Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
He’d told her that he wasn’t using Trey’s order as an excuse to put physical space between them. He’d thought he meant it. But Dominic realized now that he’d been talking out of his ass. He’d done to her what he did best—he’d pulled back. “I’m such a fucking prick,” he muttered under his breath.
Sharply turning a corner, Dominic saw Trey and Dante walking in his direction.
“What’s going on?” Trey demanded, obstructing his path. “You look like you want to rip someone’s throat out.”
He did. “Mila was attacked again.” Dominic quickly relayed Tate’s news to them. “I need to see her.”
“Dom—”
“Don’t tell me to stay away.” Dominic’s voice was quiet but laced with something very, very dark. “I need to see her, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” If that meant disobeying a direct order from his Alpha, so fucking be it.
Trey sighed. “If you’re seen with her, you could send more unwanted attention her way.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that already. I listened to you. I kept my distance. I trusted that her pride would take care of her. But she’s been hurt, and I don’t even know how badly.”
“The pride has two healers—”
“You’re not hearing me, and I don’t know why.” Dominic took a determined step forward. “I’m going to see her. You don’t have to like it, but it’s happening.”
Exchanging a look with Dante, Trey sighed again. “Then we’ll come with you.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Mila’s clearly something to you, so if you really feel you need to see that she’s okay with your own two eyes, then fine. But you’re not going out alone. We’re coming with you.”
His jaw clenched, Dominic gave a reluctant nod. “Then let’s go.”
The three of them headed down the steps of the cliff face and into the concealed parking lot. No one objected to him driving. Dante rode shotgun while Trey sat in the back.
“So,” began Dante as they passed through the iron gates, “are you ready to accept the truth yet?”
Dominic flicked him a sideways glance. “What truth?”
“That she’s not just a bed-buddy to you,” the Beta replied. “I know you, Dom, so I’m pretty sure you’ve been doing your best to rationalize why she draws you to her. At first, you no doubt blamed it on her rejecting you—and I’m sure that did play some part. But I think what really drew you was that, from day one, she saw you.”
Dante didn’t say “the way your parents never did,” but Dominic heard the words.
“Also,” the Beta went on, “she expects you to give her more than the facets you choose to show people.”
Something else Dominic’s parents hadn’t bothered to do.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, you’ve been a cranky fucker since Trey told you to keep your distance from her. You haven’t spouted a single cheesy line to any of the females. Haven’t even left pack territory much, which I’m guessing is because you didn’t trust that you wouldn’t go to her. Your wolf wanders off during the pack runs, still pissed as hell at Trey. But your wolf isn’t the only one who’s possessive of her, is he?”
Dominic’s grip on the steering wheel flexed. “No.”
Dante’s tone softened a little as he said, “Stop trying to find a reason why you want her so badly. Just accept that you do. Let yourself have her.”
“If you’re thinking it’s not that simple because she’s not your true mate and has made plans to enter into an arranged mating, you’re wrong,” said Trey. “It’s only as complicated as you allow it to be.”
Dante nodded. “I know you well enough to know you worry you’ll be a shit partner, Dominic. But honestly, I don’t think that’s going to be an issue here. It would be if she were your true mate because, to you, a bond like that can be a trap—you’d have automatically held back from her. But you don’t have that worry with Mila. You know she’s not your true mate. You know that no mating urge will suddenly strike you and take the decision from you. You know you have a way out if you need one—the same way out that your father desperately needed. Imprinting bonds can be broken without either party turning rogue. But they can also be as strong as true-mate bonds if the couple pour everything they are into it.”
“I think what Dante is trying to say is, ‘For the love of all that’s holy, do not walk away from this girl—give it what you’ve got.’” Trey raised a brow at the Beta. “Is that about right?”
Dante pursed his lips. “Yeah, that sums it up. Well, Dom, what are you going to do?”
Reaching a red light, Dominic eased up on the pedal. “The same thing I’d decided to do before I even hopped into this SUV: I’m going to tell her I’ve decided that she’s mine.”