“Just like we promised, brother.”
Dominic Rivera and Santo Ramirez for alpha and beta, respectively. That was the plan from the start, and there’s nothing that will change it now.
Not even Cecelia being my partner.
“I’m gonna head home,” I tell my friend as I pat his shoulder, excusing myself from the party. “I need to round up a few things.”
“Sure, Dom,” Santo nods. “I’m gonna do the same. We have a long day ahead of us. See you in the morning.”
As I shove my hands into my pockets, I decide to head home. Chances are that Cecelia is with my sister, and since Donna wasn’t at the party, I can only imagine that she’s prepared something at home as a private farewell for me.
At least that way, I can have a moment to speak to Cecelia and clear the air.
We just need to keep our heads in the game.
***
“What do you mean she’s not here?” I frown at my sister after entering the dining room for the private dinner Mama cooked as a send-off for me.
“Why would Cece be here?” Donna quips as she follows me to the front door. “Where are you going?”
“To find her, of course,” I shrug nonchalantly as I throw the door open. “I need to, er—speak to her before tomorrow. Make sure she doesn’t do anything to jeopardize my chances of winning.”
“Dominic!” Donna exclaims in a condescending tone.
When I turn around slowly, I see my sister with her hands on her hips as if she’s about to scold me, her eyes wildly disbelieving as she clicks her tongue.
“What makes you think Cecelia will ruin your chances of winning?” Donna asks, glaring at me. “Just ‘cause the pack hates her, it doesn’t mean she’s stupid, Dominic.”
“I never said she’s stupid!” I defend. “But I’m not going into this without knowing we’re…” I pause to gulp, not wanting to reveal too much to my sister. “We’re on the same page.”
Donna sighs, dropping her arms to her sides. “I already spoke to her, Dom. She’s agreed to help you win.”
My eyebrows lift in surprise. “Really?”
My sister nods. “Cecelia has been called many things, but she’s not an idiot, Dominic. She knows how important this is, and she told me she’ll do whatever needs to be done.”
I let out a relieved sigh, that relief spreading through my body. Naturally, Cecelia would want to help her best friend out, even if it means helping me.
But recognizing this only further cements what I’ve been needing to say. Cecelia can’t hold on to any hope that this partnership means something more. I already made it distinctly clear that I would never want to take her as a mate.
I’ll never take anyone as a mate, and Cecelia is no exception, even if she draws me in like a siren singing my inner wolf’s favorite song.
I’d sealed myself off from ever needing a she-wolf to rule alongside me, and spent three years building up the courage to fight off the unwarranted attraction I’ve had for her. I have to keep reminding myself that she’s just the hybrid omega of the pack, and she has no place in my life. I need to tell her that I meant what I said in the past, even if I came across as a total asshole when I did it.
I could have been gentler, I admit. But the damage was already done.
It doesn’t seem to matter now that she’s agreed to help me win the trials. It will just make me feel less guilty if I speak to her before the morning, so we can work together as a team.
The corners of my lips lift into a pleased smile. “Well, then I should go ahead and thank her.”
Donna rolls her eyes at me. “Mama prepared your favorite meal to send you off. Are you just gonna skip dinner?”
Chuckling, I step forward and press a kiss at the top of my baby sister’s head. “Tell Mama I’ll be back soon. She’ll be done with prayers by then, I’m sure.”
Donna nods, a slight frown knitting her brows as I step away. I can only hope that she doesn’t suspect that there’s history between her best friend and me. It would just complicate things.
As if they aren’t already complicated…
