Chapter 16: Chapter 16

He breathes out softly, hoping the splitting headache would suspend but it didn’t—it slightly got worse. Especially whenever he thought of her and how she might hate him more for letting his intrusive thoughts to win. He didn’t mean to hurt her emotionally or physically. He didn’t mean to black mail her, manipulate her into doing what he wants just because he had the power.

He knew he was pushing her away instead of drawing her closer. He knew he doesn’t stand a chance with her. He doesn’t even know what he felt for Alice was actually love or he just wanted to be with her to hide the pain he felt of losing his wife and daughter at the same time.

It hurts him more, knowing he could’ve helped them and they would’ve been alive now but he did the most ridiculous thing instead of saving his family’s life. He could’ve done things differently and he would’ve been in bed right now together with his supposed eight year old daughter and wife.

They would’ve been playing ‘tag-your-it’ or ‘who-mommy-loves-more’. Or they would’ve been out to the lake to take a swim…

Dominic took in a long breath and exhaled out as he got off the bed and sauntered into the bathroom to freshen up for the day.

He didn’t know exactly what he was doing today, he didn’t feel like doing anything but for one thing he knew he wasn’t going to see Alice today. She was angry with him, he knew that. And she wouldn’t want to see him now, not after what happened between them last night.

He’d love to explain himself to her—he didn’t mean to do what he did and no matter how sexually attracted he was to her, he’d never force her to do what she doesn’t have in mind, he’d never do anything against her will. It was one of the reasons why he hasn’t married her yet despite how her father urged him to have her hand in marriage.

He wanted her to accept him on her own, to give him a chance because she wants to, not because her parents forced her to…

An hour later, Dominic was out in front of his house together with Zack when one of his Omegas came, announcing he had a visitor.

He looked up to see Alpha Fredrick, standing few feet away. He heaved a sigh as he dismissed the messenger. He excused himself and approached Fredrick.

“Hello, Dominic. I know you are amused to see me by this time of the day,” Fredrick said, looking around. He almost looks as if he didn’t want to be here, as if he was going to get attacked if he spent another minute here.

Dominic had his hands in his jeans pocket, waiting to hear why Fredrick was visiting.

“It appears she doesn’t want to talk about her visit here,” he began when Dominic didn’t say a word. “Did she seemed like she enjoyed it?” He asked before Dominic spoke.

He cleared his throat, looking down of his shoes before he raised his head up and fix his eyes on Fredrick. “You know how slightly stubborn she can be and how enigmatic she is. So, I don’t exactly know whether she liked it or not, but she looked okay to me,” Dominic explained, his voice almost cracking by the way he was slightly uneasy.

It appears that she hasn’t told them that she didn’t sleep in his house. She might have slept out in the woods or she ran to her boyfriend, Aaron.

His mouth suddenly became dry and his heart squeezed with distrust. He hates how he felt whenever he was jealous. Possibly, she ran off to him, slept there and went home the next morning.

He would’ve slit Aaron’s throat out and feed it to his dogs. He would’ve cut his head off and deliver it to his parents in a box. He would’ve…

“You are the only one I trust with my daughter, the only one I believe would take care of her even after I die…”

“I’m fucking trying, okay?” Dominic whisper-yelled through gritting teeth. He heaved a sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose. He was frustrated—he had so much in his mind that it made it so hard for him to think straight.

“I’ll try harder and if she still doesn’t want me, then I’m afraid I can’t force her on me,” he spoke despairingly.

He saw the disappointing look on Fredrick but he had already made up his mind. He loves her but he couldn’t force her to do what she isn’t pleased with. He’s not a monster like that.

Fredrick nodded as he sighed. “I’ll take my leave now,” he told him and turned to leave.

Dominic ran his fingers through his rough hair as he lets out a sharp breath. He was jumbled and messed up. He didn’t know why but it had to do with Alice not wanting to be with him… it had to with the memory of his wife and daughter that had died four years ago. It had to do with the fact that Alice had his daughters name and he freaking couldn’t handle it whenever he remembered her or he hears her name.

