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“Yeah, I got that.” I force myself to swallow around a lump in my throat.
Callum and Alpha Jerome are good friends. And Jerome is a very good man, if he has any idea that Callum has been looking for me, he’s going to immediately let him know I’m there. Clearly, Callum already has his suspicions, but that would be outright confirmation that I’m with the Anchorage Lake Pack.
All it would take to get away from Dominic would be to let Jerome know he’s been keeping me with his pack against my will. But it would also mean going home to Callum and my sister. A double-edged sword.
Dominic isn’t so bad.
I snort quietly to myself.Agree to disagree,I tell my wolf.
“What are you laughing about?” Dominic asks.
I didn’t realize he could hear the quiet sound over the music; I shrug my shoulders instead of answering. No way in hell am I giving away anything about my wolf’s feelings. Not when I’ve kept them under wrap so well thus far.
He doesn’t try speaking to me the rest of the drive.
* * *
I straighten in my seat as the familiar cottage that houses Alpha Jerome’s work comes into view. Dominic pulls into a parking spot at the corner of the small parking lot and shifts into park. He shoots me a brief look of warning before jumping out of the SUV.
My eyes follow him as he rounds the front and comes to open my door. He frowns when he sees I haven’t undone my seatbelt.
“Come on,” he says, offering me his hand as if I need help getting out.
“I think I should probably wait here,” I tell him awkwardly.
“Why?”
“Alpha Jerome knows me, and Callum is already suspicious that I’m with you.” Dominic’s eyes narrow. “He managed to link earlier. I didn’t answer. I didn’t want…” to face the fact that I let my brother-in-law die.
His jaw tightens, but there’s a distinct lack of surprise in his expression.
“You knew already, didn’t you?” I ask him, my tone accusatory. A little warning would have been nice.
“Yeah,” he admits. “He came to see me this morning. I thought I already made it clear he wasn’t welcome, but I’ll take care of it. Now come on, you’re going to make me late. There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving you in the car alone.”
I unbuckle my seatbelt slowly, buying me a moment to digest his words. Callum and Dominic spoke, and whatever happened, Callum clearly knew I was with Dominic’s pack. What does he mean Callum wasn’t welcome? Technically, Dominic has no right to keep Callum from me. That should be my decision. We seem to be on the same page—but I have a feeling it’s for completely different reasons.
“Were you going to tell me he came?” I ask, turning in my seat but making no move to get out.
“No,” Dominic answers bluntly.
“I have a right to make my own decisions, Dominic. You can’t just keep me hostage and away from everyone. If the Luna Sovereign found out—”
Dominic moves so fast I don’t see it coming, his hand grabbing me hard by the chin, fingers digging into my cheeks. His large hand completely dominates the lower half of my face. Anger burns bright in his eyes.
“I’m only going to say this once, Tess. Don’t threaten me.” His eyes dip briefly to the crook of my neck, making me tremble.
My wolf is indignant.Don’t roll over for him. Mates should respect each other.
I don’t point out the flaw in her logic—that I don’t respect Dominic any more than he respects me. If we are somehow still mates, there’s no chance in hell of it ever working out. I’ve spent two days with his pack—during which he’s mostly ignored me—and still, I’m not sure how much more of him I can take.
I slide out of the SUV and take a few tentative steps toward the cottage, then pause.
“I should probably warn you of something before we go in there.” Considering Dominic really seems to struggle with a jealous streak. Between hiding Callum’s visit and the way he stepped between Luca and I, there’s no denying its existence even if it makes no sense. It’s child’s logic. He’s happy to cast the toy aside until he sees another kid trying to play with it.
“What?” Dominic sighs, clearly exasperated by me slowing him down.
“Alpha Jerome tried, uh, courting me once.”
