Chapter 132

Dominic

“I’m keeping you here for now,” I told Lucian.

I didn’t wait to hear his response, but turned and left the room. I could tell from the scuff of a chair on the floor that Tessa had lifted herself up. She followed me into the hallway.

“I believe he’s telling the truth,” she said, halting my steps. I did not turn to face her, but she walked around in front of me. “He’s frightened, Dominic, and still not even sure where he is. Give him time.”

“Do you believe he loves her?”

Tessa sighed, her eyes lowering to my chest. She absentmindedly rubbed her belly.

“I think Lucian feels things deeply, but is never sure how to make sense of those feelings,” she said thoughtfully.

I looked more closely at Tessa, noticing the changes this pregnancy had brought about in her. She looked wiser, but somehow like her younger self. There was a time when we were younger that she was quiet and careful, then her adolescence hit and she became materialistic and petty and loud.

Now, she was calm. The whole ordeal with her mother and conspiracies and mistakes and humbled my stepsister into a saintly version of herself. For the first time in years, I felt the brotherly affection I had hoped for when I inherited two step-siblings.

“Do you think she loves him?”

I asked the question before I could stop myself. My voice was low but direct amidst the hospital noise around us.

Tessa’s eyes drooped and her mouth opened as she exhaled and shook her head softly.

“I don’t think Mira can love anyone else but you,” she said, all sincerity and warmth. “Even before you, with Ward— let’s be honest, he wasn’t hard to steal away. And it doesn’t seem like she felt more for him than familial affection and loyalty. But with you…”

“Mm…” I felt my mouth pinch in on itself.

I tried to picture Mira’s face when she was happy: on our wedding night; running in the woods together; seeing her patients heal and guiding others to do the same. For a moment, I hoped that wherever she was, she was happy.

It made me sick to think of it. It felt like giving up on getting her back.

“You’ll find her,” Tessa said, placing her hand on my arm. “Mira is smart and resourceful, and is better prepared for most situations than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“You’re right about that,” I had to admit.

Tessa looked at me for another second, taking in my eyes as if she’d never seen them before. And perhaps she hadn’t.

“Take care of yourself, and lean on the people that love you,” she said, implicating herself.

On my way out, I stopped at reception. Leaning over the counter, conjuring up a bit of Alpha aura persuasion, I quietly addressed the nurse at the desk.

“I want to know if anyone visits Lucian, or if he asks to contact anyone outside,” I told her. “His wellbeing is very important to the Alpha household."

I went home feeling melancholy but not morose, and needed to fuel my energy into something productive before I felt myself spiral out of control. The apartment felt haunted, and I had tried not to touch or move anything of Mira’s in the week she’d been gone.

But with everyday it felt less of a comfort and more just a painful reminder of her absence.

I had to get out of there.

Calling my Betas, I decided to get off the compound and see if this new information from Lucian was helpful in my search. Even though he remembered next to nothing, he confirmed that he was with Mira for at least a day. And I knew at least part of their journey.

I needed to go back to the Brooks compound. I needed to talk to Rae.

We had done a preliminary sweep of the local Packs in the first few days. No one had information to report, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t have had a conspiracy against me. Kidnapping a Luna was a serious offense, but it didn’t dissuade people from trying to use it as a tactic against a rival Alpha.

Brooks had always seemed like a friend, and I wondered why he didn’t mention if Mira had stopped by.

“I wasn’t on site that day, as I recall,” the Alpha told me when we arrived. “There was no notice of her visiting on that day, so I didn’t think much of it since it was days later that she was reported missing.”

His voice was strained. The older Alpha seemed to blame himself for her disappearance, as if he would have been able to stop such a strong will as Mira’s. His reaction showed he was telling the truth.

“I understand, you’ve been a great help already,” I told him, easing tension. “She must have come to see Rae again.”

“Again?”

“Yes, this would have been the second time she was here in the span of a week,” I said, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. “Right?”

Brooks' face turned a new shade of pale. “I was on the compound that whole week prior,” Brooks said, “and did not see or hear from Mira once.”

That was disconcerting. The timeline of Mira’s movements was flipping back on itself, and every time I confirmed something another mystery was waiting.

“I think it’s time that I go talk to Rae.”

She looked healthier every time I saw her, but her eyes were still skittish and she had a tendency to bite her fingernails.

“It’s true,” she told me, “Mira was here.”

“Why didn’t you—“ I sighed, letting my anger dissipate. “I’m sorry. I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell me this before.”

“I couldn’t,” she insisted.

We were sitting in her living room, her parents respectfully giving us space after offering me an assortment of refreshments. I refused all of them.

“Why couldn’t you?”

“I made a promise.”

Rae’s face scrunched up and she looked down. She was young, I had to remind myself. She would choose loyalty over logic.

“I see,” I said, nodding. “That is very noble, Rae, I respect that.”

Her eyes lifted to meet mine, still shy but showing more trust in me.

“And I promise you that I only want to know Mira is okay. Even if she never wants to see me again. I just need to know.”

Tears came to Rae’s eyes, and I wasn’t sure if I would have to comfort her now. She brought her hands to her face and a shiver ran through her whole body. She nodded, as if in agreement with a voice in her head.

“Okay,” she whispered to herself.

Rae wiped the water away before looking back at me.

“She didn’t want to leave you, that’s not why,” she said assertively. I saw the effort it took her, but she was determined now to speak. “I knew it hurt her to leave you, but she couldn’t tell you. She needed to do it alone.”

“Do what?”

I heard the desperation in my voice and I didn’t care.

“Mira was going to meet him, to work with him,” Rae said, her voice energized as the truth spilled out of her. “She figured if she could convince him she was on his side, she might be able to save him.”

I didn’t have to think long before I knew who she was talking about.

“Rae, is this true?” My hands were shaking where they rested on my thighs. “Did Mira really put herself in such danger? She went to him?”

“Yes,” Rae said, nodding quickly. “She went to find Dr. Malachi.”