But he did like Mila. In fact, he’d kind of . . . well, he missed her. A little. Sort of. Maybe.
“You sure you don’t want some company?” Charlene asked. “You’d be doing me a favor. I’m bored out of my mind here.”
Hearing a beeping from his phone that indicated another person was trying to call, he glanced at the screen. Tate’s name was flashing there. “Charlene, I have to go.”
Dominic sat upright. “What’s happened? Where’s Mila?”
“She’s fine,” Tate assured him. “But there was another attack. Some bastard tried to drown her.”
Dominic’s wolf sliced out his claws. “They did what?” He was already off the bed, grabbing a T-shirt out of his closet.
“In the basement swimming pool. Really, she’s okay. But I figured you’d want to know.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Having pulled on his tee and shoes, he left his room, slamming the door behind him. Then, his blood boiling, Dominic stalked through the network of tunnels, heading for the exit. Fuck, he should have convinced her to move to his territory, where he could have kept a close watch over her, where she’d be safer. Moreover, he should never have agreed to keep his distance from her. If he’d been at her side tonight, he might have put a stop to the attack before it started.
Although he was pissed as fuck at Trey for issuing the order to steer clear of her, Dominic was more pissed at himself for heeding it. He could have protested. Could have declared that Mila was far more to him than a female who warmed his metaphorical bed—Trey would have respected that. But Dominic hadn’t wanted to admit that truth to himself, let alone to others.
He’d told her that he wasn’t using Trey’s order as an excuse to put physical space between them. He’d thought he meant it. But Dominic realized now that he’d been talking out of his ass. He’d done to her what he did best—he’d pulled back. “I’m such a fucking prick,” he muttered under his breath.
Sharply turning a corner, Dominic saw Trey and Dante walking in his direction.
“What’s going on?” Trey demanded, obstructing his path. “You look like you want to rip someone’s throat out.”
He did. “Mila was attacked again.” Dominic quickly relayed Tate’s news to them. “I need to see her.”
“Dom—”
“Don’t tell me to stay away.” Dominic’s voice was quiet but laced with something very, very dark. “I need to see her, and that’s exactly what I’m gonna do.” If that meant disobeying a direct order from his Alpha, so fucking be it.
Trey sighed. “If you’re seen with her, you could send more unwanted attention her way.”
“Yeah, you’ve said that already. I listened to you. I kept my distance. I trusted that her pride would take care of her. But she’s been hurt, and I don’t even know how badly.”
“The pride has two healers—”
“You’re not hearing me, and I don’t know why.” Dominic took a determined step forward. “I’m going to see her. You don’t have to like it, but it’s happening.”
Exchanging a look with Dante, Trey sighed again. “Then we’ll come with you.”
“You don’t need to—”
“Mila’s clearly something to you, so if you really feel you need to see that she’s okay with your own two eyes, then fine. But you’re not going out alone. We’re coming with you.”
His jaw clenched, Dominic gave a reluctant nod. “Then let’s go.”
The three of them headed down the steps of the cliff face and into the concealed parking lot. No one objected to him driving. Dante rode shotgun while Trey sat in the back.
“So,” began Dante as they passed through the iron gates, “are you ready to accept the truth yet?”
Dominic flicked him a sideways glance. “What truth?”
“That she’s not just a bed-buddy to you,” the Beta replied. “I know you, Dom, so I’m pretty sure you’ve been doing your best to rationalize why she draws you to her. At first, you no doubt blamed it on her rejecting you—and I’m sure that did play some part. But I think what really drew you was that, from day one, she saw you.”
Dante didn’t say “the way your parents never did,” but Dominic heard the words.
“Also,” the Beta went on, “she expects you to give her more than the facets you choose to show people.”
Something else Dominic’s parents hadn’t bothered to do.
“In case you hadn’t noticed, you’ve been a cranky fucker since Trey told