Chapter 68
NADIA.
After breakfast with the Graysons, Zahra drove me to the diner before she went off to her work.
Lunchtime was just over, and the crowd was starting to calm down. I am tired and I still have four hours to go. But at least I would have my lunch in thirty minutes. I could get my rest.
I was scouting the whole diner if there were any booths that needed to be cleaned so I could tell Johanna, but it looked like everything had been handled.
I was about to go back to the counter when the door opened. My instinct told me to turn around and welcome the customer, but I didn’t expect to see the person who had just come in.
My heart leaped when I saw Dominic. He flashed his boyish smile, and I suddenly forgot where I was. All I was thinking was that if he was here, Riley must be behind him.
I moved forward and hugged him tightly before I got hold of myself. “Oh, I’m sorry. I just got excited.”
He laughed before he bowed his head slightly at me. “I’m glad to see you, Luna. I mean Nadia.”
“Me too! Is Riley with you?” I asked him excitedly, my head peering from his side to look behind him, but I didn’t see anyone, even on the outside.
He shook his head, his lips pursing into a thin line, and my heart dropped, and I was sure my face too. I felt my eyes water, but I forced a smile.
“So you just came in to try the food here, right? Would you like a place by the window or something more private inside? “ I asked him, trying to sound casual, but my heart was a total mess.
“I was wondering if we could talk?”
“I’m still at work, but I’ll be on lunch in thirty minutes, if you can wait then we can talk by then.”
“That sounds good. Then I’ll wait here.”
I motioned with my hand and guided him to an available booth. “Do you want me to get you something to eat? Coffee? Soda? Milkshakes?”
“Hmmm… I saw some blueberry pies there, so I think I want one and a coffee please.”
“Okay. Coming up, sir.” I smiled at him before I turned around and headed for the kitchen.
I wondered if he heard the heartbeat? But probably not, because the diner’s music was on. And I hope I was right because I didn’t want him to tell Riley before I did.
After serving him his order, I proceeded to continue with my work and immediately slipped off my apron after thirty minutes.
I told him we could go to the other restaurant on the other side of the street because I was craving their chicken and wanted to eat lunch there.
I wasn’t sure what this talk would be about, but I was preparing for the worst. If only Beta Dominic was here, it would have been because Riley didn’t want to see me but had an important message for me.
Maybe he wanted to reject me and wanted to fix the date and time as to when he could reject me. I needed to tell the Beta about my pregnancy. Maybe he would help me delay Riley’s rejection.
“So how are you coping here?” The Beta asked the moment the server left us after he took our order.
Beta Dominic was sitting in front of me and he appeared to want to say more but was waiting for my response.
“I’m good, I think. How’s Riley?”
“He’s bad. Miserable.”
“What do you mean?”
“He misses you.”
I swallowed as a butterfly fluttered in my stomach. The Beta wouldn’t lie to me, right?
“He does? But why is he not here?”
“He was here yesterday. He watched you, from the street across your apartment building up to that boutique where you spent the entire afternoon with two females.”
My jaw dropped open, not knowing if I should be happy or feel bad. He saw me and yet he didn’t come for me and sent his Beta.
“Does he want something from me?”
“Something? He wants you back.”
“He does?” I chuckled nervously, not understanding him completely. “He wants me but he’s not here and instead sent you here? You’re confusing me.”
“Fine. I’ll go straight to the point because I’m tired of the running around too.”
My brow raised at his words, but I remained silent.
“The Alpha was a mess after you left. He went looking for you everywhere. He bothered every pack and Alphas to check if you crossed their territories or cities within their boundaries. And then we found you here, so we flew on the first flight to get to you. Only for him to have cold feet when he saw you and went home. But I refused to leave without talking to you.”
“So you went here on your own, and he didn’t ask you to see me?” I bit my lower lip because this part was more painful.
“Yes. Because I’m sure once we’re home he will start sulking again. He wants you, but he was too scared to tell you that.”
“Okay, now I’m confused. First, you’re not here because Riley wants you here? Second, Riley wanted me, but he left without me? Are you drunk? I’m not understanding where this conversation is going.” I snapped at him.
“Relax, now I know why nothing got settled between the two of you. You’re both on fire, and just keep exploding.”
“Then explain, I don’t have all day.”
“Riley wanted you back. He wanted to apologize and make up for all the mess he created, but the moment he saw you yesterday…”
“He changed his mind. He realized he didn’t feel anything about me anymore?”
