Chapter 7

Elena.

My beta wolf went silent keeping me hanging without any response. I pressed further demanding for an answer, "Jamie, who did you say wants to meet me?"

"Alpha Ashford."

My heart stutters.

"Tell him I'm with a patient."

"I already did. He said he'll wait."

Of course he will.

I finish my files, taking my time. Let him wait. Let him feel what it's like to be on the other side of neglect.

Dominic is in the waiting room, looking completely out of place among the meditation posters and healing crystals. He's in a business suit, probably came straight from Ashford Industries.

When he sees me, relief floods his face.

"Elena."

"Dominic. What are you doing here?"

"You wouldn't answer my calls."

"I've been working."

"For six hours? Without a break?"

I cross my arms. "Is there something you need?"

He glances around at the curious patients in the waiting room. "Can we talk? Privately?"

I led him to my office, closing the door behind us.

Dominic has only been here twice in three years.

He looks around like he's seeing it for the first time.

"You've redecorated," he says.

"Two years ago."

His face falls. "I didn't notice."

No. He wouldn't have.

"What do you want, Dominic?"

He runs a hand through his hair, a tell that he's nervous. "I want to know what's going on. You've been different since the funeral. Distant. And last night, you wouldn't let me come up to the penthouse."

"Your sister-in-law and her daughter were sleeping. It would have been inappropriate."

"Since when do you care about appearances?"

Since I found out our entire marriage is one big appearance, I think but don't say.

"Is that all?" I ask instead.

"No." He steps closer, "Elena, talk to me. Did something happen while I was at the estate? Did Vivian or Mira do something to upset you?"

Oh, the irony.

"Vivian and Mira have been perfect guests."

"Then what is it?"

I met his gray eyes, so like mine, the trait that convinced his mother we were compatible.

"When's your birthday, Dominic?"

He blinks at the non sequitur. "What?"

"Your birthday. When is it?"

"You know when it is. Two weeks from now. Why?"

"Have you opened your gift yet?"

"The one you gave me before Sebastian died? No. I was going to wait until the actual day."

"Don't wait."

His brow furrows. "What?"

"Open it tonight. When you get home."

"Elena, you're scaring me. What's going on?"

I walk to my office door, opening it, "I have patients waiting. You should go back to the office."

"I don't care about the office. I care about you."

The lie is so casual, so practiced, it barely registers anymore.

"Do you?" I ask softly. "Do you really care about me, Dominic? Or do you care about maintaining the image of a perfect mated pair?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Open the gift. Then we'll talk."

I can see the conflict in his face. The Alpha in him wants to demand answers. The guilty part of him is afraid of what those answers might be.

Finally, he nods.

"Okay. I'll open it tonight."

"Good."

He hesitates at the door. "Elena, whatever's wrong, we can fix it. I promise."

"Goodbye, Dominic."

He leaves, and I watch from my window as he gets into his car. He sits there for a long moment before driving away.

Jamie appears on my shoulder. "Everything okay, Dr. Elena?"

"Yes. Everything's perfect."

It's the same lie I've been telling for three years.

But in two weeks, I won't have to lie anymore.

The same evening when I was preparing to leave the clinic Damien called.

"How was work?"

"Work has been fine and busy."

"Dominic showed up."

"How did you…never mind. I have spies everywhere."

"Not spies, brother." I rolled my eyes off while correcting him.

He cleared his throat before speaking, "Fine! I take my words back. I only have concerned pack members who report to their Alpha when his sister is being harassed."

"He wasn't harassing me."

"Then what was he doing?"

I sigh, gathering my things. "Trying to figure out why I'm acting differently."

"Did you tell him?"

"I told him to open his birthday present."

Damien's laugh is dark. "Savage. I like it."

"It's not about being savage. It's about him finally seeing the truth."

"Elena." My brother's voice softens. "Are you sure you want to do it this way? Once he opens that box, there's no going back."

"There's already no going back. The bond was broken the day he married me for someone else."