Chapter 20

Dominic’s POV

The place felt dead. Not in a peaceful way, either. More like, everyone’s holding their breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop. My pack? They are never this quiet unless somebody’s hiding something juicy. Whispered shit in back hallways, darting glances when they think I’m not looking. But lately, ever since Mira fell ill, the gloom had gotten thicker than wolf fur in summer. She was stretched out in my bed, pale as fresh linen, clutching at her stomach. If you had told me the Angel of Death was standing at her bedside, I would probably believe you. And me, the great Alpha? Reduced to pacing the halls like some lovesick ghost, just waiting for a groan or a sigh so I would have an excuse to rush back in there.

But honestly, something about all of it was giving me the creeps. People whisper behind my back, Mira getting more attention than the full moon itself, even Elora, solid-as-stone Elora, looking like she’s chewing on words she won’t spit out.

Last night, I snuck out, said I was checking the sentries or whatever. In reality, I just needed to breathe, needed to get away from the sorrow in that bedroom. Mira was asleep at last, her lashes shiny with old tears, breathing so shallow I thought for a second I had lost her. My chest tightened. She was my mate, bonded by the Moon Goddess. I owed her everything. But why did my stomach twist every time she looked away from me?

I should have walked off, let it ride out, but nope. I hung around outside her door, lurking like a bloody thief. That’s when I heard it. Voices, hushed, but clear enough.

“...the dosage wasn’t enough,” Mira snapped, sounding nothing like the broken dove I had seen. “It needs to last longer. If I’m frail, he’ll never let her near him.”

All the blood drained right out of me. I froze, hand on the latch.

Then the maid, her voice all shaky, let out a nervous, “My lady, if you keep drinking it, it’ll eat you from the inside. What if the healer...?”

“Forget the healer,” Mira spat. “I do what I must. Elora thinks that the crown is hers, but she forgets whose bed the Alpha shares.”

That one hit like a punch to the ribs. My heart felt numb.

I'd had enough. Kicked the door open, didn’t even care who saw. The maid squeaked and hit the ground, skirts in a tangle. Mira whipped her head around, not sick, not weak, but blazing with fury.

“Dominic...” she started, all innocence.

“Nah.” My voice sounded like someone else’s, sharp enough to cut stone. “Don’t. Just...don’t.”

The maid ran out. I barely noticed. My world shrank to Mira. My mate. The woman I had defended against every accusation and ounce of suspicion. And she had been poisoning herself to keep me on a leash made of guilt. I couldn't believe it.

I took a shaky step toward her. “Tell me it’s not true,” I begged.

Her eyes welled, lips trembling. “You’re twisting this, Dominic. It’s not...”

“Don’t lie!” I bellowed, my voice so loud it probably woke up half the palace.

She winced, then crumpled like a wet rag. “I did it for us! Elora’s turning them against me. Every day, she’s winning the council, the people, even you...you stand up for her. What am I supposed to do, just hand you over? No way.”

And gods help me, I wanted to forgive her, maybe I even understood, a little. Twisted love and all that garbage. But the betrayal… It was burning hot.

I couldn’t take it out on her, not really. The bond hurt like hell. So what did I do? Turned the anger somewhere else.

The next morning, I stormed into the library, where Elora was buried in some ancient scroll, as if she had a test to cram for. She looked up, all surprise and sleep-mussed hair.

“Dominic?” she said, soft as linen. “You’re up early. Is Mira...?”

“Don’t. Say. Her. Name.” The words tasted like venom.

Elora’s face fell, shadows gathering. “What’s going on?”

I barreled toward her, rage boiling up. “You. This is you! All your whispers in the dark, sowing loyalty where it doesn’t belong. Now even I...I can’t look at my mate without doubting, and it’s all because of you!”

I slammed my fist on the table, parchment everywhere. It was a mess. I was a mess. The whole palace felt like it was about to crack open, and I’d be damned if I knew what side I’d land on.

Her face just… drained of color, like she was hit with a sudden fever. “What are you even saying right now?”

“You’ve poisoned this pack,” I snarled, practically barking the words. “Little by little, you’ve made them turn on her. You act like Luna’s some kind of shield, but all you’ve really done is rip us apart.”

For a split second, her lips kind of wobbled, but her stare held steady. “Dominic, all I’ve ever done is serve this pack, serve you. If they respect me, it’s because I worked for it. Don’t tell me that’s some kind of trick.”

I didn’t even hear her. Mira’s voice just kept bouncing around my head. Her tears felt too raw and sharp. I needed someone to blame, and Elora, stoic, stubborn Elora, was right in my sights.

“What, you think I don’t notice? That I’m deaf to all the whispers about you and Dante?” My chest burned. Heartbreak and anger got all tangled up, and I couldn’t spit anything out but rage. “My brother looks at you like you’re his, and you...”

“Enough!” She exploded, her voice slicing through the room and shutting me up.

Her hands, she was gripping that table like she might snap it in half. “I have given everything for this pack. I swallowed your cold shoulder, your silence, the gut-punch of watching you with her. Don’t you dare call me a schemer when I’ve only ever wanted to belong somewhere.”

Something ugly twisted behind my ribs, guilt, maybe, worming around my rage. But all I could picture was Mira, clutching her stomach, sobbing my name. I was drowning in it.

I couldn’t look at Elora. I didn't want to see her cry. “Don’t go near her,” I growled, voice barely more than a threat. “Your games? They stop here.”

I left. Walked out and slammed the door on her tears, while my own damn heart cracked open over a truth I wasn’t ready to touch.