Am I slipping into depression?
It sure feels like it when I sit upright and catch a whiff of the tangy odor of my armpits. Scrunching my nose, I immediately climb off the bed, deciding that this won’t do, and I have to put myself together again.
Grabbing some clothes out of my bag, I’m back to my old ways as I bundle up cotton pants and an oversized T-shirt under one arm, hiding a set of underwear between the folds. My valiant show of indifference the other day came with a price when I showed off my hidden skills and won Dominic the lead in the trials.
I shouldn’t be wearing dresses. Actually, I shouldn’t be caring what Dominic thinks about me, anyway.
“Cecelia…”
As soon as I open the bedroom door, I find Dominic gawking at me with his arm stretched out as if he were about to knock. The warm depths of his rich brown eyes feel sinful to linger on, so I drop my gaze.
“Dominic,” I say flatly with a brisk nod, keeping my eyes lowered.
“The elders have given us another day off,” Dominic chuckles, sounding slightly nervous. “They still haven’t given us a clue about the next test, so I think they want the anticipation to build.”
I peek up through my lashes and notice Dominic rubbing a hand across his nape, a sheepish grin on his face.
“I’m going to shower,” I say as I press my clothes closer to my chest. When Dominic hesitates and doesn’t say anything, I skip past him, but he clears his throat to stop me.
“Er—everyone decided to spend the day at the lake, and they're throwing a barbecue this evening. Would you like to go?”
I turn around slowly as my brows knit into a frown. A day at the lake, socializing with the others?
That’s not in the least bit tempting to an omega who has always been the outcast in social settings. A cold shiver courses down my spine, prompting me to shake my head.
“I think I’ll spend the day in the cabin,” I refuse with a polite half-smile, but Dominic sighs and lifts his head as if he’s not taking no for an answer.
“I know how you feel about the others—”
“And you know how they feel about me,” I add with a sarcastic chuckle.
Dominic shakes his head. “You have an opportunity to show them that you don’t care. If I become Alpha, and I help you clear your father’s name when we return to Nightmist, you’ll already be one-up on them.”
“I’d rather avoid them altogether, thank you,” I rebuff with a grunt, but Dominic grabs my wrist just as I’m about to turn away again.
A gasp escapes my lips when I feel a surge of current flow through me from the source of his fingers wrapped around my wrist. The awareness makes me shudder, and has me snatching my hand away in response.
Dominic seems to notice it too, and pulls his hand back, wringing it with the other as if his fingers were just burned.
“I won’t allow anyone to hurt you, Cecelia. I promise,” he swears as he pinches the skin covering his prominent Adam’s apple. “You need some time to let loose before the next test, and since we don’t know what it entails, you should make the most of the day off.”
My bottom lip trembles with reluctance as I shake my head slowly, even as I meet his sincere eyes. I open my mouth to protest, but Dominic steps forward, towering over me with his imposingly large build and the wafts of minty notes that swim in the air around him.
“Please, Cecelia. I can’t leave you in the cabin by yourself. We’re a team, and we should show a united front.”
Pausing, it’s nearly impossible to decline the offer when his sharp features appear softer now, as if he’s pleading with me.Against my better judgment, I nod reluctantly as my heart takes over and calls the shots.
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen when the worst is already done? I’ve already been hurt by this man, and now he’s promising to protect me. There’s no point in keeping my guard up all the time when I’ve already suffered the worst heartbreak I could ever face.
I don’t have anything to lose.
“Okay…I'll go with you,” I concede reluctantly.
“Perfect!” Dominic appears happy that I’ve agreed to go, smirking and clapping his hands together as he starts walking backwards down the hallway toward the kitchen. “I’ll be waiting in the kitchen. And don’t forget to wear your bathing suit!”
As Dominic turns, a definite spring in his step as he walks away, I frown and wonder why he suddenly seems different. Shrugging as I head to the bathroom, I decide not to read too deeply into his change of demeanor toward me, and instead focus on the bigger picture.
This is all for the sake of the deal we made, after all.
