Chapter 58: Does Dominic Actually Like Me?
Chapter 58: Does Dominic Actually Like Me?
(Aria’s POV)
I hesitated, my finger hovering over the screen. Dominic glanced at me from the driver’s seat, his silver–gray eyes narrowing
slightly.
“Are you going to answer that?” he asked, his tone carefully neutral.
I took a deep breath and pressed accept. “Hello?”
“Where the hell are you?” Alexander’s angry voice boomed through the speaker. “I went to your apartment, and they said you haven’t been there since yesterday!”
I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear slightly. “Why does it matter where I am, Alexander?”
“Because Lucas just told me you went to Shadow Pack territory with Dominic Blackwood! Is that true? Did you visit his family
right after we filed for our mate bond severance?”
The accusation in his voice made my wolf bristle beneath my skin. Who was he to question my movements when he’d been flaunting Claire around for months?
“I don’t owe you explanations anymore,” I said coldly. “What do you want?”
There was a brief silence on the other end.
“I have some of your belongings at the pack house,” Alexander finally said, his voice slightly calmer. “You can come and get them whenever you want.”
“I don’t need anything from there.”
“What? But your clothes, your shoes-”
“Throw them away,” I interrupted. “Donate them. I don’t care.”
“Aria, be reasonable,” Alexander sounded genuinely surprised by my response. “There are things your mother gave you-”
The mention of my mother sent a sharp pain through my chest. “Which things, Alexander? The ones you let Claire go through when she moved into our home before I’d even moved out?”
“That’s not what-”
“I don’t need anything from you,” I repeated firmly. “Is that all?”
A heavy sigh came through the phone. “Fine. Have it your way.”
“Goodbye, Alexander.” I ended the call before he could respond.
Staring at the phone in my hand, I frowned. Alexander’s behavior seemed strange, even for him: Had he discovered the truth about Claire’s pregnancy? Or was this just another ploy to maintain control over me?
“Aria.
Dominic’s deep voice pulled me from my thoughts. I hadn’t noticed that we’d pulled over to the side of the road.
“You should stop answering his calls,” Dominic said, his silver–gray eyes intense as they fixed on me. “Better yet, block his number completely.”
I shook my head. “I can’t do that. Not until the mate bond is officially severed.”
“Why not?”
“Because legally, we’re still tied together for the next month,” I explained. “If there’s an emergency with the severance paperwork or if the Registry Office needs to contact both of us-”
“I could handle that,” he interrupted. His powerful Alpha scent suddenly intensified, filling the car with something akin to possessiveness.
I met his gaze directly. “Dominic, I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but I need to handle this my way.”
< Chapter 58 Does Dominic Actually.
He stared at me for a long moment, his silver–gray eyes searching mine. The intensity in them made me feel suddenly
breathless.
“I get jealous,” he said abruptly.
My heart stuttered in my chest. “What?”
“When you talk to him.” His voice was quiet but firm. “I get jealous.”
+8 Ponts >
I stared at him, stunned into silence by his unexpected confession. My wolf stirred curiously within me, as if trying to understand
this powerful Alpha’s intentions.
Then, as quickly as the moment had come, Dominic’s expression shifted back to casual amusement.
“That was good, wasn’t it?” he said with a small smile. “For our act. I should say things like that more often when others are
around.”
He started the car again, pulling back onto the road while I sat there, trying to process what had just happened.
“Right,” I managed to say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears. “For our act.”
Dominic glanced at me, a knowing smile playing at his lips before he turned his attention back to the road.
The rest of our journey back to the city passed in relative silence. My mind was racing, replaying Dominic’s words and trying to determine if there had been truth behind them or if it was merely part of our charade.
By the time we reached the city limits, exhaustion had completely overtaken me. The events of the past two days, combined with my pregnancy, left me struggling to keep my eyes open.
“Hungry?” Dominic asked as we drove through the downtown area.
I nodded drowsily. “A little.”
“There’s a good place near here that serves the best moon–seared steaks in the city.”
His voice was becoming distant as my eyelids grew heavier. The gentle hum of the car’s engine and the warmth of the heater
created a cocoon that made it impossible to fight sleep any longer.
“Aria?” His voice was the last thing I heard as darkness claimed me.
I woke to the sensation of something gentle brushing against my cheek. Still caught between sleep and wakefulness, I kept my eyes closed, savoring the tender touch.
A familiar scent enveloped me–powerful Alpha pheromones mixed with something distinctly Dominic. The realization that it
was his fingers caressing my face sent a shiver down my spine.
Through my barely parted eyelids, I could see him leaning toward me, his silver–gray eyes fixed on my face with an expression I’d never seen before. It wasn’t the teasing, casual look he usually wore. This was something deeper, more intense.
In that unguarded moment, the truth hit me with startling clarity: Dominic Blackwood had feelings for me. Real feelings, not pretend ones for our charade.
All the signs had been there–his willingness to help with my mate bond severance, the gentle way he’d cared for my injured
hand, cooking meals that perfectly satisfied my pregnant wolf’s cravings.
His touch lingered on my cheek, sending warmth cascading through me. My wolf stirred contentedly within me, responding to his
touch in a way that confused and frightened me.
I stirred deliberately, feigning just waking up. Dominic immediately pulled his hand away, leaning back into his own seat.
“Where are we?” I asked, my voice deliberately groggy as I rubbed my eyes.
“Moon Valley Residences,” he replied, his tone casual, as if he hadn’t been caressing my face moments before. “You fell asleep
before we could stop for lunch.”
I glanced out the window and saw the familiar entrance to our apartment building.
“I’m sorry,” I said, straightening in my seat. “I didn’t realize how tired I was.”
“Pregnancy will do that to you,” he responded, so naturally that I almost missed it.
My heart froze. “What did you say?”
< Chapter Does Dominic Actually
+5 Points
Dominic’s lips curved into a slight smile. “I said traveling will do that to you.”
Had I misheard? Or had he actually mentioned my pregnancy? I watched his expression carefully, but he revealed nothing.
“Thank you for driving me home,” I said quickly, reaching for the door handle.
“Aria.” His voice stopped me. “If you need anything, I’m right across the hall.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak, and hurried out of the car.
Once inside my apartment, I leaned back against the closed door, my heart pounding furiously in my chest.
The realization crashed over me like a tidal wave: Dominic Blackwood had feelings for me. Not pretend feelings for our charade, but real ones.
It all made sense now–his persistence in helping me with the mate bond severance, his anger toward Alexander, taking me to meet his grandmother. These weren’t random acts of kindness; they were calculated steps in pursuing me.
But a relationship between us was impossible. Not just because of our different social statuses–him the powerful Alpha King of Shadow Pack, me a simple herbalist apprentice–but because of the child I carried.
Alexander’s child.
Taking a deep breath, I made my decision. I would have to discourage Dominic’s affections before he explicitly confessed them. It would be the kindest thing for both of us in the long run.
3
