Chapter 13 - Cecelia
To my relief, yesterday was uneventful, since the council had given the competitors the day off to rest after three back-to-back days of tests. Truthfully, I needed the respite, especially a full twenty-four hours without having to be anywhere near Dominic.
I'd stuck to the bedroom, pretending to be sound asleep whenever Dominic came by to knock on the door to ask if I wanted to join him for a meal. The last meal we shared was the one we prepared at the test, which Dominic deemed our “winning meal.”
I found myself slipping that night when he couldn't stop praising me for my excellent work, and as soon as I retreated to the bedroom for the night, I reminded myself that I had to rebuild my walls.
So, I've spent two nights alone in the bedroom, wallowing in the thoughts of my overthinking mind. Dominic returned to the couch, and I still don't have the courage to leave the bedroom.
Am I slipping into depression?
It sure feels like it when I sit upright and catch a whiff of the tangy odor of my armpits. Scrunching my nose, I immediately climb off the bed, deciding that this won’t do, and I have to put myself together again.
Grabbing some clothes out of my bag, I’m back to my old ways as I bundle up cotton pants and an oversized T-shirt under one arm, hiding a set of underwear between the folds.
My valiant show of indifference the other day came with a price when I showed off my hidden skills and won Dominic the lead in the trials.
I shouldn’t be wearing dresses. Actually, I shouldn’t be caring what Dominic thinks about me, anyway.
“Cecelia…”
As soon as I open the bedroom door, I find Dominic gawking at me with his arm stretched out as if he were about to knock. The warm depths of his rich brown eyes feel sinful to linger on, so I drop my gaze.
“Dominic,” I say flatly with a brisk nod, keeping my eyes lowered.
“The elders have given us another day off,” Dominic chuckles, sounding slightly nervous. “They still haven’t given us a clue about the next test, so I think they want the anticipation to build.”
I peek up through my lashes and notice Dominic rubbing a hand across his nape, a sheepish grin on his face.
“I’m going to shower,” I say as I press my clothes closer to my chest. When Dominic hesitates and doesn’t say anything, I skip past him, but he clears his throat to stop me.
“Er—everyone decided to spend the day at the lake, and they're throwing a barbecue this evening. Would you like to go?”
I turn around slowly as my brows knit into a frown. A day at the lake, socializing with the others?
That’s not in the least bit tempting to an omega who has always been the outcast in social settings. A cold shiver courses down my spine, prompting me to shake my head.
“I think I’ll spend the day in the cabin,” I refuse with a polite half-smile, but Dominic sighs and lifts his head as if he’s not taking no for an answer.
“I know how you feel about the others—”
“And you know how they feel about me,” I add with a sarcastic chuckle.
Dominic shakes his head. “You have an opportunity to show them that you don’t care. If I become Alpha, and I help you clear your father’s name when we return to Nightmist, you’ll already be one-up on them.”
“I’d rather avoid them altogether, thank you,” I rebuff with a grunt, but Dominic grabs my wrist just as I’m about to turn away again.
A gasp escapes my lips when I feel a surge of current flow through me from the source of his fingers wrapped around my wrist. The awareness makes me shudder, and has me snatching my hand away in response.
Dominic seems to notice it too, and pulls his hand back, wringing it with the other as if his fingers were just burned.
“I won’t allow anyone to hurt you, Cecelia. I promise,” he swears as he pinches the skin covering his prominent Adam’s apple. “You need some time to let loose before the next test, and since we don’t know what it entails, you should make the most of the day off.”
My bottom lip trembles with reluctance as I shake my head slowly, even as I meet his sincere eyes. I open my mouth to protest, but Dominic steps forward, towering over me with his imposingly large build and the wafts of minty notes that swim in the air around him.
“Please, Cecelia. I can’t leave you in the cabin by yourself. We’re a team, and we should show a united front.”
Pausing, it’s nearly impossible to decline the offer when his sharp features appear softer now, as if he’s pleading with me. Against my better judgment, I nod reluctantly as my heart takes over and calls the shots.
I mean, what’s the worst that could happen when the worst is already done? I’ve already been hurt by this man, and now he’s promising to protect me. There’s no point in keeping my guard up all the time when I’ve already suffered the worst heartbreak I could ever face.
I don’t have anything to lose.
“Okay…I'll go with you,” I concede reluctantly.
“Perfect!” Dominic appears happy that I’ve agreed to go, smirking and clapping his hands together as he starts walking backwards down the hallway toward the kitchen. “I’ll be waiting in the kitchen. And don’t forget to wear your bathing suit!”
As Dominic turns, a definite spring in his step as he walks away, I frown and wonder why he suddenly seems different. Shrugging as I head to the bathroom, I decide not to read too deeply into his change of demeanor toward me, and instead focus on the bigger picture.
This is all for the sake of the deal we made, after all.
***
Keeping my eyes on the dress that flows down my fuller curves, I walk beside Dominic as we head for Eagle Lake, situated between the Mount Desert Campground and Nightmist. Though we're not allowed to leave the campsite just yet, we're still in Lunaris territory, so we're not breaking any rules.
I'm breaking a personal rule, however, by agreeing to spend the day at the lake with the others. I'm not blind or oblivious to what they think of me—I've been faced with their animosity while in Nightmist.
