Fight Like A Warrior

Dominic POV

As I watched Daniella, my heart swelled with pride, and something far deeper. The way she blocked Eva's slap, twisted her arm behind her back, and sent her tumbling to the ground with a single, precise motion was nothing short of breathtaking. Her words were a fiery declaration that left me speechless: "Don't ever call me a weak human. If you want to test my strength, don't hold back. And let me make this clear, stay away from my man. That's the last time I'll let you touch him. From now on, you're not even allowed to look at him."

I'd never seen anyone stand up for me like that, least of all a human. Daniella's strength wasn't just physical, it was her fierce spirit, her refusal to back down. I loved it. Loved her. She wasn't like the women in the pack, who were raised to cook, clean, and defer to their mates. Daniella was a warrior in her own right, and I couldn't stop admiring her.

Eva, however, wasn't done. Her pride wouldn't let her lose so easily. She grabbed a fistful of Daniella's long hair in an attempt to pull free. But Daniella was faster, she caught Eva's wrist, twisted it behind her back, and shoved her face-first into the ground. Eva cried out in pain.

Nick, Eva's brother, rushed forward to intervene, and I quickly moved to pull Daniella off Eva. Scooping her up in my arms, I tried to calm her. "It's okay, dear. She knows now to stay away."

"But she grabbed my hair!" Daniella squirmed in my arms, her anger still hot.

"I know, I know," I said soothingly. "Please forgive her. Nick will handle his sister."

Daniella huffed but relented. "Fine. But this is the last time I'm letting her touch you." She leapt from my arms with a stubborn pout, but I held her steady and pressed a kiss to her lips.

"I love you," I murmured against her mouth. "And for the record, I loved hearing you say that. It makes me so hor…."

"Don't even finish that sentence," she whispered, her cheeks flushing. But I caught the hint of a smile before she kissed me back.

The tender moment shattered with a sharp, commanding voice. "

Dominic."

I turned, still holding Daniella's hand, to see my father, Alpha Jenson, standing at the entrance of the pack house. My mother and my cousin Antoni flanked him. Antoni's face wore its usual fake smile, a mask to hide his true feelings. He was the one who sent rogues to kill me, but without proof, I couldn't expose him yet. First, I needed to find the rogues and get them to talk.

"Father. Mother," I greeted, bowing slightly.

My mother rushed forward, enveloping me in a tight hug. "My son! We've been so worried. You disappeared for two weeks, and we searched every where for you. Thank the Moon Goddess you've returned and on your 21st birthday, no less!" She pulled back to examine me, relief shining in her eyes.

My father's hug was more restrained but no less genuine. "I'm glad you're back," he said. "But what happened, son? Why did you vanish during Eva's birthday celebration?"

"I'll explain everything, Father, but it's a long story. For now, I want you to meet someone." I turned to Daniella and gently pulled her forward. "Father, Mother, this is my mate…..Daniella."

Daniella stepped forward gracefully, extending her hand in greeting. My parents exchanged a brief, confused look, clearly surprised she wasn't bowing as a she-wolf would. My mother quickly caught on, especially when I mouthed, human. She smiled warmly, shook Daniella's hand, and even pulled her into a welcoming hug. "Welcome, dear. It's wonderful to meet you. My son has excellent taste, he found someone as beautiful as you."

Daniella smiled back, her charm effortless. "Thank you, ma'am. I'm honored to be here."

My father, however, was less enthused. His expression hardened, and while he did shake Daniella's hand, it was brief and perfunctory. Turning back to me, he asked the same question again, "What happened, son? Why did you disappear?"

"It's a long story, Father, and one I'll share in private. But now that I'm 21 and my wolf has emerged, will you fulfill your promise? Will I be crowned as the next Alpha tonight?"

My father nodded solemnly. "Yes, the ceremony will take place tonight. It's time for me to step down as Alpha and focus on my health. The healer insists I rest."

"I'm ready," I said firmly, glancing at Antoni. His jaw tightened, his barely restrained anger flickering for just a moment. He must have thought I'd never make it back.

My father's next words, however, sent a ripple of tension through the air. "But the ceremony will only crown you as Alpha. I cannot approve a mating ceremony for your human mate, not yet. I need time to know her. To understand what she brings to our pack."

Daniella stiffened beside me, her eyes narrowing. I knew that look…..she was about to unleash her sharp wit, and it would only make my father angrier. Before she could speak, I could tell she was ready to fight back, but I squeezed her hand, giving her a look that said "not now."

I took a deep breath, steadying my voice as I addressed my father. "Yes, Father, I understand," I said firmly but without challenge. "Daniella still has doubts about our relationship. That's why I brought her here to show her the life we lead. Daniella is a successful lawyer in her world. Having her as my mate is a blessing from the Moon Goddess. She is everything I've ever wanted in a woman... and as my mate."

I turned to Daniella, my hand tightening around hers, silently anchoring her to me. Her eyes, which had been guarded moments before, softened at my words. It was as though she could see straight into my soul and feel the truth of what I was saying. The tension in her shoulders eased, her lips parting slightly as if to speak, but no words came. Instead, she just gazed at me, her expression holding an unspoken promise.

In that moment, I felt it, the bond between us. It was no longer fragile or uncertain, it was growing, becoming something solid, something unbreakable. The pulse of her emotions washed over me like a wave. I could feel her love, hesitant but powerful, breaking through the walls she had built around her heart. And in that surge of emotion, I knew she was starting to believe not just in me, but in us.

Daniella's fingers squeezed mine, and I knew she was trying to say something without words. She didn't need to. I could feel it. She was falling, just as deeply as I had already fallen for her.