It wasn't in Natalie's nature to cower from anything challenging, no matter how much danger or risk it involved. Maybe it was a lot to do with her being Kage; continually proving herself had always been a way of gaining some measure of respect. But this wasn't just some kind of dare. This was her life and all about what direction she wanted it to take. Natalie groaned inwardly. This was supposed to be a simple decision, right?
Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair and focused her gaze on Dominic. "My dad's not stupid, unfortunately. He knows I don't want to be mated to Mark. If I walk up to him and say 'Hey dad, it turns out Ava wasn't my true mate after all. Guess what? I found the real one!' he's going to accuse me of trying to play him."
"And that's why we'll need to be publicly seen to 'discover' each other. Maybe at one of the werewolf gatherings coming up soon. No one other than my wolves will know we've met before that claim." Okay, that was a good idea. But would it work?
Natalie stifled the urge to groan as indecision wracked her mind and body. Her wolf wasn't undecided. Oh no. With her elemental nature, Raven wasn't interested in details or problems, she was only interested in whether Dominic was a potential mate. She liked his confidence, his determination, his heavy air of dominance, and she loved his scent. Raven was totally fine with letting Dominic mark her. She was even craving it - which wasn't a good sign at all.
"Have you thought about what it'll mean to claim me even temporarily?" she asked. "Your wolf will know I'm not your true mate, and he may even understand that you don't consider this a permanent mating, but those will be nitty-gritty details to him. If you bite and mark me your wolf is going to see me as his in every way. That means he'll be -"
"Crazily possessive, crazily jealous, and crazily protective" finished Dominic. "That will help us with faking a mating bond. Though I'm sure that his understanding that you're not my true mate will be enough to keep him under control."
*****
Drak was currently quiet inside Dominic's head, and as much as Dominic would hate to admit it, his wolf was not in support of his words. Drak greatly approved of both Natalie and her wolf. Especially her wolf. He had identified her as dominant and assertive, and couldn't wait to mark her already. Dominic could feel Drak's emotions, and he knew that he was going to have to force Drak under control more often than he would like to if Drak kept on the way he was. And he was going to do it if it meant getting what he needed to stop his brother from this madness.
Although his mind was distracted, Dominic could still discern how close Natalie was to accept his proposition. He didn't blame her for being wary or hesitant - which was why she needed to understand that he was the lesser of two evils. "Natalie, I'm offering you a way out. If I were you, I'd take it. Unless you want to end up bound to Mark for the rest of your life."
"That would never happen, no matter what," Natalie spat.
"Maybe not," Dominic agreed, "but It seems to me, though, that there aren't any other avenues open to you right now."
"I was planning to go to my friend's pack." Oh, he hadn't doubted that she had some plan up her sleeve. He just had to make her doubt it.
"You trust his Alpha to take you in, to protect you against Mark when he comes for you? And he will come for you."
She swallowed hard and Dominic smiled inwardly. He was getting there. "I don't know if I can trust his Alpha because I've never met him, but I don't know if I can trust you to protect me either," she rasped. Dominic shook his head as she spoke. Hasn't she been hearing him? "I know Mark won't just bow down and accept it; he has too much pride for that. He'll most likely turn up and challenge you. Are you saying you would honestly accept that challenge, that you would fight to keep me in your pack?"
She didn't hide the skepticism from her voice but Dominic didn't care. He was beginning to see that this was what she was "Yes, I would," he stated firmly. "I need this mating as much as you. You can still contact your friend after joining me and then see about switching packs afterward. Six months at the most is the length of time I'll need you to stay. Umpires don't usually ask packs to take longer than that to civilly sort out the matter. You could then say you've realized you were wrong about me being your true mate, or whatever."
*****
What was she so scared of? Why wasn't she jumping at the offer? Well, deep down, Natalie knew the answer to that but somehow, she couldn't admit it to herself. She couldn't admit to how damaged she truly was inside. Well, it was only going to be a few months in mating with Dominic versus a lifetime with Mark. In theory, it was like choosing the big bad wolf over the monster. And Natalie's instincts told her the big bad wolf was way better. Somehow she knew he wasn't going to hurt her. At least not the way Mark would.
"Well, Natalie, do we have a deal?" Dominic asked as he shook the pill packet. "Or would you like another long nap?" he added, with his brows raised dramatically.
There were still so many issues and so many unanswered questions. However, Natalie supposed that when it came down to it, the question of most importance was: Was she truly prepared to do what it took to remove herself from Mark's reach? Conscious of her answer, Natalie returned her gaze to Dominic. And with more determination than she had ever had to mutter, she gave him a firm nod.
A most devilish smirk curled up Dominic's lips and Natalie began to wonder if she had just made the greatest mistake of her life.