Chapter 2 - Dominic
“Dominic!”
I turn as soon as I hear Donna’s sweet, surprised voice behind me, and instantly feel the warmth of her arms as she throws them around my neck. Chuckling as she grips me tightly, I notice that she’s become stronger in three years, and my chest swells with pride.
“Oh, my Goddess! I can’t believe you’re back!” she squeals excitedly as she clings to me.
Just as I’m about to respond to my sister, my eyes lock with a pair of honey-hazel doe-eyes that appear shocked to see me.
My inner wolf responds with instant recognition, and time seems to freeze over while everything around me fades.
The people. The place. In that moment, it’s just her and me, as if my inner wolf is telepathically trying to communicate with hers.
My breath catches, and I feel my eyes darkening the longer I stare at her.
Cecelia Morales…
I knew that coming back to Nightmist meant that I’d see her again, but I wasn’t expecting to meet her eyes so quickly, and feel as if the rug had been pulled out from under me.
Not only does she appear shocked, but there’s a strange glint of fury in her eyes for a split second before Donna pulls back.
My heart skips a beat as recollection hits me like a ton of bricks. I remember that coldness in her eyes—the last time I saw that was when we were on the training grounds.
It feels like a lifetime has passed, while also only feeling like just yesterday. For a heartbeat, I recall the gnawing guilt from that day, three years ago.
“You didn’t tell me you were coming home today!” Donna pouts, shoving a fist at my shoulder and drawing my attention away from Cecelia.
“Sorry, Dons,” I apologize, pursing my lips with a sheepish smile. “I wanted to surprise you and Mama.”
“I sure am surprised!” Donna chirps before turning. I follow her gaze to the spot where Cecelia had been standing, only to find that it’s empty now. She ran away the way she did in the past, and I don’t blame her.
“Oh. I left Cecelia over there. I’m sure she needed to go back to the center. Hey…” Donna turns to me, her eyes scanning the group that welcomed our arrival. “Do you guys wanna have lunch in the cafeteria?”
I chuckle nervously. The thought of encountering Cecelia in the cafeteria is unnerving, and it’s too soon. I need to gather my thoughts and decide how to approach her properly.
Even if I’ve had three years to prepare while I’ve been away. Being back in Nightmist is a breath of fresh air I'd like to bask in a little longer before I’m meant to man up and apologize to the people I’d wronged in the past.
If my time away in the black ops squad taught me anything, it’s that no honorable werewolf should leave any stone unturned, especially if he plans on becoming a leader.
Cecelia is one of those unturned stones, and her resentment toward me must have festered into unfiltered anger after all these years. What happened between us still haunts me to this day, and I need to clear my conscience about it.
But I need to do it with a clear head, when the time is right, when I’m better prepared.
I wasn’t prepared to see her the moment I arrived.
“How about we go home?” I suggest to my little sister. “I’d like to surprise Mama before she hears about our return.”
Donna beams brightly and nods, slipping her arm into mine and using her free hand to salute. “Yes, soldier!”
Chuckling, I lead her forward, only to excuse myself from the group.
Apart from those who’d come rushing by to greet me upon my arrival, I was accompanied by two squad members who’d become close friends during our time in black ops.
They wanted to see what the Lunaris Pack was all about and decided to come through Nightmist with me.
I tap the dirty blonde’s shoulder, and he turns with a chuffed smile.
“Hey, Dom,” Tyler says with a grin, glancing at my sister. “Who’s this?”
“Tyler…I’d like you to meet my sister, Donna.”
Tyler’s lips curl into a knowing smirk. “Ah, I’ve heard a lot about you,” he says as he sticks out a hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Donna. My name’s Tyler.”
As soon as my sister places her hand in his, he leans over with a short bow and greets her with a kiss on her knuckles. She frowns and appears uncomfortable, so I step in.
“Hey…don’t get any funny ideas, Ty,” I warn with only a hint of amusement in my voice.
Tyler instantly pulls back and raises his hands in surrender. “I’m not tryna step on any toes here, ‘kay, Dom? I was just greeting your sister,” he winks at her as he leans in and points a finger at me. “Ya know, this one couldn’t shut up about you.”
“Well, I hope it was all good things,” Donna giggles.
“Even if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t dare say a word.” Tyler shivers. “This guy is a beast out there. I wouldn’t wanna cross him. Right, Nick?”
The other squad member who’d accompanied me to Nightmist, Nicholas, turns with a crooked smile, his eyes landing on Donna.
