The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 10

Chapter 10 
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“Since you know my style so well,” he said sharply, breathing hard, “you must have been watching me closely all along. There’s no way you don’t care about me. So what exactly is your problem today?” 
I said nothing, just stared at him with cold indifference. 
The silence seemed to unsettle him. His wolf was still young, while I had the advantage of battle experience he couldn’t imagine. 
I anticipated his next move before he made it, sidestepping his attack and countering with a strike of my own. 
For the first time, Dominic hesitated. He looked genuinely unsettled. 
Then something shifted in his expression. Panic, maybe, or frustration at being outmaneuvered. 
He began fighting seriously for the first time, abandoning any pretense of holding back. 
But while my mind retained all my battle experience, my eighteen–year–old body wasn’t as well–trained as it had been in my past life. I was faster mentally than physically, and that gap gave Dominic the opening he needed. 
His claws raked across my shoulder, cutting through my training shirt and drawing blood. The pain was sharp and immediate, but what hurt more was the realization that he’d lost control. 
The instructor’s whistle blew immediately. 
“Foul!” he called out. “Excessive force. Victory goes to Ellie and Ryan.” 
I looked down at my shoulder, where blood was seeping through the torn fabric. It wasn’t serious, but it was more than what should have happened in training. The rules were clear about avoiding injury. 
“Ellie!” Ryan was at my side immediately. “Are you okay?” 
The crowd buzzed with shock and excitement. 
“Did Dominic just lose to Ellie?” 
“She got the highest score!” 
“He actually hurt her. That’s not like him.” 
I could see Dominic standing frozen, staring at my injured shoulder. His face had gone pale, and there was something like horror in his eyes. As if he couldn’t believe what he’d just done. 
“Come on,” Ryan said gently, supporting my uninjured side. “Let’s get you to the infirmary.” 
As we walked away, I could hear the murmur of conversations behind us. The upset had shifted the dynamics of our entire class. Dominic, the golden boy who never lost control, had just injured someone in a training exercise. 
And I, the girl everyone thought was weak and clingy, had outfought him. 
In the infirmary, Ryan began cleaning my wound with practiced movements. His touch was gentle but professional, and I could see the concern in his eyes. 
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I feel like I held you back. If I’d been better, maybe you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” 
“This isn’t your fault,” I assured him. “Dominic lost control. That’s on him, not you.” 
He asked me to remove my shirt so he could properly treat the wound. I hesitated for a moment, then pulled it off, leaving me in just my sports bra. The bandage would need to cover a larger area than I’d initially thought. 
The atmosphere shifted, becoming more intimate. Ryan’s touch was careful and professional, but I was very aware of his proximi. The way he focused on my injury with such gentle attention. 
“You were amazing out there,” he said quietly. “I’ve never seen anyone fight like that. Where did you learn those combinations?” 
“Practice,” I said simply. I couldn’t exactly tell him about my past life as Luna. 
He finished bandaging my shoulder but didn’t move far away. Instead, he sat on the edge of the examination table, studying my face. 
“Can I ask you something?” he said seriously. 
“Sure.” 
“Have you really let go of Dominic?” 
The question caught me off guard. I met his gaze steadily. “I have. Completely.” 
He studied my face for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. Then he nodded slowly. “I believe you.” 
After a pause, he asked, “Do you already have a dance partner for the mating ceremony?” 
I’d been so focused on avoiding Dominic that I hadn’t considered who I might actually want to attend with. The ceremony was supposed to be about finding your mate, but I already knew who mine was. And I wanted nothing to do with him. 
“I” I started to answer, but was interrupted by a sharp gasp. 
I turned to see Dominic and Vivian in the doorway. Both looked pale and tense. 
Dominic’s eyes went immediately to my bare shoulder, where Ryan’s hands still rested. His jaw clenched, and something dark flashed in his eyes.