“Hey…what's wrong?” he inquires gently, and it takes nearly all of the courage and strength I possess not to burst into tears.
“N-nothing,” I lie, averting my eyes and hoping he won't probe. But somehow, Dominic has become so attuned to me that it's impossible for him not to see through the lie.
He cradles my face, forcing me to look into his eyes, which have softened now.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Cecelia,” he says so gently that I have to swallow the lump in my throat with a gulp to speak.
“I told you, it's n-nothing,” I lie again, but my trembling bottom lip betrays me.
Dominic instantly folds his arms around me, hugging me tightly against his chest as he presses a comforting kiss to the top of my head.
“I know we have a lot to discuss…in terms of us…”
That last word has me frowning as a flicker of hope ignites in my chest, but I close my eyes to hear the rest of what he has to say.
“And I promise that I'm gonna make things right.”
I look up with a frown remaining on my face.
“M-make things right?” I ask in confusion, to which Dominic nods attentively as he cradles my face.
“Yes, Cece. I'm gonna make things right when it comes to clearing your father's name, and with you.”
“H-how?” I ask, that spark of hope dying out as quickly as it ignited.
Is that all it is, then? I don't even have the heart to ask him that much, too afraid of the disappointment I might face when he confirms that all he meant was that he would keep to his end of the deal. But what he says next gives me some hope again.
“You let me worry about that. I'm the alpha now, and there are a few things I'm gonna change in the pack.”
As I let him pull me to his chest again, I feel a little less uneasy.
“So, this is not goodbye, then?” I ask tentatively, to which he presses a kiss on the top of my head.
“Of course, not. This is just the start of the rest of our lives. I just need some time to clear up a few things as soon as I get back to the Bar. We have a lot to discuss, Cecelia. But I want you to know that I'm in this for the long haul. I just need to figure out a way to make it possible.”
I nod then, deciding that I'm probably just a bit wary because of what happened in the past, but I have no reason to be when Dominic has been nothing but good to me during our time out here. I may not know what he has planned, but I can give him some time to find his feet as the alpha and decide what he wants and how to make it happen.
For now, I can just enjoy our last night here and relish in the feel of his lips against mine when he kisses me.
Who knows what tomorrow may bring? All I know, and feel strongly in my heart, is that Dominic will be in mytomorrow, no matter what happens. He says he’s in it for the long haul, and so am I. What more could I possibly want?
Chapter 20 - Dominic
“Alpha Dominic Rivera!” Sirius greets me with arms open wide as he rounds his desk in his mansion in Nightmist. “Welcome home!”
Grinning, I step forward and let the older man pat my back before taking the chair he offers. After returning to Nightmist from Mount Desert, he'd called me over for a private meeting before the official swearing-in ceremony takes place this weekend.
“Thank you, Alpha—”
“Uh-uh,” he cuts in with a raised brow as he takes a seat. “Ex-Alpha. But I'd prefer it if you just call me Sirius.” He intertwines his fingers and cracks his knuckles forward. “After three decades as this pack's leader, I look forward to taking a break. My wife has already arranged a getaway to the Bahamas,” Sirius chuckles.
“You're taking this better than I expected, Sirius,” I tell the ex-alpha, who will now have a seat on the council as an elder. “I thought you'd be disappointed that Simon isn't taking your place.”
Sirius meets my eyes with a grim expression, then sighs. “If anything, I'm glad it isn't him. That spoiled brat needed to be taught a lesson. That was the purpose of the trials, essentially.”
Shocked, I stare at Sirius with a frown. “I was not expecting that.”
“Oh, come now, Dominic,” Sirius clicks his tongue. “We both know my son wasn't nearly as deserving of the alpha role as you were. The council has been watching everything unfold for years. Unfortunately, my son was an only child, and it didhim no good. We would have done away with the trials if I didn't want to teach him a lesson.”
