Chapter 31
The room stayed quiet, and cold, and empty for three days. I refused to let Dominic back in and the rest left me be. I slept all day and snuck out at night, only to relieve myself.
The hut was unbearably hot while I laid on the stiff cot. Jax slowly became my closet friend, even though we didn’t share a word.
At the same time every morning, when the rest had yet to wake. He stood outside my hut making bird noises until I roused. I would Crack the door to see him stalking off, hands in his pockets, and gifts laid out on the ground.
I ate the food and drank all the water he provided, wishing he had left more with the heat in the room but still refusing to fetch my own.
The second night, a small wolf carved in wood was left with my meal. I clung it to my chest while I slept, the only company I wanted in my grief.
On the last day, I started to wonder why I was still in Dominics hut. At first, it felt like rebellion. Then it turned into stubborness, but now it felt less angry and more deliberate.
I didn’t want to stay put, but felt like I had to. The thought vibrated in my mind, ’stay put’. It was what Grayson had told me to do after he turned into a wolf before Dominic had arrived on the mountain cliff.
I had made it to a place where I felt safe in my seclusion and subconsciously stayed put until his return. I had been waiting for Grayson to come get me this whole time.
When he went over that cliff, I was devastated at the sight, but I didn’t feel him die. The fall would have been too treacherous for someone like me to survive but the werewolves wounds healed within hours here.
But I also wasn’t an expert in human-werewolf, bond without the Binding Rite, connections. Just the same as my own powers felt unreliable and uncontrollable, the tie between us was unpredictable. Grayson must have died when he fell off that cliff, because if he didn’t, why hasn’t he come for me?
With a heavy heart I decided it was time to return to my reality now and pulled the door open, stepping into the fresh morning air. The brightened sky blinded my weakened eyes and I shielded them, waiting until I could see again.
As I walked towards the fire pit, the men turned their attention to me with a quiet surprise.
I averted my eyes, not wanting to see the emotion in any of them and sat next to Jax. The wooden spoon full of food was suppended in the air as Jax watched me, mouth still open.
The air was still for a moment before Marek stood, retrieved a bowl of what they had prepared for breakfast, and handed it to me. A sympathetic look given as he did so, his endearing personality having returned.
Then it was like the play button was pressed and they all went back to their own food and conversation. Jax leaned his shoulder into mine and smiled in a way that said ’welcome back’. I couldn’t help but return the smile.
They were all so disarming, it was hard not to feel like myself around them. All except Dominic. I dared to glance at him.
He was on the other side of the fire, sitting against the log bench on the ground. I watched him as I ate, his legs were sprawled out and he was having a casual conversation with Marek.
They seemed happy in the way they talked. Dominic’s brow wasn’t creased in a permanent scowl, he didn’t sneer at Marek or say anything that made Marek want to run away.
Jax nudged me, distracting me from my thoughts.
"You want to go to the beach today? "
I looked at him with surprise, "can we?"
"Yeah," he chuckled. "We’re all going. If you live on an island, you should play on the beach every now and again. Plus, you could use a swim in the ocean. It’s either there or the bathing pool."
"Hey," I squeaked, cheeks turning red. "Are you saying I smell?"
"You locked yourself in Dominic’s room for three days. One would have made any one of us sour but you spent three," Jax joked.
"I heard that," Dominic called as he approached us and Jax began laughing.
A smile stretched across Dominic’s face that made him look oddly likeable.
"You guys almost ready?" Jax nodded and jumped from his seat, scarfing down his last few bites.
"Rebel," Dominic began. "I was hoping you might accompany me on the walk there, so we can talk?"
It wasn’t a demand. He wasn’t telling me what to do but actually asking. No, I thought but nodded instead.
I stole a glance at Julien as we passed his place by the fire. His eyes met mine. Had he been watching me the whole time? He looked so sad and desperate, I ached inside for him.
Dominic’s hand was at my back as we walked. The others stayed behind momentarily, leaving Dominic and I to walk together. I crossed my arms against my chest, staring directly ahead in defiance.
"I think you and I got off on the wrong foot."
