Chapter 5 FIVE

The gala hall sparkled under the chandeliers, crystal light bouncing off the polished floors. Sophie’s stomach twisted as she stepped through the grand doors. The music and laughter felt distant, muffled by the storm of her thoughts. The test strip in her hand seemed heavier than it should, carrying a weight she could no longer hide.

She spotted Dominic immediately. He stood near the center of the room, his posture perfect, his sharp blue eyes scanning the guests with a calm authority. Camille clung to his arm, smiling as if nothing in the world could disturb their perfect image. Sophie’s heart clenched. Seven years of distance had not dulled the ache she felt every time she saw him.

Sophie pushed forward, weaving through the crowd with determination. She could feel every pair of eyes on her, yet nothing could pull her attention from him. When she reached his side, he looked down at some documents, the intensity in his expression making her chest ache even more.

"Sophie," he said when he finally looked up. His tone was flat, controlled.

"I need to talk to you," she said, holding out the test strip. His eyes widened the instant he saw it, the calm mask slipping for just a fraction of a second.

"This is not the time," he said, his voice low, almost strained. He stepped back, trying to create distance, but Sophie did not move.

"It cannot wait," she said firmly. "You need to know the truth."

Dominic’s jaw tightened, and he swallowed hard. "Sophie, what happened that night… it was a mistake."

Sophie’s throat felt dry, but she forced herself to speak. "It was not a mistake. I am pregnant. It is your child."

For a moment, the bustling hall disappeared. Dominic’s hand went to his face as if he had been punched. The mask of control he wore so carefully for years trembled in his grip.

"You are… pregnant," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. His gaze met hers, and she saw the shock, the fear, and the pull of something deeper than reason.

"Yes," she said softly. "I had to tell you. You deserve to know."

Dominic closed his eyes for a long moment. When he opened them again, there was a softness in them that had been absent for years. "I do not know what to say," he admitted. His hand hovered near hers, almost as if asking permission.

"You do not have to say anything right now," she replied. "I only wanted you to know. This child… we made it together. You are part of this whether you like it or not."

Dominic’s wolf growled quietly in his mind. He clenched his fists, the raw pull of the mating bond stronger than it had ever been. He looked down at Sophie and then at the tiny strip in her hand. "I am not walking away from this," he said finally, his voice steady. "From you. From our child. I swear it."

Tears welled in Sophie’s eyes. Relief, hope, and fear mingled in her chest. Seven years of struggle, loneliness, and longing had led to this moment.

Camille’s voice sliced through the tension, loud and sharp. "Dominic, we have guests waiting. Are you coming?"

Dominic did not move. Instead, his hand found Sophie’s, covering hers in a silent claim. "Not yet," he said. Then his gaze returned to hers. "We have a lot to talk about. A lot to fix."

Sophie nodded, clutching the test strip. The world outside this moment no longer mattered. Dominic was here, fully aware of their bond and the child they shared. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to breathe.

Their future would be messy, complicated, and full of challenges, but they would face it together. For Sophie, for Dominic, and for the son who deserved both of them.