“There isn’t any training scheduled for today,” I say with a frown. “At least, not this time of the day.”
“Exactly,” Donna agrees, pulling me toward the arena. Just as we round the steel fence that cordons off the arena, we notice a commotion near the entrance gate.
Donna gasps. “Is that…?” She glances at me with wide eyes, lightly slapping my wrist. “He didn’t tell me he was coming home…”
“Who?”
She tugs on my arm with a sudden burst of excitement. “It’s Dominic! He’s back!”
I instantly stiffen, just as Donna slips her arm away and rushes toward the crowd gathered at the gate.
“Dominic!” she cries out, flinging her arms around his neck just as he turns.
I’m still frozen, my heart pounding with disruptive, unsteady beats, the heat seeping from my cheeks that had just been kissed by the warm summer sun. Only my eyes move, flicking around to see that the members of the Lunaris Pack who joined black ops have returned and drawn a crowd to welcome them.
It’s only when my eyes meet a pair of raven-dark orbs that my breath catches in my throat. The intensity of that stare arrests my being, keeping me cemented in place as my heart threatens to beat right out of my chest.
Dominic Rivera is back, here to throw my world off its axis and disrupt the little peace I’d found by staying in my lane and doing my best to stay out of trouble.
What’s worse is the glint of recognition that flashes through his brown eyes, which appear darker now as he watches me like a predator who just caught sight of its prey.
What was I hoping for? A miracle? That somehow, Dominic would forget about my existence, just as I refused to acknowledge his, these past three years?
Shivering into myself, I seize the moment when Donna pulls away from Dominic’s arms and begins her excited chatter, probably voicing her surprise at his early return. That’s when I nimbly slip away, rushing to the pack center, not only to make it back before Agatha scolds me, but also to run away from this disaster.
Dominic Rivera’s return to Nightmist is my worst nightmare come true, and I wasn’t prepared for his surprise arrival. Donna might be ecstatic, but I’m not.
How could I be glad that my worst enemy is back home?
Chapter 2 - Dominic
“Dominic!”
I turn as soon as I hear Donna’s sweet, surprised voice behind me, and instantly feel the warmth of her arms as she throws them around my neck. Chuckling as she grips me tightly, I notice that she’s become stronger in three years, and my chest swells with pride.
“Oh, my Goddess! I can’t believe you’re back!” she squeals excitedly as she clings to me.
Just as I’m about to respond to my sister, my eyes lock with a pair of honey-hazel doe-eyes that appear shocked to see me. My inner wolf responds with instant recognition, and time seems to freeze over while everything around me fades. The people. The place. In that moment, it’s just her and me, as if my inner wolf is telepathically trying to communicate with hers.
My breath catches, and I feel my eyes darkening the longer I stare at her.
Cecelia Morales…
I knew that coming back to Nightmist meant that I’d see her again, but I wasn’t expecting to meet her eyes so quickly, and feel as if the rug had been pulled out from under me. Not only does she appear shocked, but there’s a strange glint of fury in her eyes for a split second before Donna pulls back.
My heart skips a beat as recollection hits me like a ton of bricks. I remember that coldness in her eyes—the last time I saw that was when we were on the training grounds.
It feels like a lifetime has passed, while also only feeling like just yesterday. For a heartbeat, I recall the gnawing guilt from that day, three years ago.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming home today!” Donna pouts, shoving a fist at my shoulder and drawing my attention away from Cecelia.
“Sorry, Dons,” I apologize, pursing my lips with a sheepish smile. “I wanted to surprise you and Mama.”
“I sure am surprised!” Donna chirps before turning. I follow her gaze to the spot where Cecelia had been standing, only to find that it’s empty now. She ran away the way she did in the past, and I don’t blame her.
“Oh. I left Cecelia over there. I’m sure she needed to go back to the center. Hey…” Donna turns to me, her eyes scanning the group that welcomed our arrival. “Do you guys wanna have lunch in the cafeteria?”
I chuckle nervously. The thought of encountering Cecelia in the cafeteria is unnerving, and it’s too soon. I need to gather my thoughts and decide how to approach her properly.
