Maybe Staying Wouldn't Be so Bad

Ava's POV 

  “You've lost your goddamn mind!" I muttered, falling into the bed, hiding my face in the clothes. "Who even says that?”

  I swear, it was like my brain and mind were choosing to work against each other. Now he probably thinks I've lost my mind and was regretting saving me from those rogues.

   “I don't think so, if anything, he looks like he's in love with you." Rhea said, finally making an appearance. 

   “Oh my goodness, you're back!" I squealed. Her voice still sounded weak but I was glad to have her back either way. Maybe I wouldn't have come off as someone who couldn't keep it to herself…scratch that, she probably would've made it worse.

  “We did take quite a beating but it's nothing a good rest couldn't handle." She replied. “Now I need a run to feel like myself again." 

  I couldn't agree more, as much as I loved staying indoors without having to think like I had the weight of the world on my shoulder, running was the one thing that kept me sane.

  "A run sounds good.” I told her. "We just have to figure out how to go about that.”

   Changing into the clothes Dominic had given me, I stood in front of the full length mirror and my pale face stared back at me. The sweater hung loose over my frame, the color too rich for how pale I still looked. Faint marks peeked above the collar. My eyes looked sharper though, which was good compared to when I first woke up.

   Putting my ash brown hair in a messy bun, I opened the door. The hallway was empty and I let out a small breath I didn't realise I was holding. I wasn't ready to face Dominic after my failed attempt at whatever that conversation was.

   After so many turns and a pretty good attempt of not drawing attention to myself…my years of sneaking around in my former Pack was finally paying off, I made my way to a small room.

   “Well, this doesn't look like an exit." Rhea teased.

    “Thank you captain obvious." I shot back, rolling my eyes at her.

   But just as I took one step backward, a voice stopped me. “You look lost." The girl said.

   I turned to face her, “What gave that away?" I joked, “I thought I was doing a good job fitting in.”

  She smiled softly, and for whatever reason it looked sad. She was probably the same age as me, but smaller. "You're really pretty, it's hard not to notice that." She replied.

   My smile widened, “I think we're going to be best friends." I told her, “my name is Ava." 

  She paused, looking at me like I suddenly grew two heads. “Erm…Valerie but you can call me Val." She said after getting over her initial shock.

   “Now, can you show me where the exit is?" I asked, “I want to go for a run." 

    Her eyes lit up but I didn't ask as I filled closely behind her. She seemed to understand that I was trying to avoid being seen because she led me through a desert hallway…one that I definitely passed through.

   After so many turns, we got to an open space and it felt like I could finally breathe again. 

    "I come here when I want to think…I mean to be alone." Valeria said.

   My brows furrowed at the slip up but didn't ask. I doubt it was a conversation she wanted to tell a stranger.

   I let Rhea take over, my paws hit the grass before the rest of me remembered how to breathe.

 The shift came rough but clean, bone, heat, air and then I was moving.

  The wind tore through my fur. The ground drummed beneath my paws. Every locked-up thought scattered behind me like dust. Rhea surged forward with a relieved growl.

   I ran freely, finally letting myself process the events of the past few days. The banishment, the rogues and then Dominic…especially him.

  While I knew where I stood with Lucien and former Pack members, Dominic was the only unknown. My body reacted to him in ways that I couldn't explain but at the same time, I knew falling for him would break me, even harder than Lucien.

   "We should go back now,” Val, who chose to sit down and watch, said hours later. "I should be helping with dinner.” She added.

  I nodded, shifting back into my human form. It was already evening and I was already tired and hungry. But I also felt lighter.

  “Yea, let's do that." 

   This time, we couldn't sneak back into the pack house because the first person I saw when we arrived at the Pack house was Dominic.

  He stood at the entrance, tension carved into every line of his body. Not loud. Not explosive. Just tightly held, like he’d been one wrong update away from tearing the whole territory apart.

His eyes found me instantly. Relief hit first. Then irritation. Then something darker and far more possessive.

  "Where were you?” He asked, coming to my side. “Where the h…” he took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. Valerie, who was beside me, stood frozen like a deer caught in headlights,fear written all over her face.

   "I'm s-sorry, A-Alpha.” She apologized, her body visibly trembling. "S-she went…" 

   I stood in front of her. “I went for a run or is that forbidden, Alpha Dominic?" 

    He was silent for a few minutes, “I thought something happened to you." He said, “if you wanted to run, I could've taken you." 

   “No." I told him, “I can take care of myself, Alpha." 

  “Little wolf…” I glared at him, "are you okay?” He continued, not affected by me.

    Now, I wasn't sure why I was angry since I liked the way he calls me little wolf. Valerie murmured something about the kitchen before disappearing, leaving me and Dominic staring at each other.

  "I'm okay." 

   He reached to hold my hand but I snatched it away as hurt flashed through his eyes. “Dinner is ready, you need to eat." 

    I didn't argue since I was actually hungry. He led me towards another part of the Pack house…more like a mansion. A dining room with food arranged on the table.

   Dominic pulled out a chair for me and the sight of the food on the table made me salivate and my stomach betrayed me with a low, humiliating growl.

Heat crept up my neck. I reached for the water first just to buy dignity.

  Dominic noticed anyway. Of course he did. "Eat.” He ordered, filling my plate with a variety of food, one that was enough to feed three people.

  I arched my brows, “you do this for everyone?" 

   “No." 

  His response was immediate, like he was expecting it.

  The door creaked open before I could ask my next question. Two men entered, both of them built like walls, and their faces were nice to look at.

   I bit my lips, "maybe being here wasn't going to be a bad idea.”

   “Get out now, both of you." Dominic commanded, using his Alpha tone, which seemed to have no effect on me as both men hurried out.

  "Seriously!” I grumbled. "You're not fun at all.”

   His eyes met mine, “I can be more fun,” he said, voice low, controlled, the kind of control that looked expensive to maintain as he pulled my chair closer to himself.

 I leaned back, “I’ll take your word for it, Alpha.”

  For a few minutes, he looked like he was fighting his inner demons. “Eat your food, little wolf." He said instead, his voice was hoarse and his eyes were focused on anything but me.

We ate in silence which was good because I didn't trust the words that would come out of my mouth.

"I've asked an Omega to draw a bath for you." He said, after I managed to do justice to the plate of roasted meat, warm bread and every other thing packed in my plate.

I nodded, pushing my chair back. His hand held mine before I could stand up, the contact made heat pull in my stomach.

"Can you at least tell me your name?”

 I held his gaze, a slow, daring smile forming. “Depends,” I said softly. “What are you planning to do with it, Alpha?”