I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Dominic had been acting strange around me lately, and it was making me uneasy. I tried to brush it off, telling myself that it was just my imagination, but the nagging feeling wouldn't go away.
Ever since I learned about what he does in secret. I kept finding more traits of Dominic that were unbecoming of the alpha I knew. Sometimes I felt relieved, it proved that even our great alpha was not perfect.
It all came to a head during a packed gathering when Jason and I were chatting by the fire. I felt Dominic's eyes on us, and when I turned to look at him, his expression was dark and intense.
"What's going on, Dominic?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.
"Nothing," he replied curtly, but I could tell he was angry.
I didn't want to push the issue, so I turned back to Jason and tried to resume our conversation. But the tension between us was palpable.
A few minutes later, Dominic came over and sat down next to me, his arm around my shoulder possessively. I tensed up, feeling trapped.
"Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Of course," Dominic replied, but there was a hint of irritation in his voice.
I felt like I was walking on eggshells around him, and it was exhausting. But I didn't want to upset him any further, so I stayed silent.
The rest of the evening passed in a blur, and I couldn't wait to escape to the safety of my den. As I crawled into bed, I couldn't help but think about Dominic's behavior. Was he jealous of my friendship with Jason? Or was there something else going on that I didn't know about?
I knew I had to confront him, but I didn't know how. I didn't want to start a fight or make things worse between us.
The next day, I was on my way to the creek to gather water when Dominic intercepted me.
"Brenda, we need to talk," he said, his voice grave.
"Okay," I said tentatively, wondering what was on his mind. Perhaps it was something related to his secret duties? I didn't want to get involved with that part of my life.
He led me to a secluded spot in the woods and turned to face me.
"I don't like the way you're acting around Jason," he said, his voice low and menacing.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
"Don't play dumb, Brenda," he snapped. "I see the way you look at him, the way you talk to him. You're getting too close."
"I don't know what you're talking about," I protested, feeling my anger rise.
"Don't lie to me," he growled. "I can smell your desire for him. It sickens me."
I recoiled at his words, feeling hurt and angry. How could he accuse me of something like that? I trusted him to the point of keeping his secret of being involved with rogue wolves. Yet he is here accusing me of cheating on him?
"I'm not interested in Jason like that," I said firmly.
"You expect me to believe that?" he scoffed. "You spend all your time with him, laughing and talking like you're old friends. It's not natural."
"I can be friends with whoever I want," I retorted, feeling my temper flare.
"Fine," he said, his voice cold. "But just remember who your mate is."
With that, he stalked off, leaving me feeling more confused than ever. What was going on with him? And why was he acting so possessive and jealous?
I knew I had to talk to Jason and get his perspective on things. But as I walked back to the pack, I couldn't help but wonder if I was making a huge mistake.
I was about to walk away from Dominic when he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. "You don't need him, Brenda. You have me. You're my mate," he growled, his eyes blazing with possessiveness.
I wrenched my arm free from his grasp, feeling a surge of anger and frustration. "I don't belong to anyone, Dominic. And I can talk to whoever I want."
He was trying to end the friendship between me and Jason. I'd never expected such an act from Dominic. To both the pack and I, he was an absolute existence. We revered him as the perfect being, our leader. But alas, even his authority was not enough to determine who I keep in my life. Especially since my words couldn't stop him from being involved with the Rogue wolves.
Dominic's expression softened as he took a step closer to me. "I know, I just…I can't help it. I love you so much, and the thought of losing you to someone else…"
I sighed, feeling torn. Part of me wanted to believe him and give in to his affections, but another part of me was tired of feeling controlled and suffocated.
"I need some space, Dominic. I need to think things through," I said firmly, stepping away from him.
He nodded, his eyes downcast. "I understand. I'll give you the time you need, but please know that I love you and I only want what's best for you."
I walked away from Dominic, my heart heavy with conflicting emotions. As much as I loved him, I couldn't ignore the way he was making me feel. I needed to figure out what I wanted and who I wanted to be with.
When I returned to my pack's territory, I sought out Jason. I needed to talk to him about everything that had been going on.
"Hey, Brenda. Is everything okay?" he asked, sensing my unease.
I shook my head, feeling tears prick at the corners of my eyes. "No, it's not. Dominic's been acting strange lately, and I don't know what to do."
Jason put a comforting arm around my shoulder. "Tell me what's been going on."
I explained everything to him, from Dominic's jealousy to my growing feelings for him. He listened attentively, his expression thoughtful.
"I can't tell you what to do, Brenda. But I can tell you that you deserve to be with someone who respects you and trusts you," he said gently.
I leaned into his embrace, feeling safe and understood.
"Thank you, Jason. I don't know what I'd do without you."
We stayed like that for a few moments, until I realized how close we were standing. I could feel his body heat and the steady beat of his heart. I looked up at him, and our eyes met. At that moment, I realized something that both thrilled and scared me.
I was falling for Jason.
But how could that be possible? Wasn't Dominic supposed to be my fated mate? I pushed the thought aside and focused on the present, on the way Jason was looking at me with concern and tenderness.
"I…I think I need some time alone to sort things out," I said, stepping away from him.
"Of course, Brenda. Take all the time you need," he said, his voice filled with understanding.
I gave him a small smile and turned to leave, feeling conflicted and confused. My heart was torn between two men, and I didn't know how to choose between them.