Chapter 25

Dominic

I had been afraid to see someone faint, until I watched Mira slump to the ground.

Luckily, we were in a hospital.

The nurses quickly assessed her exhaustion and a slight fever, but assured me she would be fine with rest.

I took her home and carried her to bed. I convinced her that I could manage looking after her, in spite of my “not knowing a damn about medicine.” I knew she would be okay because she could still insult me even in her delirious state.

She insisted on watching me right down instructions and medicines I would need to get before she passed out.

That first night was hard.

She tossed and turned, gripping the sheets in fear then kicking them off of her in disgust. I stayed up all night, watching her struggle.

I am not a religious person, but I found myself praying to whatever powers could hear me to bring her relief and recovery.

I must have fallen asleep for a while, but I awoke at sunrise to see her bathed in the golden light of morning.

Her hair was matted with sweat, her nose was red, and there seemed to be some drool crusted to the side of her mouth.

But she looked beautiful. So innocent, pure, and truly at ease after many hours or restlessness.

Protect her, at all costs.

It was my duty as her Alpha, and as he contracted Mate. But I felt that vow deep in my soul this time: I would let nothing harm her. Ever.

As morning broke, she was able to drink some water before falling back asleep. Seeing as she seemed much better, I took the opportunity to go back to the hospital for medicine.

I left Lucas and Wyatt outside the door, with instructions to look in every twenty minutes just to be sure she didn’t need anything.

At the hospital, I was met with a very warm welcome from the staff.

“So good to see you,” Cinda said with a jovial pat on the arm. “Mira is lucky to have a Mate willing to care for her. Especially an Alpha!”

“I’m only doing as I should,” I tried to deflect her implications.

“My husband didn’t notice I was in labor with our first child until I was screaming on the bathroom floor!” the head nurse added. “You’re more attentive than most men would ever think to be.”

“Well, thank you,” I wanted to get out of there. “Do you have her medicine? I’d like to get back—“

“Oh yes, of course, it’s all right here,” she said. “I don’t want to keep you from your future bride. And speaking of childbirth— I hope it won’t be too long until we have some Little Miras running around. The hospital could sure use the extra hands!”

Cinda winked at me with another squeeze of my arm. I heard pleasant giggling from the other nurses in the vicinity.

An Alpha always keeps his head under stress. I nodded my appreciation, and tried to keep an even pace as I escaped out of their clutches.

On the drive home, I was distracted by their suggestive words.

Little Miras.

Or course they would be excepting us to have children. It was our duty as Alpha and Luna to provide the example and increase the Pack.

But— would Mira really want that? She still seemed apprehensive about intimacy, though she didn’t flinch as much when I made physical contact.

We’d never spoken about children, perhaps my mistake as I was the one who proposed the contract.

An image came to my mind, of Mira and myself. And a child. A child with my height and dark her, but her bright golden eyes and rosy cheeks. A beautiful child.

Quickly Mira’s face morphed into that of someone else.

Celeste.

The guilt crept in so fast, that I had to roll a window down to keep from suffocating.

I knew she was gone, she’d been gone for so long, but somehow it still felt like a betrayal to be moving on.

When I arrived back home, the door to the bedroom was open.

I rushed inside to see Wyatt next to Mira, looking uncertain.

“I was about to call you,” he said. “She was crying out so I came in to check. It seems the fever is back.”

“I’ll take it from here,” I told him.

“Dominic!”

Wyatt and I froze. Mira was still asleep, but that didn’t seem to stop her from calling his name.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Wyatt said, slinking out the door with a smile on his face.

I went to the bedside, and felt that she was burning up. I prepared a cold towel with some peppermint oil, like she told me, and pressed it to her forehead.

After a moment she was soothed, and her body relaxed.

“Dominic,” she said again, her voice low and husky.

This time there was no fear. There was comfort, appreciation, and something that seemed even stronger: attraction.

Her once pained face softened into a sultry smile, and I wondered what she was dreaming about.

I kept one hand on her brow, and with my other traced a small line down her cheek. She mewed like a kitten, her body squirming slightly under her tangled sheets.

Her fever must have been contagious, because I felt heat through my whole body.

Touching my own forehead, it seemed normal. A hand to my chest told me where the warmth was being generated, and I dared not think about any body parts below my heart.

Was I wrong about her, about her feelings? Did she feel something more for me?

And, did I feel the same?

Don’t hold it in. Release it.

Against my better judgment, I ignored my wolf’s advice.

I could not jeopardize the future of our union, our contract, by allowing my feelings to get in the way.

Surely, I would disappoint her. I would break her heart.

I could not requite her with passion and love, not when my own heart still felt broken.

The only logical decision was to keep my distance from her, to keep our relationship civil but formal. It was the best I could do for her.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering slightly open.

I took the opportunity to be a good nurse, and put a spoonful of medicine to her lips.

“Take this,” I said softly.

Her eyes met mine, and I forced myself to look down at the task at hand.

She swallowed, smiled, and I felt her hand press weakly against my arm.

And then, once again, she was asleep.

Mira

I wasn’t sure what time it was when I first woke up the next day. I looked briefly around the room, and for some reason decided it was mid-morning.

My eyes stopped on the chair next to my bed.

Dominic was there, asleep, snoring softly. He held a towel in his hand, and I remembered strong hand on my brow bringing me cold relief.

I took a sip of water, and decided I was safe to go back to sleep.

In my dream, I met the black wolf again.

This time, he carried me on his back. He was keeping me safe.

Hours later I woke in darkness, feeling groggy but much better. At first I felt guilty for sleeping so much, but then remembered Dominic looking after me. I allowed myself to bask in the comfort of receiving care, something I rarely got to do.

I managed to find my way out of bed without banging into the bedside table. I turned on a light to discover I was alone in the room.

Of course, he had other things to do. It was surprising he had been with me for so many hours before.

I ignored the disappointment at not seeing him, and went to wash and find clean clothes after my feverish night.

On top of my dresser I found a handwritten note from Dominic.

“Let Wyatt know when you are up, and dinner will be prepared.”

It had been a long time since we had a stress-free meal, and I thought back to our first official date at the restaurant. It would be so nice to share a simple evening together, after all we’d been through lately.

Instead of throwing on the sweatpants in my hand, I chose a comfortable skirt and clean sweater. Before leaving the room, I added the necklace he had given me.

When I arrived in the dining room, feeling refreshed and excited to thank Dominic for looking after me, all I saw was the cook and a few servants readying the table.

The table was set for one.

Dominic wasn’t joining me.