Chapter 41
Vivian POV
Dominic and I sat together at one of the long benches outside the training hall, sunlight flickering through the trees overhead, scattering gold across his hair like the world was doing me a personal favor. Normally, this was our spot. Where he’d sit with his friends flanking him, all of them loud and laughing, and he’d lean back just enough to nudge my shoulder. He’d tease me about overpacking my training bag, or he’d steal my water bottle only to grin when I scolded him.
Those were the moments I replayed at night, when his laughter wrapped around me like a blanket and I felt chosen.
So when I finally found him after the Mate Seminar-quiet, still, jaw flexing like he was trapped in a thought he couldn’t escape-I felt a little sick. Even when pensive, Dominic always looked handsome, all broad shoulders and sunlit skin, and sitting this close made my stomach swoop traitorously. I could almost imagine him turning toward me, finally meeting my gaze, finally remembering how good we were together.
Except… he didn’t.
He didn’t tease me. Didn’t smile. Didn’t even greet me with that soft, familiar “Viv” he always used.
Instead, he stared at the ground like it had something to offer him that I didn’t.
And the longer I sat there, the colder my chest grew.
He barely seemed to remember I existed, elbows on his knees.
I cleared my throat softly. “So… are you still mad about the mate course?”
“Mad?” he repeated, but his voice sounded far away. “No. I was never-Just-forget it.”
“Sure,” I nodded, “But you ran out so sudden. I thought I’d done something wrong.” I smiled gently, but his eyes flicked upward, not to me. Past me.
I followed his line of sight before I could stop myself.
Ellie.
She and Sarah were passing, laughing over some inside joke near the armory door. She nudged her with her shoulder, and she grinned at her. And Dominic, who was supposed to be listening to me, sat here watching it unfold as if it mattered more than anything I could say. His eyes glued to her neck. That mark. From Lucas.
One I was supposed to receive from Dom but never got.
A hot, sour jealousy fizzled beneath my ribs.
“Dom,” I said a bit louder, putting a hand on his arm. “I said I thought I did… Did I do something wrong?”
His eyes widened a touch. “What? No, Viv. No, I just. Sorry, I-”
“I get it,” I said with an upbeat hum, trying not to let my nails dig into my palms. “It’s was embarrassing, not for you, but her. She wasn’t thinking about you, or what that would do to your reputation by picking Lucas. I can’t imagine as an Alpha the insult that must be. I’m sorry about my sister.”
He blinked at that, finally looking at me-really looking-but the hurt in his expression made my stomach tighten. “Yeah,” he said quietly. “Yeah, that was it. Thanks for getting it Viv.”
1.2
I slid closer. “Dom, you know you can talk to me. I feel like you’re a million miles away lately.”
His muscles tensed as I did.
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