Chapter 285

Chapter 285
The night was late, and I was exhausted, but I couldn't stop replaying the events of the evening in my mind. Elizabeth had kicked us out, Dominic hadn't returned home, and I desperately wanted to know what his father had meant.

Why was he keeping secrets from me instead of teaching me how to become a powerful wolf?

I sighed and headed upstairs. He wouldn't stay out all night.


When I woke up, I felt strong arms wrapped around me, Dominic's warm body pressed against my back. I hadn't felt him get into bed, hadn't heard a sound.

I lay there, torn between snuggling deeper into his embrace and feeling angry. He'd left me alone all night.

Instead of getting up, I created as much distance as possible while still remaining in bed. His arm stayed draped over my waist.

"Princess," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

I kept my eyes closed, not answering. I'd barely gotten any rest. The exhaustion still clung to my bones. All I wanted was to fall back asleep.

"Riley." He gently nudged my arm.

I ignored him, hoping he'd take the hint. I felt another push.

"Stop," I finally muttered, not bothering to open my eyes.

"We need to talk, Riley," he said, his voice low but determined.

That did it. I sat up abruptly, switching on the bedside lamp.

"You want to talk now?" I demanded, anger bubbling up inside me. "I waited up half the night wanting to talk, and now you decide it's time?"

Dominic sat up too, running a hand through his tousled hair.

"I'm sorry, I should have come home earlier," he admitted, reaching for my hand.

I pulled away, throwing back the covers. "Well, now I don't want to talk."

I slid off the bed, grabbing my robe from the chair. "I'm sleeping in the guest room. Don't follow me."

I didn't wait for his response, just marched out and slammed the door behind me. I wanted him to feel exactly how pissed off I was.

---

The persistent buzzing of my phone dragged me from sleep. I fumbled blindly for it, not bothering to check who was calling before answering.

"Hello?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.

"You really not coming to say goodbye to your favorite cousin?" Byron's teasing voice came through the speaker, instantly making me alert.

"What?" I bolted upright, checking the time on my phone. Almost noon. "Shit!"

"Oh my God," I groaned, throwing off the covers. How had I forgotten? Today was the day Byron and Nina were leaving.

"Why didn't Dominic wake me up?" I muttered, more to myself than to Byron.

"Because he's a dumbass?" Byron suggested helpfully, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Look, we're all meeting at your old house at one o'clock. You've got about an hour to get your butt over here."

"I'll be there," I promised, already looking around for clean clothes.

"You better be, dummy," he teased.

"Stop calling me dummy," I shot back without any real heat.

"See you soon," he said before hanging up.

I tossed my phone on the bed and hurried to get ready. The house was quiet, which meant Dominic was already gone. Again. The pattern was becoming frustratingly familiar.

---

After a quick shower, I made myself a much-needed cup of coffee and slathered cream cheese on a bagel. I hesitated, then grabbed my phone. I should at least let Dominic know where I was going.

I dialed his number and put him on speaker while I continued preparing my late breakfast.

"Are you calling to fight?" His voice was clipped and defensive the moment he answered.

I rolled my eyes, spreading the cream cheese with more force than necessary. He sounded angry, but I was the one who should be in a mood today, not him.

"Riley, I'm busy here. Are you okay?"

"Busy doing what? Where are you?" I could tell he wasn't alone.

"I'm checking the perimeter," he explained. "Someone damaged one of the boundary fences last night."

"Oh." I paused, not sure what to say. Another pack issue I knew nothing about. Another thing he'd keep from me, no doubt.

"I'll see you later," he said abruptly. "We'll talk then."

"Sure," I replied flatly, but he'd already hung up.

I sighed and returned to my food.

I was halfway through my bagel when a soft knock came at the front door. Setting down my coffee, I padded across the living room and pulled it open to find Nina standing there. Her eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, clear evidence she'd been crying.

"Hey," I said softly, stepping aside to let her in. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "Just sad," she admitted, following me into the kitchen.

I poured her a cup of coffee. We sat at the counter, a heavy silence between us.

She finally spoke, her voice small. "I'm going to miss this place so much."

I reached out and squeezed her hand. "This will always be your home, Nina."

She nodded, but tears welled up in her eyes again. "I'm scared I'll hate it there. That no one will like me and I won't fit in."

"Hey," I said, giving her hand another squeeze. "I know exactly how scary it is to move somewhere new. It took me a long time to adjust after moving from Malibu. And look at me now."

I gestured to myself with a self-deprecating smile. "Living with the Alpha and pregnant with his baby."

That got a small laugh out of her.

"Speaking of which," she said, wiping away her tears, "are you two fighting?"

"No," I sighed, taking a sip of my coffee. "But we will be."

"What happened?" she asked.

I explained about the dinner with her parents, how Elizabeth had thrown us out, and how Dominic had disappeared for most of the night.

"But that's not even the real problem," I confessed, setting down my mug. "I don't feel connected to my wolf at all. I can count on my fingers how many times I've shifted. I don't understand why he won't teach me."

Nina's expression turned serious. "The dreaded shift?"

"What's the dreaded shift?"

She leaned forward. "You need to shift completely, let your wolf take over. Then you learn to communicate with her, to take back control."

"How do I know when she's taken over?" I asked.

Nina's brow furrowed as she tried to explain. "It's hard to describe, but you'll feel it."

I frowned. "Why wouldn't he tell me this?"

"Maybe he's afraid you won't be able to take back control," Nina suggested carefully. "You should talk to him about it. Make him listen, make him understand that you need this."

I stared at her. "But I need this experience. I'm a werewolf just like the rest of you." My frustration bubbled over. "He treats me like I'm made of glass, like I'll shatter at any moment. I'm sick of being left out of everything to do with the pack, sick of not feeling like I belong here."

Nina reached across and took my hand. "You need to talk to him, tell him how you feel. If you're unhappy, tell him."

"It's not that I'm unhappy," I clarified, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. "I just want to know what's going on, to feel like I'm actually part of the pack."

I sighed. "He's my everything, but sometimes I feel like I barely have him at all."

"Don't say that," Nina said firmly. "You're family. You're part of the pack."

I glanced at the clock and realized we needed to get going. "I'm going to get ready for your goodbye party. See you there."

"You better be there," she grinned.

I decided to push everything to the back of my mind. I wouldn't make a scene or ruin Byron and Nina's day. This was their last day, and I would send them off with my brightest smile.