Chapter 26

Mira

Dominic didn’t come home last night.

I woke up alone, and realized it was the first time Dominic didn’t sleep beside me. Of course he slept on the other side of the bed, respectfully keeping his distance.

It was the first time I called this place home.

And Dominic had made space for all of that, slowly, letting me settle in my own way.

I stretched out across the bed, exploring some of the space that Dominic usually occupied. The mattress was cold underneath. Like most wolves, especially male, he ran hot.

But Dominic was different though, he was warmer.

And that was like nothing I had felt before. I knew it had to do with the strength of his wolf. His wolf, so powerful and in control, but triggered to destruction and chaos.

Dominic was not like that, not in his true self. We all have anger, but Dominic turned his societal angst into doing good for others, being a good leader.

But when his mood turned and he went into…whatever kind of rage-induced-fugue-state-tirade it was.

I had to learn more about his condition. Maybe if I could figure out the cause, or what catalyst is turning him into this crazed version of himself, maybe I can help him cure it. Or at least, avoid it.

I made some mental notes about what medical histories I might find that could potentially show me other cases like Dominic, assuming there were any. Though maybe he is one in a million— I’m sure his ego would love to hear that.

With no messages from Dominic about plans for the day, I decided to first call the hospital. I tried to convince everyone that I was ready to come back in and a very jolly Cinda told me, “you’re request to return to work is denied, you must take another sick day.”

I hung up the phone with a smile on my face, thinking about the new relationships I was forming at the hospital. That place was feeling like home, too.

I found Lucas in the hallway outside my room.

“Good morning, soldier,” I said, as if it was his nickname.

Lucas was military stalk, for generations. In his blood and bones, a fearsome warrior and extraordinary tactician. And as Beta to Dominic, he took his job very seriously.

“Good morning, Doctor,” he responded, using the name he always called me. “How did you sleep?”

“Okay, better than the night before,” I said, then caught myself, “because I wasn’t as sick any more, not because—“

I looked up at Lucas, feeling the blush on my cheeks. Of course, he knew that Dominic didn’t sleep in our bed last night, that is why he is here, outside my room.

I was thankful for trusty Lucas and his unflinching face.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better, Doctor,” he said. “We were a bit worried there at the beginning. I haven’t seen the Alpha nervous like that in a long time.”

“Oh,” I said, not knowing what to add. “Have you seen the Alpha, recently?”

“In his office,” Lucas said.

I didn’t know I’d been holding my breath until hearing that, relief washing over me. Did I expect to be somewhere else? Or with someone else?

“Thank you, Lucas,” I said, standing up straighter to the military man. “For everything.”

When I reached his office and knocked on the door, a few silent seconds passed before the door swung inwards and Dominic stood in the doorway.

He looked a bit restless, cranky even, and was clearly wearing the clothes he wore yesterday and most likely slept in.

He looked surprised to see me.

“Mira,” he said, inhaling. “Hello. How are you?”

His words were stilted, as he if wasn’t sure how to greet me. It was deliciously awkward.

“I’m all right,” I said with a bit of a chill in my voice, “I had a nice night to myself.”

His face twitched a bit, but he didn’t immediately respond. He looked guilty.

“Yes, well, you look well-rested,” he said, with civility. “Are you feeling recovered from before?”

A small lift in his eyebrows revealed his genuine concern, without being over-sentimental.

“I am, I feel much better,” I admitted.

“Good, good, I’m glad” he added quickly.

We stared at each other for a moment.

All this had been said, and I still standing in the hallway, and he hadn’t invited me into the office. We both noticed this at the same time and with a fumbled breath of welcome he walked back into the room and I followed.

“Anyway, I’m glad you came by, I was going to find you—“

“Find me? Did you not know where I was?”

I could’t help myself. He froze for a moment then looked at me, his eyes telling me he was not going to take the bait and argue with me.

“No,” he said, chastising. “But I have a proposition for you, for today. I just got off the phone with my grandmother.”

“Oh, that’s nice,” I said, not sure where this was going.

“Sure, I suppose,” he said with little importance.

I suddenly how so many questions about his family tree.

“But mainly, she wants to meet you. Today.”

It took just over two hours to drive there, out to a secluded homestead by a small lake.

It would have been a pleasant ride, if we hadn’t been joined by another couple on their way to see Grandmother.

Tessa and Ward.

Apparently Dominic’s step-mother thought it would be a great idea for “all the kids” to go, even though Tessa isn’t a blood-relative. Tessa spent most of the car ride telling everyone how some bonds are stronger than blood, and that’s how it was between her and the matriarch.

I wasn’t sure what I was expected the former Luna to look like, but she was still surprised by the tall stoic woman who welcomed them inside.

Her name is Elena, and she is beautiful.

Her hair was still mostly dark with streaks of white, and I could tell that it was all natural. Her long thing fingers were covered in silver rings, and she had a trace amount of black kohl around her eyes.

It made them appear bigger, and all-seeing.

“I am so glad to meet you, Mira,” her voice was a low hum through honey. “And glad to see my grandson has finally settled himself down and looked towards the future of this Pack.”

She put a had on Dominic’s shoulder and smiled. Her tone was light, but I could see her words were serious. She was concerned about Dominic as an Alpha.

“It was about time you moved on—” she said

“Yes I had to grow up,” Dominic jumped in. “And thankfully I have found the woman with whom I will grow up and grow old, if the gods are kind.”

His arm around me felt a bit forced, as if he was doubling down on our performance for his grandmother.

“And a charming woman, indeed,” Elena’s smile was kind, but did’t quite meet her eyes. “Tell me, dear, about yourself.”

“Well, I work as a doctor, so that takes up most of the my time, my life,” I said lightly.

“And is that it, then?” she asked

“She’s a brilliant healer,” Dominic added.

“Most of the time,” Tessa under her breath.

“What’s that?” the older woman asked.

“Nothing, grandmother,” Tessa said sweetly. “I know Mira has just had some…growing pains, since starting at our hospital.”

“You could say that,” I shot back at her.

“Well, soon you won’t have to worry about any of that stress,” Elena said, patting my hand.

“I’m not sure,” I said honestly, “I don’t see the hospital getting any less busy any time soon.”

“I mean, when you give you your medical career, of course.”

“My, what?” I was shocked.

“When you become Luna. That will be your job.”

“I don’t really think—“

“You don’t really have a choice, dear,” Dominic’s grandmother cut in. “It is the tradition, it is the expectation. It is all for the good of the Pack and your ability to focus on building a family.”

It felt like I had gone back in time, and lost all autonomy over my body and my life beyond being someone’s wife and mother.

I looked to Dominic, and for the first time he looked unsure as to what to say or do in this moment.

“Mira, we both have to sacrifice a lot to be Alpha and Luna,” he didn’t seemed convinced of himself. “It’s not just a title, it’s a duty, and requires a certain lifestyle. We’ve talked about this.”

He took my hand, but looked at his grandmother. I couldn’t believe I was hearing this, after all we’d been through.

“Right, we talked about this,” I said without emotion. “If you’ll just excuse me for a moment.”

I slid my hand away from him and walked to the kitchen. After a moment Dominic followed me.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“Am I alright?” I erupted. “No, I am not alright! Do you really expect me to become your housewife? After all we’ve been through so far?”

“Mira, please calm down, listen—“ he tried to put his arms on my shoulders but I shrugged him off. This was about more than this visit with his grandmother, and I was starting to get angry.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I spat at him.

And then we heard a crash, someone falling in the other room.