He rubbed his hands over his face in frustration. “Let me continue... He saw you yesterday and you looked so happy and contented. And then he thought he’d never be able to give you that happiness, that you’d already settled here and no longer needed him.”
“So he just gave up like that without even asking me why I was happy yesterday?” My nose was flaring, but I was trying to keep my voice low.
“Calm down. Riley is Riley.”
“Riley is an idiot. There I said it. Now I feel good!” I let out a sigh and rested my back on the chair as I crossed my arms against my chest.
“He thought you didn’t want him, and he didn’t want to force you to like him back, like what he did to Andrea. Riley wanted you to be happy, even if it meant being without him.”
Tears started to stream down my face and I wiped them immediately with my hand, my eyes refusing to look at the Beta. “But I want him. It sucks without him.”
A wide smile tugged on the Beta’s mouth, but he didn’t say anything.
“Are you enjoying this, making me cry?”
“I just can’t believe that my Alpha and Luna are acting like teenagers.”
“Mock me all you want, but I’ve never had any kind of relationship with anyone, and Riley, Riley is frustrating!
He’s hot and then he’s cold. And then the next thing I knew, I was being thrown out.
I don’t even know what I did wrong. He told me to take all his money and jewelry, and I wonder if I spent too much on my latest expenses.
They were bedsheets, and there weren’t that many.
I thought his choice of sheets was horrible, so I wanted to replace them.
If I knew my expenses would bother him, I should have just sucked it up and enjoyed those horrible-looking bedsheets he has. ”
I wasn’t even done with my litany when Beta Dominic’s shoulders started shaking as he stifled his laughter. And soon enough, I couldn’t keep myself from laughing with him because I realized how pathetic I sounded and how petty if that was the real reason I was kicked out of his life.
Our order came, and we had no choice but to stop laughing as we watched our food being served.
The Beta’s face turned serious as we began eating.
“The reason why he asked you to leave, he can explain it better. But I can assure you, Luna, he wants you back. He was just scared that you would reject him. He said, I don’t want to hear another rejection, Beta.
There’s only so much a man can take. I had my fair share of it—his exact words. ”
“So you think if I come home with you, he will not throw me out?”
“I don’t think so. And I can promise you this time, if he’s gone mad and wants to do that, I will stand by you. I won’t let you go this time. But my question is, do you want to take another chance with him? It won’t be an easy ride, Luna. Riley, Riley is different.”
“I know that. But yes, I want to take another risk, especially now.”
“Especially now? What do you mean? Are you in danger? Did someone find you here?” His questions were one after the other, his voice laced with concern.
I smiled widely at him, shaking my head. “No. Not like that. But promise me you won’t tell anyone unless I already told Riley.”
“You’re fucking scaring me.” He hissed, his eyes turning apologetic. “Pardon my choice of words. I got carried away.”
I just nodded at him, my lips still curled into a smile. “It was the reason I was so happy yesterday. I found out I’m pregnant, Beta Dominic.” I bit my lower lip as my hands held my stomach. “I’m carrying Riley’s baby.”
His eyes widened before a smug smirk tugged at his mouth. “He’ll be pissed off if he found out I found out first. But damn! I’m impressed! At least the Alpha didn’t fuck up on that department!”
I giggled, placing my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound to avoid any attention.
“More reason for you to come home. I’m fucking glad I’d stayed because there’s no way I would let you travel by car or by train in that condition.”
“You’re exaggerating. I’m not that delicate.”
“No, I’m not taking a risk on that part.” He let out a deep breath. “Thank you for trusting me, Luna. I promise I will never tell a soul until you tell the Alpha.”
“Good to hear and I know I can trust you.”
“But…”
“But?”
“But you’re not going to make it easy for him when you get back, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Someone needs to teach the big Alpha some lessons. And you’re the only one who can do it.
I am hundred percent sure you’re the only one he was willing to do everything for.
Make him responsible enough not to throw you out because of one misunderstanding.
Because if you just come back and forgive him, he will do the same thing over and over again.
And next time, I might end up halfway around the world looking for you. ”
I nodded. “Yes. I know what to do. But first, I need to make sure he will take me back.”
“He will, I’m sure of that. I’m betting my whole year’s salary. If he threw you away, you can take it.” He chuckled as he ate.
Both of us were in a better mood now, so I decided to push another piece of information at him.
“Are you ready for one more secret?”
He paused from eating. “I think this one is the scary part, right?”
I nodded my head and bit my lower lip.
“Fire away then.” He said as he leaned back on his chair.
I didn’t waste any more time and dropped him the bomb. “I met Riley’s mom.”