Page 15 of Her Dryad Dom

My heart clenched painfully at the thought of such senseless loss. A soft growl escaped me, and I felt Dom's presence in the back of my mind, his emotions mirroring mine.

"Angered and saddened by this event, the town raised walls around its borders," Sylvia said, her voice quivering with emotion. "It trapped everyone inside... monsters and humans alike. Since then, the town and its inhabitants have been trapped in limbo," she went on. "The sun rises and sets, but nothing ever changes. There's no communication with the outside world. Zero contact. Families have been separated ever since, some trapped within the town and others stuck outside."

"Dom's family was one of the ones separated by the barrier." I recounted, my voice cracking with emotion.

Sylvia sighed wistfully. "Yes, dear. It was a sad day for many of the townsfolk. We all felt the pain of losing loved ones and being trapped away from them."

"Does the town believe that if enough couples form and prove their love is real, the barrier will finally come down?" I questioned, hope laced in my words.

"Many of us had hoped so," Sylvia admitted, her voice heavy with sorrow. "We've had a few humans arrive lately, but so far, nothing has changed. The curse remains unbroken, and we're all still trapped here."

"Thank you, Mayor Haas—"

She cleared her throat, and I corrected myself.

"Mayor Sylvia," I said, determined to find a solution. "I won't give up on Dom or this town. There must be a way to break this curse."

"Good luck, Aspen," Sylvia replied warmly before hanging up.

I stared at the phone, my mind racing as I considered my options. Suddenly, Dom appeared from the bedroom, his leafy hair mussed and irritation etched across his handsome face.

"What are you doing out of bed?" he scolded, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "You should be resting. You're still healing from the crash."

"Resting won't save this town," I retorted, my eyes blazing with defiance. "And we're running out of time. I need to find a way to break the curse and bring the barrier down. For you, for your family, and for everyone who's been affected by it."

Dom clenched his fists, the vines around his wrists tightening. "Aspen, I appreciate what you're trying to do, but you can't help anyone if you don't take care of yourself first."

"Fine, I'll rest," I said, my voice heavy with determination. "But first, I want to look at the moon."

Dom let out a grumbling sigh, his annoyance evident in the rustle of leaves sprouting from his limbs. But despite his irritation, he scooped me up into his arms with surprising tenderness, carrying me toward the balcony connected to the bedroom.

"Stubborn woman," he muttered under his breath, yet there was a hint of affection in his gruff tone.

As we stepped onto the balcony, the cool night air caressed my face, and the sight of the full moon's silvery glow cast an ethereal light over the forest protecting Beastly Falls. Dom held me close, his strong, bark-covered arms wrapped protectively around me.

"Here," he offered, growing an extra branch for me to sit on, its sturdy form jutting out from the railing. But I declined, shaking my head gently.

"Thank you, but I'd rather stay here in your arms," I murmured, appreciating the warmth and security they provided.

I took Dom's hand, feeling the rough texture of his bark as I pressed my lips to his cheek, planting a soft, tender kiss there. His grumbles subsided, and he leaned into my touch, the tension in his body ebbing ever so slightly. Turning my gaze back to the moon, I took a deep breath, the crisp night air filling my lungs.

"To the spirit of Beastly Falls," I called out, my voice ringing clear and true in the darkness. "I, Aspen Larkspur, claim Dominik as my mate."

"Wait, what?" Dom interjected, his shock momentarily breaking through his grumpy exterior.

"Shh," I silenced him, my heart pounding in my chest as conviction fueled my words. My love for this complicated, beautiful monster had grown stronger than I could have ever imagined, and I knew without a doubt that he was the one I wanted by my side for all eternity.

"I'm in love with you, Dom," I declared, my voice shaking slightly as I looked into his eyes. "I want to spend forever with you, despite your bossy and grumpy nature." His face softened, but a hint of concern still lingered.

"Forever is a long time, Aspen," he warned, but I could see the vulnerability hiding beneath his stern exterior.

"I know," I agreed, taking a deep breath. "But there's something I need to do in my old life before I can stay here in Beastly Falls forever."

"Tell me," he growled, his grip tightening around me.

"Please, spirit of Beastly Falls," I pleaded, raising my voice so it carried on the wind. "Lift the barrier momentarily so I can save this town. I may not know all the townspeople and townsmonsters yet, but I understand why you want to protect them. Let me protect them too by saving their land."

Dom's face twisted into a scowl, and he muttered something under his breath that I couldn't quite catch. Before I could react, he scooped me up and carried me back into the bedroom, clearly unhappy with my request.

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