Chapter 20
Mira
The car ride was quiet.
Wyatt did the kind thing and put up the partition, probably more to protect himself from the awkwardness than to give us privacy.
For several minutes I took a breath to speak, realizing I didn’t know how to begin. So I closed my mouth again and went on thinking, over-thinking, and attempting to break the ice again.
“Thank you,” I said finally, “for saving me.”
Dominic didn’t respond, but I saw a subtle eye movement that told me he was also trying hard not to say the wrong thing.
“Perhaps it would be best,” I went on, tiptoeing through the words, “if we put some distance between us.”
He turned his head quickly to look at me. I couldn’t read his expression.
“I know I’ve caused enough trouble, to you and your reputation.”
His mouth hung open as I said that.
“You think I give a damn about my reputation?” his voice was low, which was more startling than if he had yelled.
“I know you have to side with the Pack, for the greater good,” I added. “And now with this accusation made against me—“
“Mira, stop,” he said. “Do you really believe that I am on their side? That I think you would do anything to harm a patient in your care?”
“I—“ was all I could get out before he slammed his fist into the seat in front of him.
“Damnit, Mira,” he fought to gain back control, “do you really believe I would abandon you so quickly?”
“Well, after the other night, when we fought—“
“How many times have I told you to trust me?” he asked with pain in his voice. “Is this really how you see me, a mercurial man who will give up his own morals to please others?”
I didn’t have a response to that. We were both quiet for a moment.
“I’m offering you a chance, to avoid further scandal,” I said. “We haven’t gotten too far into this, so it seems the logical choice to dump me and find a more… suitable Luna. I would understand.”
“Once again, Doctor,” he said, “you seem not to understand at all.”
I looked back at him. His eyes were kinder, but still intense as he looked at me.
“Do you recall when we first met?”
That night in the woods. His mysterious wounds. His hand around my throat.
“I was out of control,” he repented, “but you did not abandon me. You stood your ground, knowing that I needed help. You stayed, and you saved my life.”
“Yes.”
“I trust you. I believe you. And I will do anything I can to buy you time until we can prove your innocence and clear your name.”
There he was, the valiant Alpha. The inner persona that reminded me why so many looked up to him and would follow him anywhere.
And he was on my side.
“Okay,” I said.
“Okay,” he said.
We fell into a quiet moment. I wondered what he was thinking, if there was more we needed to say. My thoughts were interrupted when I felt his hand on mine.
A simple gesture, both intimate and chaste. I squeezed his fingers in my own.
“The other night, I’m so—“
“I’m sorry about the other—“
We both froze, realizing we were trying to apologize at the same time. Laughter broke the frozen moment.
“Me first, I’m the Alpha,” he teased. “I was too harsh, and I’m sorry. I asked the staff what happened, and you were right to criticize Lila as you did. It seems this isn’t the firs time she’s made careless mistakes, just the most serious.”
“I’m sorry too,” I told him. “I shouldn’t have left, and I shouldn’t have stayed away for so long. To be honest, I was embarrassed, and didn’t know how to face you.”
“I understand,” Dominic said. “We both make mistakes, and surely will make more. But we must try to listen to one another more.”
“I agree.”
“And I’m sorry I missed out on dinner,” he added lightly. “It was delicious.”
“You ate the food? But it must’ve been so cold!”
“It was, and I did,” he replied. “It felt like a just punishment for my tirade against you.”
I smiled at him, appreciating how he could lighten a dark situation with his subtle sarcasm. I felt the walls I’d built these past few days starting to come down, and saw his shoulders relax in a similar way.
The war may not be over, but we have survived this battle, together.
We finished the drive in contented silence, our hands still clasped together. While I’d never been an overly affectionate person, I thought back on the few times Dominic had made physical contact with me.
It never felt forced, it was never embarrassing for others to see.
It felt right, natural. It was as if being connected was the normal thing, and being apart was foreign.
I thought back to my recent dream, two wolves playing together in the forest. Maybe my subconscious was really trying to tell me something, or remind me something that my soul already knew.
The state of contentment was brought to an end when we arrived back at the Pack House, to see elder members of the council waiting for us. The Alpha, Dominic’s father, was among them. He looked more weary and run down than angry, but I could tell we were in for a reckoning.
“Dominic, son,” he began in a formal tone, “this situation has gotten out of hand. Formal complaints have been made again Mira, and we must take them seriously.”
Dominic said nothing, but held my hand tighter as we stood before this panel of judgment.
“She has caused nothing but trouble,” Irene spoke up, her words serious but her eyes betraying some level of amusement. “You must admit this is not good for the health and safety of our Pack.”
Murmurs among the elders told me they’d been talking about this for some time, and were in agreement with the Luna. They wanted to be rid of me.
“Dominic,” the Alpha went on, “while it pains me to have to give you this ultimatum, you leave me no choice. You must cut ties and reject Mira as your Luna.”
The once talkative group went silent after that, waiting impatiently to see if the young Alpha would heed their warnings.
Dominic turned his head slowly, looking each member in the eye, displaying his strength and dominance.
“No.”
I heard a few gasps in the crowd.
“Dominic, please,” his father said to him, “do not make this harder than it has to be.”
A conniving smile appeared on Dominic’s face.
He looked down at me, and winked.
Before I knew what was happening, Dominic pulled me tightly into his arms, and kissed me.
The world melted away, and all I heard was the synchronized sound of our hearts beating as one.
