight despite her age, and her wolf senses were clearly alert.
“Who is that?” I whispered, drawing back quickly.
“My grandmother’s old housekeeper. She’s been with the family for decades.” Dominic closed the door quietly, leaning against it. “My grandmother is quite determined to see this ‘intended mate‘ charade through.”
My eyes widened in shock. “She stationed a guard? Is she serious?”
“Grandmother doesn’t do anything halfway,” he replied with a wry smile. “She was heartbroken when my cousin mated outside the territory. She won’t let me ‘escape‘ so easily.”
I paced the room frantically, my pregnant wolf stirring anxiously within me. The walls seemed to be closing in on us both.
“Maybe I can sneak out through the window?” I suggested, eyeing the large panes of glass with genuine consideration.
Dominic laughed, the sound strangely strained. “We’re three stories up, and there are pack enforcers patrolling the grounds. Not the best plan for a pregnant she–wolf.”
{
He suddenly tugged at his collar, loosening his shirt buttons with urgency. His face looked unusually flushed, and drops of sweat had begun forming on his forehead.
“Are you okay?” I asked, momentarily forgetting my own predicament as I noticed his obvious discomfort.
He ran a hand roughly through his dark hair, disheveling it completely. His breathing had become slightly heavier.
“That silver pine soup,” he said, his voice noticeably huskier than usual. “It wasn’t just silver pine.”
I frowned, stepping closer despite myself. “What do you mean?”
He undid another button of his shirt, revealing more of his powerful chest. The unexpected sight sent a warm flutter through my
body, surprising me,
“It was infused with moonberry wine,” he explained, his tone mixing exasperation and reluctant amusement. “Grandmother’s
special recipe.”
My jaw dropped in shock. “Moonberry wine? But that’s-”
“A potent aphrodisiac for werewolves,” he finished, running a hand over his face. “Especially Alphas.”
I instinctively backed away from him, my wolf suddenly alert and wary. Stories of Alphas under the influence of moonberry wine were infamous among she–wolves–tales of their near–feral state, their wolves taking control with primal desires that couldn’t be
restrained.
The vivid memory of Alexander after drinking wolf–whiskey flashed through my mind–how aggressive and demanding he’d
1/3
<Chapter 54. Moonberry Wine
become. And Dominic was a much more powerful Alpha with far greater strength.
+8 Points
Dominic immediately noticed my retreat, his silver–gray eyes darkening slightly as his nostrils flared. “Don’t worry, I’m not going
to lose control,” he stated firmly, his jaw clenched tight.
Before I could respond, he strode quickly to the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind him. Seconds later, I heard the sound of
running water pounding against tile.
A cold shower. The traditional remedy for werewolves affected by such potent substances. Relief washed over me.
I released a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My wolf settled slightly, sensing there was no immediate threat. The
effects would wear off eventually with the cold water, I reassured myself.
Finding my phone in my bag, I checked for messages. Several from Olivia had come through:
[Have you arrived safely?] [How’s the infamous Blackwood compound?] [I bet you’re sharing a den with him, aren’t you?] [Tell
me EVERYTHING tomorrow!]
I couldn’t help but smile at her accurate guess. Quickly, I snapped a selfie of just my face against the bedroom wall, careful not to
show any of the room.
“I have my own room,” I typed, the lie burning through my fingers.
Just as I pressed ́send, a loud, unmistakable growl erupted from the bathroom. The primal sound sent an electric shiver racing
down my spine, making my stomach clench strangely.
Heavy breathing and violent splashing followed, creating such a vivid picture in my mind that heat rushed to my face. I
immediately covered my ears with both hands, trying desperately to block out the sounds.
It was useless–my wolf’s enhanced hearing picked up every gasp, every groan, every splash of water against his body.
After what felt like an eternity, the bathroom door finally opened. Dominic emerged with just a towel wrapped loosely around his waist, water droplets streaming down his powerful chest and broad shoulders.
His overwhelming scent filled the entire room–his natural Alpha aroma now mixed with moon sage body wash and something
else… something wild and untamed that made my wolf stir curiously.
When his intense silver–gray eyes caught me with my hands still pressed tightly against my ears, a knowing smile tugged at his
lips.
“Are you practicing some sort of meditation?” he asked, his voice still thick with the lingering effects of the moonberry wine.
I quickly lowered my hands, completely mortified at being caught. “I was… rehearsing herbal recipes in my head,” I lied lamely.
“Let’s hear this recipe then,” he challenged, adjusting his towel in a way that almost made it slip lower.
I kept my eyes firmly fixed on his face, refusing to acknowledge his impressive physique or the numerous battle scars that
marked his skin like a map of victories. Each one told a story that my wolf found strangely fascinating.
“For a basic healing salve, you require three parts moonflower extract, one part silver pine resin, and five parts purified wolf’s
bane,” I recited formally, speaking quickly as if giving a rushed lecture. “The ingredients must be mixed under a waxing moon
and-”
Dominic chuckled, the deep sound rumbling through his bare chest. “That’s enough, little healer. Just go to bed before you start
listing every herb in the territory.”
He moved to a dresser and pulled out a pair of loose sleeping pants. With his back to me, he dropped the towel without warning
and quickly slipped them on.
1 gasped and averted my eyes, but not before catching a glimpse of his muscled back and more. My cheeks burned hotter than
ever.
I glanced nervously at the bed again, anxiety returning full force. There was nowhere else to sleep in this unfamiliar territory
where I knew no one but him.
Silently, I slipped under the covers on the far edge of the bed, taking up as little space as possible. My wolf instinctively made
herself smaller, less threatening in the presence of such a powerful Alpha.
The bed dipped significantly as Dominic climbed in on the other side. He kept a respectful distance between us, but I could feel
< Chapter 54. Moonberry Wine
his radiating heat even across the space.
“Goodnight, Aria,” he said, his voice low and husky in the dim room.
+8 Points >
I mumbled an incoherent response, keeping my body rigid at the very edge of the mattress. One wrong move and I’d probably fall
off completely.
“Are you afraid I’ll take advantage of you?” he asked suddenly, the blunt question making me flinch.
When I didn’t immediately answer, he continued, “I’m not Alexander. I don’t lose control like that, even with moonberry wine in my
system.”
The direct comparison to my former mate was strangely comforting. Despite the powerful aphrodisiac, Dominic had removed
himself from the situation, taking a cold shower rather than pushing boundaries.
“I know,” I whispered, meaning it more than I expected to.
The lights went out, plunging the room into darkness. I lay stiffly in my corner, determined to maintain the distance between us,
my wolf unusually calm despite the proximity to such a powerful Alpha.