“You good?” Dominic asks just as we approach the clearing in the woods that leads to the lake. Faint chatter drifts over, slowing down as my steps and filling me with anxiety.
“I'm fine,” I lie as I gulp on the lump of my nerves, but Dominic slows down with me when he matches my slow steps, then turns to me with a frown.
To my surprise, he holds out a hand.
“You have nothing to worry about, Cece. Here, hold my hand, so we can show them that nothing can tear us down …”
There he goes, calling me by my nickname.
Only this time, I'm so stunned by how kind he is that I don't fight him about it. I must be too vulnerable to my trepidation, and end up tentatively slipping my hand into his.
Why is he being so sweet to me? Is this some kind of game he's playing?
I can't tell.
All I know is that holding his hand as he leads me toward the lake is what comforts me when we approach the group of contenders and their partners.
“Hey, guys!” Dominic greets with a casual wave of his free hand. “Sorry, we're late. I couldn't wait for the barbecue, so I had to eat before we came out here.”
Dominic's friend, Santo, comes over to greet him with a cool handshake and bump of their shoulders. Dominic doesn't let go of my hand.
Frowning discreetly at him, I remain quiet as he speaks to Santo briefly before Nigel, one of the other contenders, whistles to call their attention. He's with Bart and their she-wolf partners on the deck, the ladies stripping down to their bathing suits.
“Hey, Dom! Come join us for a dip! The water's crispy!” Nigel calls out.
“Yeah, better get that practice on your strokes!” Bart chuckles as he makes swimming gestures with his arms in the air. “Maybe tomorrow's test has something to do with water!”
Alex and his partner join them on the deck, and Santo lightly slaps Dominic's chest.
“They don't even stand a chance; they're at the bottom of the scoreboard,” Santo chuckles.
“Let them have their fun,” Dominic titters back. “They're just the extras, at this point.”
Santo grins. “I'm gonna check if Lily wants to swim.” He nods at Dominic before jogging off toward his partner, who sits by herself on a grass patch near the lake.
I remember her from the pack center, getting scolded by Agatha for not setting out enough plates for dinner one night, and frowning as I wonder if I wasn't the only one who received harsh treatment from the old lady in the pack.
What if I internalized everything I faced based on what happened with my father?
But then again, I was ridiculed for my size…
Something that I can't overlook now that everyone strips down to their bathing suits, and Dominic turns to face me.
“Wanna go for a swim?” he asks, brows lifted expectantly.
How can I deny him when everything I've done today has been only to see the smile on his face? A smile that I've suspected is a genuine one?
Have I lowered my guard so much that I even go as far as nodding gently?
There's no reason for me to feel anxious while Dominic continues to hold my hand.
Following him as he leads me toward the deck, he must sense my hesitation when he throws me a wink and kicks off his shoes.
“Don't worry about what anyone says,” he assures me as he pulls his T-shirt over his head and drops it to the side. “I won't be leaving your side, okay?”
“Okay,” I nod timidly, my hands settling on the straps of my dress with hesitation that doesn't go unnoticed.
Dominic suddenly leans in and whispers, “Don't be afraid, Cece. If you're still undecided, we can go back to the cabin.”
If Dominic is trying to confuse me, it's working. If he's trying to distract me from thinking about how he pleasured me the other night, he's failing at that. Especially as he pulls back after whispering so sweetly, and stares into my soul with soft warmth glazing his vibrant, deep brown eyes.
I shake my head firmly as if I've just found the reason to strengthen my resolve, pulling the straps down my arms without hesitation.
“I'm gonna pretend that I'm just an extra today and have fun,” I declare proudly, smiling as I strip down to my one-piece bathing suit that only holds my stomach in, but is revealing around my thighs to expose my cellulite.
It's something I would have been highly conscious of, but when Dominic offers out a hand and rakes his gaze over my body with an appreciative twinkle in his eyes, I have no reason to feel nervous.
“You're no extra, Cecelia,” he says, his voice hoarse as if his throat had just dried.
His Adam's apple bobs as he meets my eyes again, and he gives my hand a gentle but firm squeeze.
“You're the main character, and it's time you owned it.
We may be classified as the underdogs, but that's going to change soon.”
Though Dominic's support is heartwarming, I feel the need to clarify what he just declared.
“For you, when you win the trials, and for me, when my father's name is cleared…right?”
Dominic pulls back and takes a deep breath, and I could have sworn I saw a flash of regret in his eyes, a fleeting frown passing his brows.
“Right. Of course,” he agrees with a firm nod, then releases my hand and nods toward the edge of the deck. “Come on! Let's see those diving skills Donna's always talking about.”
I roll my eyes and giggle as I race Dominic to the edge of the deck, where we can dive into the lake, deciding not to read too deeply into our conversation or Dominic's behavior leading to this moment.
He's probably just trying to get through the trials amicably, creating a stress-free environment for me so I can be at my best to help him win.
That's the main goal, after all. Now, if my heart behaves and does not become entangled in this situation, it will really help me prevent another heartbreak.
For now, I just need to enjoy myself and be as carefree as I find I can be when I'm with my best friend at the beach.
That's what Dominic and I seem to be forming—a bond of friendship that won't hurt me. At least, I hope it won't.