Chapter 120: Chapter 120 Questions and Smoke
Elara
I woke up at five in the afternoon to my phone ringing.
My mind was still foggy from the confused thoughts that followed me into sleep after my call with Professor Williams.
When I answered, Dominic’s smooth voice came through the speaker. It sent an unexpected flutter through my chest.
"Are you home?" he asked. "If you’re free tonight, would you join me for dinner?"
I hesitated. "What kind of dinner?"
"Nothing formal," he replied. His Alpha tone was somehow gentler than usual. "With our wedding coming up, some friends want to meet you. They keep saying I made you up since they’ve never actually met you. Don’t worry. It’s just a small gathering with people I trust."
Something in Dominic’s voice sounded almost vulnerable. It tugged at my heart in a way I wasn’t prepared for.
"Alright, send me the address. I’ll get ready and head out," I said before I could overthink it.
"No need," Dominic said. I could hear the smile in his voice. "I’m already outside. Just come down when you’re ready."
My eyes widened. "You’re already here? How long have you been waiting?"
"Not long," he replied, though something in his tone suggested otherwise. "Take your time."
Since we were meeting Dominic’s friends but it wasn’t formal, a full evening gown would be too much.
After scanning my closet, I finally picked a black velvet dress that cinched at the waist. I paired it with black knee-high boots. I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the dress nervously.
I took a deep breath and applied a light layer of lip gloss, trying to calm my racing heart.
When I heard the car horn outside, I knew he had arrived. I quickly put on my earrings and made my way down.
My heels clicked against the pavement as I walked toward his car. The evening air was cool against my skin.
Dominic was leaning against his car door when I approached. He straightened up as he saw me, his expression shifting to something I couldn’t quite read.
His eyes lowered slightly, taking in my bare legs with an intensity that made my wolf stir.
The way he looked at me made heat rise in my cheeks.
"You look beautiful," he said quietly, his voice rougher than usual.
I felt my breath catch.
"Thank you," I managed, suddenly very aware of how close we were standing.
"Get in," he said simply. But his hand lingered on the small of my back as he guided me to the passenger door.
When I slid into the back seat, I was surprised to see Vincent in the driver’s seat.
I offered him a warm smile. "Hey, Vincent. Good evening."
Then I glanced at Dominic beside me and whispered, "Dominic, wouldn’t you be more comfortable in the front?"
Dominic raised an eyebrow. He refused without hesitation. "I’m fine where I am."
Vincent’s mouth twitched as he caught my eye in the rearview mirror. "It’s alright, Elara. I’ve been Dominic’s driver for years. You two enjoy the backseat. Would you like me to raise the privacy partition?"
My cheeks burned instantly. "That won’t be necessary."
If he raised that partition, it would definitely send the wrong message.
Dominic’s gaze slid to my knees. They had grown slightly pink from the cold. "Aren’t you cold?"
Before I could answer, he had already removed his jacket and put it over my legs.
As Vincent pulled away from the curb, I kept glancing at Dominic.
I was trying to work up the nerve to ask him about the hospital incident Professor Williams had mentioned.
My palms felt sweaty against my dress. Each time I opened my mouth to speak, the words seemed to stick in my throat.
After a few minutes, he raised an eyebrow at me. "You’ve been staring at me this whole time. What’s going on?"
His direct question made my heart skip a beat. There was no backing out now.
"It’s just..." I stopped myself and gathered my thoughts. I twisted my hands in my lap, trying to find the right words.
"I spoke with Professor Williams today. She mentioned something interesting. Do you remember helping a student who fainted during combat training? Taking them to the hospital?"
The air in the car seemed to shift. I watched Dominic’s face carefully, searching for any flicker of recognition.
Dominic’s eyes narrowed slightly. His lips barely moved as he responded, "I don’t recall that."
But something in his tone felt off.
I caught Vincent watching Dominic through the rearview mirror with a knowing look.
"Oh, okay," I said. I bit my lip. "It’s nothing big. I was just talking with Professor Williams today and mentioned our wedding. She said she’d like to come to the ceremony."
"I forgot to send her an invitation," Dominic replied smoothly.
Maybe I was overthinking this.
That was about three years ago. It was perfectly normal that he wouldn’t remember.
