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“I’m done talking to you,” Dominic announces.
I open my mouth with another protest, but the words get swallowed as I gasp in surprise. He grabs me by the waist and lifts me easily over his shoulder to carry me into the pack house. I kick my feet at him.
“Put me down,” I demand, my face flushing red with embarrassment. This whole thing is mortifying, even more so as we pass members of the pack who turn to stare in the entryway.
For a brief second, I’m distracted by the upside-down view of the gorgeous space. It’s clear there was a remodel at some point because the fixtures are contemporary, but the historical architecture has been so beautifully preserved it almost makes my chest hurt.
The ceilings are stunningly high, the detail in the crown moldings the kind of thing no one could ever replicate. All of the windows are oversized, letting light flood in. This place could easily have been a cathedral as easily as a library if it weren’t for the lingering shelves lining all the open walls.
I’m obsessed with buildings like this. I always try to convince Callum to take more historical projects on. Buildings should get a second chance.
Dominic’s pack house is more than proof of that.
There’s a sudden jolt as Dominic starts up a sweeping staircase. I gasp and fist the back of his shirt to keep from pitching forward. Not only is this one of the more demeaning things to ever happen to me, but it also doesn’t feel all that safe as Dominic practically jogs up the stairs.
“Everything okay?” a male voice asks, pausing us just before we reach the top of the staircase. I try to kick at Dominic again, but he tightens his grip on the back of my legs to keep me from being able to get any traction.
“I’m taking care of it,” Dominic answers in a tight voice.
“Itappears to be a woman.” I can hear the disapproval in the other man’s voice, and clearly Dominic does too since his grips tightens even further. Awesome. Just great.
I’m tempted to speak up, maybe mention I’m currently being held here against my will. But this is Dominic’s turf, and I know the reality is that all I would accomplish would be pissing Dominic off. I doubt many wolves would question their Alpha, much less one like Dominic who clearly has no room for rationality.
“Put the poor woman down, Dominic.”
Okay, so maybe this guy would make for a better ally than expected.
Dominic takes the last few steps and then unceremoniously dumps me on my feet. I give him the fiercest scowl I can muster then turn to see my savior. I have to blink away my surprise when I see an older man who’s nearly a carbon copy of Dominic.
“Don’t mind my son,” he says, offering me his hand in greeting, “Dimitri Parker, Anchorage Lake Pack elder.”
“I’m Tess.” I purposely don’t offer my surname, but I do shake his hand politely.
“And your pack?” He studies me too closely for comfort.
Dominic takes a step closer to me, his clothes brushing my bare skin. The least this asshole could have done was offer me clothes the second I got dragged here, but no, of course that would be too thoughtful.
“She got caught up in the rogue attack south of here and needs a safe place to stay for the moment. I offered to house her.” The lie is so blatant that his father doesn’t even look mildly convinced. Smart man.
I open my mouth to set the record straight. “That’s not—”
“If she tells you otherwise,” Dominic cuts me off, “it would be wise to mind your own business.” He offers his father a pointed look. The two of them engage in a silent stare off for a long, uncomfortable moment until his father nods.
“If you need anything at all, Tess, my room is just at the other end of the hall from Dominic’s. My son stays busy with pack business, but I take it easier these days. Feel free to bother me anytime. I play a mean game of Scrabble if you’re into that kind of thing.”
“Thanks,” I mutter.
The man seems nice enough, but his words make my stomach churn. The way he talks, it sounds like he expects me to be here a while. I glance at Dominic and narrow my eyes at him when I see him watching me. I don’t know what the hell he’s playing at, but I’m not staying here. Not a single night if I can help it.
“I’ll come speak with you later,” Dominic tells his father, his hand already on my back to urge me forward.
We turn down a hall that leads to another staircase, and then keep climbing for what feels like forever. At least this time I’m taking the stairs on my own two feet. I try to shift out from under Dominic’s touch, but it’s like he anticipates my every move.
When we reach the top of the second staircase, he nudges me left, and I gape at the view that greets me. The walkway is open, creating an overlook with a vantage point of the main floor. The view is extraordinary, putting even the exterior of the building to shame. You can see every detail of the natural stone floor from up here. Every sweeping line in the columns at the entryway.
“Wow,” I breathe, my feet drawn toward the railing.
Dominic surprises me by letting me go. I wrap my fingers around the railing, stroking the cool marble. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
