Chapter Three

Maren’s POV

The pillow I’d bought for Talia was wedged behind the door, and the bedding had been stuffed into the laundry basket. The closet stood open, full of Celeste’s clothes. Her jewelry box sat on the nightstand I’d cleared for my friend.

Talia was still waiting for me to finish.

I kept my anger out of my voice. “It’s nothing. Just let me know before you leave.”

As I hung up, I heard the front door open downstairs.

Celeste came in carrying a paper bag and spoke quietly to Dominic.

“I’m so glad you took me out. Otherwise, I would’ve spent all day thinking about what they said. They’re probably just waiting to see me get kicked out.”

Dominic spotted me on the stairs and explained.

“Celeste got into an argument with someone in her training program. She’s been suspended for now, and they’ve told her to move out of the training dorm. I told her she could stay here for a few days.”

“So you gave her the guest room?”

“Just for a few nights.”

I looked at him. “Talia’s coming tonight to help me after surgery. That’s the room she’s staying in. I told you last week.”

He glanced upstairs and didn’t answer right away.

When I’d brought it up, he’d been going over papers for a meeting. He hadn’t even looked up, just told me to handle it myself instead of asking him about everything.

Apparently, he’d told me to make the arrangements without bothering to remember them.

“I forgot. That’s on me.” His voice softened as he took a small box from the bag Celeste was holding. “Here, look at this. I brought you something.”

Inside was a colored-glass ornament with the winter market’s name printed on the bottom.

When the market opened, I’d sent him pictures advertising it. After that, I’d asked him twice about going. Both times, he’d said he was busy and complained that I kept pestering him over a single evening out.

“I took Celeste there to get her mind off things. I saw this and thought you’d like it.” He offered me the box. “We can go this weekend. We can stay as long as you want.”

I closed the lid and put it back in Celeste’s bag.

“Keep it. I don’t need it.”

Dominic’s hand was still outstretched. Celeste glanced at him and quickly spoke up.

“This is my fault. I didn’t know you had a friend coming. The room’s plenty big enough for us to share. I’ll be quiet at night.”

I ignored her and went back into the guest room.

She hadn’t finished unpacking. I put the clothes on the bed back in her suitcase, packed her jewelry box and toiletries into a bag, then used my uninjured hand to pull the suitcase into the hall.

Celeste followed and hurried to block the doorway.

“What are you doing? I’ve already moved everything in. Where am I supposed to sleep tonight?”

I rested a hand on the suitcase to catch my breath and glanced toward the master bedroom.

“Ask Dominic. He promised to take care of you. I’m sure he can make room.”

She followed my gaze, and her face flushed.

“He’s my brother. Do you have any idea how hurtful that is?”

“Did you think about my feelings before you moved my things?”

Celeste bit her lip and turned to Dominic, tears already falling. Before he could speak, she grabbed her purse and ran downstairs.

Dominic didn’t follow. He only moved the suitcase out of the doorway.

“She didn’t know you’d put that bedding out for your friend. If you’re upset, tell me. Why did you have to humiliate her?”

I bent down, picked up the pillow from behind the door, and brushed off the dust.

“And you couldn’t tell me before you moved her in?”

He looked at me. “They haven’t even finished looking into what happened. I can’t leave her without a place to stay.”

“But you gave her a room I’d already set aside for Talia.”

“I can arrange something else.” Impatience crept into his voice. “You’re my mate, and you’re her family, too. Can’t you just let her stay for now?”

I held the pillow without answering.

Dominic caught my hand as I started to close the door.

“It’s just a few nights. I don’t need to ask your permission for every little thing. You invited Talia over, and I didn’t object, did I?”

I looked at him for a moment, then decided I was done explaining.

Talia was coming to help me through surgery. I’d told him the dates in advance and prepared the room myself. He was treating that as no different from bringing Celeste home without warning.

“Fine. We’ll each make our own arrangements.”

Dominic let go of my hand. His expression eased, as though he thought I’d finally accepted it.

I closed the guest room door. Once he left, I would put fresh sheets on the bed.

If he didn’t need my approval for his plans, I didn’t need his to decide whether to stay.

“Go check on her. Make sure she has somewhere to stay.”

Then I went into the master bedroom and took my suitcase out of the closet.

Dominic followed and watched me fold a few things and pack them. His coat, the one he usually lent me, was hanging nearby. I left it hanging and took my own instead.

He reached out and held the suitcase lid.

“She can book her own hotel. I don’t need to go.”

I looked up, but his attention was on the clothes I’d packed.

“But why are you packing so much? Maren, are you planning to move out?”