Chapter 28

Elena's POV

"Are you jealous, Elena?" Dominic repeated, his voice taking on that dangerous edge I'd come to recognize. Water cascaded between us, steam curling around our bodies as we stood naked and exposed in more ways than one.

"No," I said too quickly, my voice betraying me with a slight tremor. "I just want to understand why you'd be with me now when you could have gone home with her."

Dominic's eyes narrowed, a predatory smile playing at his lips. "You're lying to yourself." His fingers traced a path along my collarbone, sending shivers down my spine despite the hot water. "It's written all over your face. The way your eyes flashed when she touched me, the way your body tensed. You wanted to tear her hands off me."

"That's ridiculous," I protested, stepping back until I felt the cool tile against my skin. "I broke things off with you, remember? I gave Olivia your number. Why would I be jealous?"

"An excellent question." He followed, closing the distance between us with a single step. "Why *would* you do all that and then react so viscerally to seeing us together?"

I turned away, reaching for a towel to cover myself. "This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come here."

His hand shot out, catching my wrist. "Running away again, Elena? Is that your solution to everything that makes you uncomfortable?"

"Let go of me," I demanded.

To my surprise, he released my wrist immediately. "By all means, leave. Prove me right once more."

I wrapped the towel around myself and stepped out of the shower, refusing to look at him. "What do you want from me, Dominic? You call me a Lyra substitute one minute, then act possessive the next. You parade around with Olivia, then bring me to this... this place you apparently bought for me without even asking!"

"I want honesty," he said, following me into the bedroom without bothering to cover himself. "Something you seem incapable of giving, even to yourself."

"Fine! You want honesty?" I whirled around to face him, clutching the towel tighter. "This is just a business arrangement, nothing more. I don't care who else you sleep with, or if you see me as a replacement for your ex-girlfriend. I shouldn't have any feelings about this!"

I dressed quickly, desperate to escape the intensity of his gaze and my own conflicting emotions. "I need to go."

"Elena—"

"No, Dominic. I can't do this anymore. Not like this." I grabbed my phone and keys from the nightstand. "Thank you for the apartment, but I'm not staying here tonight."

I fled before he could respond, unable to bear another moment of the tension between us. Outside, the night air cooled my heated skin, but did nothing for the turmoil in my mind.

I found myself outside Zoe's apartment without consciously deciding to go there. When she opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise before pulling me into a tight hug.

"Elena! What happened?" She pulled me inside, the smell of wine clinging to her clothes. "I thought you'd be with Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Brooding all night."

"I couldn't stay there," I admitted, following her into the living room where Axton sat with a glass of something amber.

He nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unsurprised by my appearance. "Want a drink? You look like you need one."

"God, yes." I sank onto the couch as Zoe handed me a glass of wine that was filled dangerously close to the rim.

"So," Zoe plopped down beside me, her words slightly slurred. "You saw that snake Olivia all over Dominic and you're upset. Which means you still have feelings for him."

I took a long sip of wine. "It's complicated."

"Nothing complicated about it," Zoe snorted. "You're jealous, which means you care. "

"It doesn't matter anyway," I said bitterly. "Olivia's exactly his type. She's at least a half-breed while I'm just human. That's why Ethan chose her over me, and why Dominic will probably be fascinated by her werewolf connection too."

Axton made a dismissive sound. "Dominic would never be interested in Olivia."

"Why not?" I turned to him, curious. "What do you know about Dominic that I don't?"

Axton exchanged a glance with Zoe, who shrugged. "I can't tell you everything," he said carefully. "Some things are family secrets. Just know that Dominic isn't merely a billionaire businessman."

"Is he a werewolf too?" I asked directly.

Instead of answering, Axton swirled his drink thoughtfully. "Dominic's just... complicated. He's not good at loving people, but that doesn't make him a bad person."

"It doesn't matter anymore," I said firmly, draining half my glass. "I'm done with him."

"Are you?" Axton asked quietly.

"I have to be," I replied, staring into my wine. "I can't keep doing this to myself."

Zoe refilled my glass, spilling a little in the process. "Olivia is just a half-wolf, half-human who likes to climb the lupine social ladder by sleeping with as many Alpha types as possible."

"At least she has wolf blood," I muttered. "I'm just human. Disposable."

"God, I wish someone would look at me the way Dominic looks at you," Zoe sighed, leaning against Axton's shoulder. "Even when he's being an ass, it's so obvious he's completely fixated."

"That's not love," I said bitterly. "That's possession. Control."

Axton reached for the wine bottle. "Cut him some slack. Lyra did a number on him."

"Not my problem," I insisted, though the words felt hollow even to me.

"You'll find someone who appreciates you for you," Zoe said, squeezing my hand. "Someone who doesn't make you feel like you have to constantly prove your worth."

"I'm more like Cinderella before the prince, except instead of a fairy godmother, I got a contract with a Devil."

"Hey, Cinderella got her happy ending," Zoe pointed out, her words definitely slurred now. "Maybe yours is just taking the scenic route."

I couldn't help but laugh at her optimism. "I think I'm more likely to remain the maid than become the princess in this story."

"I would bet against that," Axton said cryptically.

Zoe stood suddenly, swaying slightly as she raised her glass in an exaggerated toast. "To Elena! The strongest, most badass friend a girl could have! Anyone who hurts her has to go through ME first!"

As wine sloshed over the rim of her glass, I felt a rush of affection for my ridiculous, loyal friend. Maybe I didn't have everything figured out, but at least I wasn't facing it alone.