Chapter 56

Mira

Dominic’s face was a color I had never seen before.

As his eyes focused on Lucian standing next to me, I could’ve sworn his cheeks were almost green. It was so surprising to see that I had a visceral reaction.

I laughed.

His eyes darted to mine, and I was quickly quieted by his expression. His face returned to its more normal color. He was doing his best to control his emotions, but I saw the fast rate of his heart pulsing in his neck.

“It’s late,” he said to me.

“Is that really how you greet people, step-brother? Not even a hello?” Lucian was being cheeky on purpose, trying to lighten the mood.

“I am not your step-brother,” Dominic stepped at him. “Not anymore.”

Lucian whistled through his teeth, trying to seem nonchalant, but something in the tension of his eyebrows told me he took the comment as a barb.

“Noted, got it,” Lucian said, shuffling his feet. “Would you prefer to treat me as a prisoner of war, or something?”

“I see no shackles on your wrists,” Dominic answered, “you clearly still have free reign of the compound. That is the choice of the Alpha and elders, and while I respect their word I do not have to respect or trust you.”

“Dominic,” I said, stepping into him. “you don’t have to start an argument, not now.”

“I’m not starting anything,” he said harshly.

“It’s fine, Mira,” Lucian said, lightly touching my arm. “I know it’s hard to believe I wasn’t involved with my mother’s horrible scheming. He’s entitled to his opinions, and I can’t blame him for his entitlement.”

That last statement had an edge to it, but luckily Dominic didn’t take the bait. He had returned to his formal, stony persona, and his glare was focused on Lucian.

“Well, I am sure once they finish the full investigation and find nothing,” I added, “your name will be cleared for good.”

“Maybe,” Lucian said, returning Dominic’s gaze. “Just wanted to see the future Luna home safe, and I’ll be on my way. Good night, Mira.”

“Goodnight,” I said.

“Let me know when you need my help,” he added as he turned and walked away.

Dominic watched him until he disappeared down the hallway, then he slammed the door and turned to face me. He didn’t say anything, and looked like he was waiting for me to confess to some grievous crime.

“What?” I asked him.

“I thought you were at the library,” he said coldly.

“I was, most of the day, that wasn’t a lie.”

“With Lucian?”

“Well, yeah I guess,” I shrugged. “He found me there and we were talking and all of a sudden it was much later than we thought.”

“What did you talk about?” he asked.

“Many things, I don’t know,” I wanted to be vague without sounding secretive. “Medicine, history— we have some similar interests. He is helping me with…a project.”

“Helping you?”

“Yes, in a way,” I said, shifting my weight as a way to get out of this conversation. “It’s not a big deal, really. It’s not like we are plotting against you or anything.”

Dominic’s breath was sharp and strong through his nostrils.

“Oh my gosh,” I raised my eyebrows at him, “I am joking, Dominic!”

“I don’t appreciate it,” he said. “We still need to be wary of him. We don’t know all the details of Irene’s plans or if there are other mechanisms in the works. Lucian could be pulling strings behind our backs.”

“You sound paranoid,” I said, choosing to move away and unpack my day. “Honesty, Dominic, I think he is just lonely. He doesn’t seem to have many friends here since he’s been gone for so long, and then he found out that his family members were traitors.”

“And maybe that treachery is hereditary,” Dominic said as he followed me. “I have known him longer than you, Mira, you don’t need to lecture me on who that man is.”

“I am not trying to lecture you!” I said back to him.

Now I was getting annoyed too, and I didn’t feel like I needed to hide.

“Are we really doing this right now?” I asked him, hands on my hips. “I’m hungry, I have been staring at old books all afternoon, and I’m tired. Can you at least let me take my shoes off before you pick a fight with me?”

“I am not picking a fight!” Dominic yelled defensively.

Then I realized he was yelling and looked embarrassed. He exhaled sharply in frustration.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his head drooping. “No one seems to get under my skin the same way Lucian does. Always has."

He went from angry wolf to petulant child so quickly, and I couldn’t help but smile at the ridiculousness of grown men.

I walked up to him, placing a hand on chest. His heart beat faster in my palm, and his heat transferred and travelled up my arm.

“Apology accepted,” I said, looking up at him. “As an only child, and an orphan, I suppose I will never understand the sibling rivalry.”

He harrumphed in reply.

“I promise I will be careful with Lucian, but I really think he’s honest in wanting to help me.”

“I could help you,” he offered.

“Not with this, at least not yet,” I said, watching his face fall a bit as I did. “It’s good for us to do things separately— a Luna needs to be strong on her own.”

He nodded slowly, assessing the idea.

“I do believe that Lucian is trying to be my friend. Our friend.”

“We’ll see about that,” he said.

We left the subject there for the moment, shared a late dinner together, and prepared for bed. Our conversation was light and amicable, but there was still an underlying tension between us. I accepted it as part of the deal, of being in a partnership with someone.

Ward and I never fought, but we also never really had deep conversations or discussed our boundaries or desires. Looking back, our relationship was friendly but superficial. The feelings I had for him seemed so shallow to me, now that I was entering deeper into a partnership with Dominic.

As we lay down to go to sleep, adjusting to get comfortable on our respective sides of the bed, I realized that we were not as far apart as we used to be. Over time, we must’ve been slowly inching closer to one another, still not touching, but no longer afraid to be sharing the space.

I felt his eyes on me, and met them as I looked into his face.

All the tension and irritation that had been there when I arrived home was gone. It was like someone had come along and erased the crease in his forehead and softened the lines around his mouth.

I shifted on my side, smiling softly at the thought of an artist manipulating his face like clay. My hair was loose, growing long these days, and some of it fell down in front of my face.

Dominic reached his hand over and gently lifted a piece of hair and tucked it back behind my ear. He barely touched me, but I felt goosebumps run up my spine.

I blinked softly, and when I looked back and his eyes were locked on me. They were dark and deep, and swirling in them was a look I had never seen from him before.

He looked like a man in love.