“You must be the sister!” he cheers, shaking her hand in a friendlier gesture. “I’m Nicholas Bartalow of the Crescent Moon Pack.”
“Nice to meet you. You’re from the pack down in Wells, right?” Donna asks, to which Nicholas responds with a pleased nod.
“Yeah. We thought we’d visit, considering we might become allies if your brother wins his alpha trials.”
Donna smirks as she glances at me. “Hm. I think he stands a decent chance, if what Tyler said was true.”
My chest fills up with pride as I stand between the friends I made during the most extensive training I’ve ever gone through.
“Yeah, your brother is a skilled werewolf. It’s no wonder Tyler is afraid of him.”
“I’m not afraid!” Tyler protests, but our friend only chuckles.
“Do you guys wanna stay for lunch? You’re more than welcome to join the Lunaris Pack in the cafeteria,” I offer.
Nicholas shakes his head with a grateful smile. “Nah, but thanks for the offer, Dom. We both have a long way to go, and the pack’s waiting for me.”
“Yeah, Moonshine’s probably waiting for me, too,” Tyler adds, stepping forward to pat me on the shoulder. “It was nice visiting Nightmist. You should visit Portland sometime. Bring your family with you.”
“Keep in touch, guys,” I add as we say our final goodbyes, briefly reminiscing about our time in black ops and sharing our relief to be home. It’s a pity the other guys couldn't stop by Nightmist, but they all have families and packs to get to.”
The other members of Lunaris who came by to greet us and meet my new friends began asking questions, but I put them off, assuring them that I’ll see them tonight at the communal dinner in the pack center.
Though I’d grown close to the members of the squad from neighboring packs during our time at the black ops camp, it’s good to be reunited with the old friends I’d grown up with. It’s nice to see how warmly I’ve been welcomed back. It makes becoming the alpha of this pack seem promising.
“So, tell me…” I begin as Donna, and I make our way toward the residential part of town after we’ve bid my friends goodbye. Our house lies on the second street from the front of the main street in town, so we have some time to catch up as we stroll through the coastal town of Nightmist.
It feels great to be back, and I had no idea just how much I missed my hometown until we sniffed the scent of saltwater from the bay as we traveled in wolf form back home.
“How has college been treating you?”
“Er—about that,” she grimaces. “I’ve decided not to practice outside of the pack.”
“You mean you’re gonna work in Nightmist? At the clinic?”
Donna nods sheepishly, as if she’s worried that I might protest her decision. On the contrary, I’m relieved that she won’t be going away anytime soon.
“I totally agree. I think it’s good that you’re staying in Bar. You’d make a big difference with the wolves out here.”
“You mean that?” Donna turns to me with a thoughtful frown.
“Of course, I do. We might have fought for your rights to attend college, but if you’re still choosing to stay in this pack, it shows your loyalty. The elders will be pleased.”
Donna’s frown deepens. “Why do you sound so different?” she comments, which makes me slow down.
“What do you mean by ‘different’?”
Donna shrugs in confusion. “You sound so much more…mature, I guess. It didn’t really strike me in your letters. But now that you’re back, even your voice sounds different. You already sound like the alpha.”
“Three years have passed, Dons,” I chuckle lightly as we continue down the street, taking the left turn that will soon lead us home. “I would hope that I’ve done some growing up in that time. It’s what I need if I plan on taking over.”
“Good, ‘cause you were a piece of shit back then,” she rolls her eyes, and I instantly stiffen.
Does my sister know about what happened between her best friend and me?
“What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on, Dom! You really were a shitty guy,” she goes on nonchalantly, but I’m still fixed on trying to find out how much she knows. “You literally had most of the girls chasing you, and you blew every single one of them off.”
“Not all of them,” I add carefully, gauging where this is going.
“Right. Not all of them,” Donna concedes with a snort. “You broke some hearts along the way, sure. But just before you left, you blew off every she-wolf in the pack. They haven’t forgotten that.”
“Who is ‘they?’” I queried with a raised brow.
Donna’s lighthearted giggle tells me that she doesn’t know about what happened with Cecelia.
Knowing how close they are, my sister would have tried to wring my neck by now.
She’d always been protective of the pack’s omega—the lowest-ranking she-wolf in the pack’s hierarchy. She would have said something sooner.
“All the girls vying for my brother’s attention, of course,” Donna chuckles. “I never heard the end of it, even after you left. You owe me, you know.”
“Owe you for what?” I ask skeptically, and Donna shakes her head.