Chapter 113

Mira

It felt like I was falling from a cliff.

I watched my husband collapse into Celeste’s body as he shook while he transformed back into his human self. For such a strong man, he looked weak, like a child cradling to his mother.

It was almost wholesome, and the part of me that wanted to protect Dominic was glad to see him on the other side of his possession. But then she bent to him, guiding his face to hers, and he took her cue as their lips pressed together.

I rolled to the side and vomited.

My body felt completely spent with exhaustion, and as I struggled to stand up against the tree behind me. I’d lost my clothes long ago, but it felt like I was wearing a suit that was two sizes too big for me.

“Mira?”

The sound of my name got my attention, and I looked back to the couple a few trees over. Dominic was still on the ground, frightened and confused and trying to hide his own nudity as if modesty mattered at this point.

Celeste was a statue, patient and unbothered. When Dominic tried to move, she put a hand on his shoulder.

“No, stay still, you’re in shock,” her voice was soothing but manipulative. “Your face is still bleeding.”

“My…”

Dominic’s words were cut off by a growl of pain as he tried to touch the open slashes on his face. The ones that I had given to him.

I went into medical mode, managing to push off the tree trunk and take a few steps towards them. It wasn’t a cold evening, but I fought against shivering as adrenaline drained out of my body.

“Don’t touch it,” I said loudly, “it doesn’t look deep, but will need to be cleaned.”

“Mira, I—“

“Mira did this to you!” Celeste stood taller and stepped in front of the Alpha on the ground. “She mauled you, and now she has the audacity to offer help?”

“It was defensive— and also none of your business, Celeste!”

I didn’t mean to shriek, but her presence was driving me past reason.

“What are you even doing here? How did you find us?”

Celeste looked at me like I was the one who was out of place.

“The whole household was disturbed by your domestic dispute,” she said to me, not venomous but with contempt. “And there was no way not to notice when the giant black wolf tried to wreak havoc through the streets. I’m just glad I knew he would end up here, even if you led him to more danger.”

“I led him?”

“Yes, and it seems since you arrived in his life,” she went on, “there’s been nothing but drama and danger and disorder within the Pack and beyond. I cannot think this is all a coincidence.”

I could do nothing but shake my head, slowly, in utter disbelief that this woman’s delusions would make sense to someone who didn’t know the truth. I was discovering more about the power of this woman, how logical and rational and caring she was with something secret underneath.

Dominic, meanwhile, said nothing.

He was leaning against the tree, eyes mostly closed, Celeste’s flowing skirt brushing his legs as it swirled in the breeze. Looking especially pale in the moonlight, I imagined his head was spinning with nausea and amnesia and wondered if he could even hear what we were saying.

One thing I knew was that he wasn’t going to come to my defense.

“Maybe you’re right,” I said carefully, standing my ground. “Maybe I am the reason for all of these recent troubles, and the strife in Dominic’s life. Maybe he’d be better off without me.”

“That may be.”

Celeste’s tone was grave, but it wasn’t hard to see the smirk at the corner of her mouth. She kept her eyes on me as she bent down to Dominic, placing her hands on knees that were bent to the sky.

“Dominic deserves to be with someone who keeps him steady,” she said, resting her chin on the hand on his knee. “The Alpha needs a Luna who brings him balance, not chaos.”

Dominic opened his eyes and tilted his chin to look at her. There was a moment where maybe he didn’t recognize her, then he grimaced and squeezed his eyes shut again. When he opened them, he looked around him for answers.

“How did I… Celeste…”

The sound of his voice, rough and raspy, was the tipping point. I took a few steps back, seeing Celeste clasp his hands and lift them to her lips while his heavy head lolled from side to side. There was a moment of guilt at leaving him so vulnerable out here, but the feeling of his wolf body trying to overpower mine was still vibrating through me.

I turned, and I ran.

“Mira, no!”

Dominic’s cry rose up and then was swallowed up by the night.

First I was aimless, sprinting to put distance between us. I paused only briefly to take in the air and the moon, getting my bearings among the trees. My breath was fast and shallow, my heart aching and my throat constricted with sorrow.

Needing a release, I called the rest of my strength and brought my wolf back to me. Four legs were better than two, and I made my way swiftly through the forest and back towards the Alpha mansion.

Knowing that everyone would still be up and worrying about the Alpha, I snuck into our apartment through the back entrance. I was grateful that the security cameras were on a private feed in that part of our house.

I met a new heartbreak when I entered the door to our bedroom, seeing the mess that was left behind. Before anything, I found my phone and texted Wyatt telling him that Dominic was okay and in the woods.

I threw on sweatpants and a sweater quickly, and thought about trying to clean up. I got as far as the living room to pick up a chair when I collapsed into heaving sobs on the ground.

I don’t know how long I was there, time meant nothing to me. I cried for the pain in my body for being chased and attacked by Dominic. I cried for my husband who had lost his mind and tried to assault me. I cried for the stupid misunderstanding that had triggered his anger, and for my inability to help him when he needed me most.

I cried until I had nothing left, my voice croaking and my stomach sore from contracting. A hand on my shoulder startled me. I didn’t hear anyone come in the front door, but then again, there was no longer a door there after Dominic ripped it apart.

I sat up enough to take in the person crouched on the floor next to me.

“Mira, what happened?”

“Lucian, I—“

And then I was off again, face contorting in pain even though the tears were dried up. He pulled me into him, rocking me gently.

“Shh, you’re okay, you’re okay…”

I let him cradle me, grateful for the outside comfort. My breathing slowed down again, and I nodded into his arm to signal I was okay.

“I need to, I can’t stay here,” I mumbled, almost hiccuping over my words. “I’ll go to the hospital, I can’t stay here—“

“Okay, I can take you there—“

“But he might be there, he’s hurt, I hurt him, I—“

“Mira, slow down,” he said, taking my face in his hands to stop me from moving. “You don’t have to go there, you don’t have to leave this house.”

“No, no, I can’t stay here, in our bedroom.”

“I know, and you don’t have to,” he said, doubling down. “You can come stay in my room.”