Chapter 21

Dominic

Mira.

She tasted like a sunset, like the brilliant red sky jus before it turns to purple. What started as a performance quickly melted into something more.

I felt her lips respond to mine parting just enough for us to share one breath. My fingers tightened around her waist, and I almost lifted her off the ground.

It must have only last five seconds, but I had lived a lifetime in that kiss.

When we finally broke apart, Mira’s eyes were wide and they looked golden in the afternoon light. She stared straight into me, not questioning, but answering whatever uncertainty was in my mind.

She felt it too.

We were pulled back to reality as the noise of the crowd came back to us.

Mira looked around her nervously, and I stole an extra moment to look at her as she turned about. There were small pink circles blooming high on her cheekbones, and her pulse was strong in her neck.

I forced myself to look away and reminded myself that even an Alpha can’t spend all day canoodling with his fiancée.

My face was calm, in control, as I looked back to where my father stood. He still looked at me with a stern expression, but his eyes glowed in such a way to show he was pleased and impressed by what he saw.

He looked to Mira and then back to me, and I felt his Alpha aura flow into me with approval. In spite of what the council was saying, he would do his best to stand with me.

Irene, his wife, was livid. I guess she wasn’t glad to see me happily Mated after all.

My stepmother touched my father’s arm, suddenly pulling him out of the moment we shared. He nodded as she said something close to his ear, and then carefully stopped her pawing at him as he took a step forward.

Just as he did, the elder council members moved in on him, clamoring over one another to be heard.

“Dominic.”

Mira’s voice was clear but concerned. I realized I still had my arm around her, and moved so that she was beside me. I kept hold of her hand.

“I have you,” I told her.

My father emerged from the swarm of elders, his face showing his frustration.

“Dominic,” he said slowly, “this is a serious accusation against the doctor.”

“And I think she deserves to to defend herself, and prove her innocence,” I responded quickly. “Any other member of the Pack would expect the same: a fair trial.”

“Yes, of course,” Irene said. “Though technically she is not a member of our Pack.”

I glared at her.

“Irene, please,” the Alpha said. “We will give you two days. After that we will hold our officially vote and decide whether or not Mira is fit to be Luna, or whether her crimes are too great to forgive.”

“My crimes?” Mira was incensed.

I squeezed her hand tighter to stop her from continuing.

“I’m sorry, Mira,” the Alpha said. “But this is how it must be.”

With that, the elders dispersed, some looking concerned and some unable to hide the smug looks on their faces.

“We will figure this out,” I told Mira. “There must be a way to prove you didn’t do this.”

“I’m not sure how that’s possible,” Mira said, her brow furrowed. “But if I can’t find the cause for his illness, I may at least be able to cure it.”

“I don’t think it wise for you to go back to the hospital,” I told her seriously. “It would be best to avoid any potential drama that could add votes against you.”

“Luckily,” she said, attempting to smile, “I do my best healing in the woods.”

The next two days passed by too quickly, and Mira seemed constantly busy. She spent many hours in the woods nearby, collecting herbs and laying low. I watched her create her own make-shift lab station in order to create tinctures and salves.

I did my best not to stare at her as she worked, though I was fascinated by her knowledge and determination.

As best I could, I kept contact with my allies, hoping to keep them on our side and garner us more votes.

It was the night before the vote, and Mira and I had our dinner in our room, hoping to avoid my family and prying eyes. Only my Beta guards were granted permission to visit us and bring supplies.

“What’s the word out there, Wyatt?” I asked as he cleared our plates.

“Well, sir,” he was avoiding my eyes, “it’s not looking great.”

“Go on,” I urged him.

“Your men are with you, of course,” he said with more confidence, “and their mates as well. But there are still many who are uncertain, who still aren’t sure they can trust Mira. And there are many who are promoting that negativity and doubt: Lila is not quiet about how badly her brother is doing.”

“I barely saw him after his surgery!” Mira jumped in. “It would’ve been nearly impossible for me to have done anything to harm him, especially in view of so many nurses.”

“We believe you, Mira,” I calmed her. “We just have to hope that others will believe in you too.”

Wyatt touched her arm with the camaraderie of a soldier.

“Anything I can do to help, I will, Doctor,” he said.

“Thank you, Wyatt.” She softened at his words.

As soon as the door closed behind my Beta, Mira spun around to me.

“Dominic,” Mira began, “this feels hopeless. I could cure cancer in front of the elders and still so many wouldn’t trust me. I’ll never be accepted as one of them.”

“That is not true,” I tried.

“It is true!” She was desperate. “Please, whatever happens to me, promise me you’ll save yourself. If the votes are against me, you have to accept it and let me go.”

“I will not,” I said calmly. “I have promised you, many times, not to abandon you under any circumstances, and these ridiculous accusations will not change my mind. If my Pack cannot see the truth, then I have underestimated them all.”

“This is more than some silly rumor, though. This could ruin you!”

“Then let it ruin me!” I said. “I will not yield to anyone, council member or not. An Alpha stands by his word, and will not be bullied our of his beliefs because it is the easier thing to do. My wolf is too strong for that.”

She gave me half a smile.

“I guess there is some good use for your god-complex.”

“I’m going to choose to take that as a compliment. Now, we should get some rest.”

I turned away from her snarky comment, but felt myself smiling as well.

For the first time in a long time, I dreamed.

My wolf was running, fast and free. And beside me, another.

She was smaller, but lithe and playful, with a honey-colored coat that glittered gold when the moonlight caught it just right.

We were connected. More than a family member, it was like we were pieces of one whole.

My wolf felt complete for the first time in a long time.

I woke in the early hours of dawn.

My arm was draped across Mira’s back. She was breathing deeply and with ease, her face calm and content.

I stole an extra moment feeling her warmth, the softness of her body. I realized I wanted to stay like that for longer, but was worried I was crossing a boundary, breaking the terms of our contract agreement.

I carefully pulled my arm away, and rolled myself over to the other side of the bed, hoping not to disturb her slumber.

It seemed like not much time had passed when I woke again, feeling slightly sick as I recalled that it was the day of the vote.

In a few hours time, I would either have a Luna or I would have a very big problem.

I stretched and looked beside me, to an empty bed.

Mira was gone.