Ashen's POV
I pushed open Dominic's office door without knocking. If I knocked, he'd have time to prepare whatever smug response he was going to throw my way, and I didn't have the patience for that.
He was behind his desk, sorting through paperwork, but the second I stepped in, his sharp golden eyes lifted to mine.
"Well, well," he drawled, leaning back in his chair. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Wolfe?"
I ignored the way my stomach tightened at the way he said my name. "I need a favor."
His brows rose slightly, and his lips curled into something that made me immediately regret walking in here.
"A favor?" He sounded way too amused.
I didn't waste time. "I need you to approve my name for the upcoming training trip."
Dominic leaned back in his chair, brows lifting. "No."
I narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean no?"
His lips twitched like he was amused. "I mean exactly what I said. The trip is dangerous, and I don't think it's necessary for you to go."
My fists clenched at my sides. "That's bullshit, and you know it. Every warrior going on that trip is going to come back stronger. Why the hell would you keep me from that?"
No he said firmly
I crossed my arms. "Don't make it weird. Just approve me for the training trip."
"No."
He went back to his paperwork like the conversation was already over. "You heard me. You're not going."
Frustration flared in my chest. "You can't be serious."
His pen scratched against the paper. "Completely serious."
I took a step forward, gripping the edge of his desk. "I need this, Dominic. You're always talking about how warriors should be prepared for anything this trip is exactly that. Harsh conditions, unpredictable terrain, real combat drills—"
"All things you're not ready for," he interrupted smoothly.
I clenched my teeth. "I can handle it."
Dominic finally looked up, and there was something unreadable in his gaze. "Can you?"
I stiffened.
"I've seen you train, Wolfe. You're good, but out there?" He gestured vaguely. "It's different. One mistake could cost you."
I let out a sharp breath. "I won't make a mistake."
He tilted his head, studying me. Then, to my surprise, he set his pen down and smirked.
"Alright."
I frowned. "Alright?"
"You can go." He stood, rounding the desk until he was right in front of me. "On one condition."
The hair on the back of my neck stood up. "What condition?"
His smirk deepened, and I knew I was going to hate whatever he was about to say.
"You go on a date with me."
I stared at him. "Excuse me?"
"One date," he repeated, leaning in slightly. "No running, no backing out."
I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell—but then I remembered what was at stake.
I needed to go on this trip.
And this bastard knew it.
"That's blackmail," I muttered.
Dominic shrugged. "It's a deal."
I glared at him, weighing my options. I could refuse, storm out, and miss out on the most important training opportunity I'd had since joining the pack. Or… I could grit my teeth and survive one stupid date.
I exhaled sharply. "Fine."
Dominic's smirk widened. "Fine?"
"One date," I ground out. "That's it."
He grinned, all satisfaction. "Good choice, Wolfe."
I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me at the door.
"Oh, and Ashen?"
I barely glanced over my shoulder. "What?"
"Wear something nice."
I slammed the door behind me.
I stormed out of Dominic's office, my whole body still buzzing with frustration. The audacity of that man. The smug way he'd smirked. The way he'd trapped me into a damn date just because he knew I had no choice.
I was seething.
So, of course, the universe decided to make things worse.
"Hey, lover boy."
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Ryker leaned against the hallway wall, arms crossed, an irritatingly wide grin stretching across his face. His knowing gaze flicked between me and the door I'd just slammed shut.
I scowled. "Fuck off."
Ryker let out a low whistle. "Damn, someone's grumpy. Let me guess Dominic finally made a move?"
I clenched my jaw and started walking again, but he easily fell into step beside me.
"What'd he do?" Ryker continued, far too amused. "Did he grab you by the collar again? Get all up in your space?" He smirked. "Or did he—"
I spun on him so fast he actually took a step back. "If you say one more word, I swear to the fucking moon—"
"Oh-ho, I knew it!" Ryker laughed, pointing at me like I was some big joke. "You've got that I-just-got-played-by-Dominic look. What'd he do? Bet it was something good."
I inhaled sharply through my nose, trying very hard not to commit murder. "He blackmailed me, that's what he did."
Ryker blinked. Then grinned. "Oh, this I gotta hear."
I groaned, rubbing a hand over my face. "He wouldn't approve my name for the training trip unless I agreed to go on a date with him."
Silence.
Then—
Ryker howled with laughter.
"You're kidding!" He doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Dominic actually pulled that move? Oh, this is priceless!"
I turned to leave before I broke something. Preferably his face.
"Hey, hey, wait—" Ryker grabbed my arm, still snickering. "So when's the date? What are you two lovebirds doing? Romantic dinner? Moonlit run? Ooh, candlelit training session?"
I yanked my arm free, my glare sharp enough to kill. "It's not a date. It's a goddamn hostage situation."
Ryker just grinned wider. "Call it whatever you want, lover boy."
I turned and marched off, leaving him laughing behind me.
I hated everything.
I stomped down the hallway, Ryker's laughter still echoing behind me.
My blood boiled.
I should've known Dominic wouldn't make this easy. Should've known he'd pull something to make my life miserable.
A date.
With him.
The thought made my stomach twist in ways I refused to acknowledge.
I stormed into my room and slammed the door behind me, leaning against it as I exhaled sharply. My pulse was still racing part anger, part… something else.
This was a mess.
I needed to go on that training trip. I'd fought too damn hard to prove myself, and I wasn't about to let Dominic's overprotectiveness ruin that. If that meant suffering through one stupid date, fine.
But that didn't mean I had to like it.
I pushed off the door and paced the room, running a hand through my hair.
How the hell was I supposed to handle this?
Because no matter how much I told myself this was just a deal a necessary evil there was one undeniable problem.
Dominic was relentless.
And I wasn't sure I could keep pretending I didn't feel something when he looked at me like he already owned me.