"Is that what you want to call it?" Sarcasm heavy on my words.
He sighed, "we’ve had our moments, but I’m not a bad guy."
I rolled my eyes, he was worse than Grayson. Atleast Grayson embraced the asshole in him.
"You know, if you have to tell people your not a bad guy, it usually means you are."
He gave me a humph but didn’t disagree. "Well, could we start over?"
"No," I retorted happily.
"Rebel, please." Those were words Grayson would never speak willingly.
"It will be better for everyone if you and I are, at the minimum, not enemies."
He had me there. I was stuck on this island with all of them and having any one of them dislike me caused alot of distress in such a small community.
"Fine," I said, stopping our walk and facing him. "But if you keep treating me like some kind of object to possess than I’ll... use my purple eyes to burn you alive."
I didn’t think I was capable of that, but hoped he couldn’t see that in my stern glare.
He nodded, hiding a smile. "Yes, ma’am."
Shit, I thought, he was actually kind of cute. I didn’t just push the thought away, I slammed the door on it. This was the bond speaking, Dominic was an asshole and I couldn’t let his tricks work on me. He might be nice today but that didn’t erase the way he’s treated me before.
I turned on my heel and continued towards the beach.
"There’s another thing I wanted to talk to you about while we’re alone."
I waited but didn’t acknowledge, still pouting that I was forced to be in his proximity. How would I ever not see him as the enemy?
"It’s about Julien."
My heart leaped.
"What about him?" I asked too quickly, fear that Dominic might see him as a threat now that we were bound.
"I think you should talk to him. Maybe smooth things over? He’s still under the impression that you two are together."
"Who said that we weren’t?" I challenged, turning towards him slightly as he now strolled behind me.
"Are you?" His question didn’t sound angry, but rather curious.
I thought over the question deeper. The night of the binding, something had changed in me. Parts of me formed and shifted. Things between Julien and I were different now, my feelings different.
I still loved him, I knew that. But the giddy school girl crush had faded and thoughts of his touch with it. I wanted to want him so badly, but I just felt numb now.
I didn’t answer the question and instead quickened my step until we reached the forest’s edge.
At the sight of the ocean, I felt like I could breath again.
I walked straight into the water and continued going until I could barely touch the sand below and waves washed over my hair.
Dominic came to my side, the waves hitting his chest like an unmovable rock. He wrapped his hand around my arm, grasping underneath my elbow and pulled me deeper into the ocean water until I couldn’t hop on my toes any longer.
A little further and the crashing waves turned into rolling swells. His hand moved further up my arm, stabilizing me against the hills of water that passed through us.
I kicked frantically but was still at the mercy of his hold. He moved me closer, placing my arm around his shoulder. I shouldn’t have let him pull me out here. What was I thinking? Why hadn’t I stopped him?
If he tried something, I wouldn’t be able to swim away. His eyes weighed me down and I kept mine on the water lapping over his chest while I tried ignoring the urge to feel his hair from where my hand sat at the back of his neck.
He grabbed my other hand and I yanked it quickly away, matching his stare with anger.
"Cup your hand," he told me.
My head tilted and he reached for my hand again, this time I allowed his touch. He swam with such ease beneath me, it felt more like he was hovering in the water.
His hand swept across the back of mine as I let him show me what he meant. He lightly squeezed my fingers together.
"Like you’re scooping, you’re moving the water to your will. If your fingers are open, it’ll just pass through."
He lowered my hand into the water and pulled me from his neck, keeping me at arms length with one hand at my waste.
I cupped both my hands as he said and pushed the water down. I could feel the force at first but it wasn’t moving to my will. I watched how Dominic moved his own arm and copied the movement.
Kicking hard and paddling my hands, Dominic released his grasp. I dipped under for a moment but pushed myself to the surface. I struggled with the movements but wasn’t drowning. He had actually taught me how to swim.
My smile was contagious and I let out a soft giggle before I felt Dominic’s hand on my ribs. He swiftly pulled me into him, the vigorous motion making me gasp and wrap my arms around his neck.
His voice was low and seductive beneath his provocative smile.
"Good girl."
Fuck, I was in trouble.