Chapter 147

Dominic

Lucas finally had to sedate me in order to drag me back into the van to return to the Pack. I learned later that my Betas had taken to carrying such things on their person at all times, especially since Mira left the first time.

I don’t remember much of the two days after that. Confined to my room, I drifted in and out of a medically-induced fever dream. There was always someone in the room when I woke up, usually Lucas or Wyatt or Jacqueline who had taken over as my personal nurse.

The last time I woke in a daze, my father sat in the chair across the room.

“You have to let her go,” he told me, with a paternal tone of wisdom.

“She’s not dead.”

He sighed. “I know, my son,” he said, softening. “But you wallowing and cursing the air around you won’t bring her back.”

I grunted and rolled away from him. My head ached, but my vision seemed clearer than it had in a while. I thought about reaching for the bottle of tincture left on the bedside table, but something held me back.

I rolled back over and sat up.

“It is all my fault,” I said, hearing the shame in my voice. “I pushed her away, I let my pride ruin my judgement.”

“You erred, yes,” my father said, “but you are not wholly to blame for every decision another makes. Mira has her own pride, her own judgment, and she will sacrifice herself for others everytime.”

“She’s so stubborn–”

“Said the pot to the kettle.”

I grunted again, because he was right.

“What do I do now?”

“You go on,” my father said, a sad smile on his face. “We are Alphas, we are leaders, we are chosen by the gods to be the pillars of our community. You must come back to that truth, and you must put on the brave face that your Pack needs to see.”

“Even if it is a lie?”

“Even if it is a lie.”

I threw myself into my work, into looking after and leading my Pack.

I made appearances around the compound, showing my face and reminding everyone that I was there to help and serve them. I set up regular hours to hear grievances and complaints and suggestions from members, and gave my full attention to even the smallest issue.

As the Rogue threat diminished, more people felt safe to travel beyond our borders. With Alpha Brooks, we made promises of good will to other Packs in the region. It was clear that we would benefit from alliances, and councils and conventions were arranged to work towards solidifying those ideals.

Celeste proved eager to be involved any way she could. I was grateful for her, for having a trusted friend nearby to assist me. But I was still wary of her ulterior motives towards me.

“You know, D,” she said one night in my office, “no one would judge you, if you wanted to end it.”

I looked up from my computer where I was reading an article about Mira’s work in the field. My emotions were a mix of pride and jealousy and longing.

“End what?”

Celeste nodded towards the screen. “The marriage.”

My face reacted immediately, but I had no words.

“I’m just saying,” Celeste said, hands in the air, “the Pack supports you, and divorce is not as taboo as it used to be. You can move on.”

“There will not be a divorce,” I finally said, my eyes sharpened towards her. “Mira is my Fated Mate, regardless of whether or not we ever see each other again. That’s the end of it.”

Celeste dropped it, but I could tell she was disappointed in my reaction.

I left a comment on the article I was reading, a rebuttal against some loser who wanted to disparage Mira’s accomplishments. I didn’t even know if she would read it, but if it felt like a small lifeline that might show her I still cared.

I made a habit of doing things like this over the weeks that passed. Nothing direct, nothing that would pressure her to respond, but enough for her to know that I was still out there. I was watching over her, and I would never look away.

The most frustrating part was the photographs of her. She was always radiant, but I was disappointed that they only ever showed her from the chest up. I could never see her stomach.

As much as I hated to admit it, I was obscenely curious about the baby she was carrying.

Though I had been avoiding him, Lucian was begging to see me. I relented, opening my office door to him. He had returned to good health since his mysterious disappearance, but he still seemed mentally shaken by the experience.

It was hard not to feel for his struggle, though I was good at harboring a grudge.

“Thank you, Dominic, for seeing me,” Lucian said as he sat down across from me.

“An Alpha must be present for his subject,” I told him, emphasizing the formality of our meeting. “Say what you need to say.”

Lucian sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. There was a slight tremor in his fingers.

“You have to believe me, Dom– Alpha,” he said, his voice thin and desperate. “I never touched her. She let me down easy, but she never loved anyone but you.”

My mouth tightened, but I stayed quiet. I felt the emotion rising, but did not want my step-brother to see it.

“The baby,” he said carefully, “it’s not mine. It’s impossible, and I will repeat it and repeat it until I am dead and cold in the ground. I swear to you.”

I sighed, facing my truth.

“I believe you.”

Lucian’s whole body relaxed and became a puddle in the chair.

“Thank you, Alpha, thank you,” he said swiftly. “I cannot live with this guilt on my conscience. I cannot stand Mira’s name being darkened because of my stupid decisions and feelings.”

“Decisions?”

Lucian’s face grew pale again.

“Is there more you need to say?”

He nodded and swallowed hard.

“The doctor, Malachi,” he began, “he’d been planning this for a while.”

“Yes, we know, his operation was extensive–”

“No!” Lucian interrupted. “He was following orders, to get to Mira and to get to you. He was manipulating others to help him.”

“Who? You?”

“No, well… yes, sort of…” Lucian’s eyes were getting shiftier, and I knew the big reveal was coming. “I was swept up in it, trying to help a friend–”

“Who?!”

He jumped at the volume of my voice, then settled himself again. His eyes stayed on the floor as he said the name.

“Celeste.”

The floor dropped out from under me, and I was thankful I was already sitting down.

“What do you mean? How?”

“He found her, among the Rogues,” Lucian explained. “He groomed her, her gaslit her, he sent her back her to come between you and your Luna.”

“Malachi? He did all of that?”

“No, not Malachi.”

“Damn it, Lucian–”

“I don’t know his name!” His whole body was shaking. “I only know what I know, and Malachi was not at the top. There’s someone else giving orders, paying the bills.”

“How do you know this?”

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Lucian said sadly, shrugging. “But when I asked Celeste, she couldn’t deny it. She threatened me not to tell you, but I…”

“You did the right thing,” I told him honestly. “I should punish you, but your honesty–”

“Please, don’t go easy on me,” he said, “I will banish myself if I have to. I have to get out of here, away from the memories here. Away from Mira.”

I nodded, feeling pity for the young man.

“I understand.”

A moment of silence passed between us.

“Dominic,” Lucain said quietly. “It’s all connected. I’m almost positive.”

“What is?”

“All of it,” he said excitedly. “Your mother, Mira’s parents– anyone who came after their operation was wiped out.”

I took a deep breath to absorb the information.

“Well then,” I said, harnessing the Alpha aura in my chest. “I think it’s time I had a meeting with the Boss.”