Maybe it was one of the reasons that he wanted to be with her. Maybe it was her beauty, her outgoing attitude that drew him closer and he wanted to have her as his wife. Maybe he’ll feel less guilty when he marries her.

**

Four years earlier…

“But when you put two and two together, you don’t really have to go anywhere,” she says and pursed her lips. He chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her waist. He had to bent over to do that as she was short. She looped her arms around his neck and tip-toed to kiss him. He kissed her back, it was soft but urgent.

He moved back and observed her face, she was smiling at him. She always smiled no matter how upset she was, no matter how gloomy the day was. He loved that about her—because she never lets a woeful day take over her smile no matter how bad it gets.

“When will you be back?” She asked, staring up at him. She was hopeful that he was going to tell her he wasn’t going anywhere.

He breathes in and exhaled, thinking of how he’d tell her he won’t be back until midnight.

“I will try as much as I can to come home before midnight,” he told her. He saw the disappointment on her face but she still managed to smile and hugged him tighter. “You’re going to miss bed time with Alice… again,” she mumbled, burying her head in his hard chest.

Dominic stroked her back, unable to say a word to her. He hates how he has been missing bedtime stories with Alice, how he missed their afternoon adventures together lately.

“I know, and I’m sorry. I’d fix that, I promise. A pack needs my help and I can’t say no. ‘A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.’ You always say that to me, remember? Always help one other to grow better and stronger.” He cupped her face in his warm palms.

Sofia smiled, nodding her head. “I’d never be mad at you for helping someone, even if that someone is our enemy. We rise by lifting others.”

He smiled—smiled of how lucky he was to have Sofia as his wife. She was a kind hearted woman, the kind you worry about. She always put people’s needs above hers. She’s wonderful and a blessing to all who are in her life. It sometimes makes him to worry about her so much. She is as a motor running constantly, hardly ever taking the time she needs for maintenance and refueling. As such she is prone to breakdowns after some time. She needs her own kindness reflected back to her.

It was one of the reasons he loves her so dearly, he’d do anything for her even if it meant losing his own life—yes, he loves her that much.

She was his first love and she will always be his first love. And he was going to love her forever. He was going to love in her weakest moments to her strongest ones. He’s going to love her when she’s happy and still love her the most when she’s down.

He kissed her softly on her forehead and gently freed her from his firm embrace. “Kiss Alice goodnight for me, tonight, okay?”

She drew her lips together playfully as she smirked. “You owe me a lot for the goodnight kisses you’ve missed,” she said and planted a soft kiss on his lips before they bid each other goodbye.

Zack was already at the front porch, waiting for Dominic. He heaved a sigh of relief when Dominic sauntered out. He was slowly getting used to Dominic wasting time before they begin their task for the day.

He knew he was with Sofia and so, he didn’t question him why he was late yet again.

“Any update concerning Fredrick’s pack?” He asked as they walked through the busy municipality. Zack nods his head, “Uh, yes. We have just taken more supplies to their pack like you asked us to. The only thing left is to rebuild the burnt houses, replant the crops they destroyed and some finishing touches.

Dominic nods his head as they strolled out the gates of Umbris pack.

They arrived at Scuris pack shortly and encountered with Fredrick at the gates. He smiled upon seeing them approaching his pack.

“Good morning,” he said offering them a smile. Dominic smiled back, nodding his head. “I hope we’re making a lot of progress,” Dominic inquired as they walked further into the civic.

“Everything is going very well… all thanks to you,” Fredrick retorted a smile not leaving his face. If it wasn’t for Dominic, he didn’t know exactly how he was going to restore his pack back to the way it was left alone the amazing upgrade Dominic has done for them.

They got attacked couple of weeks ago by a nemesis pack that had been wanting to take possession of Scuris pack—Alpha Fredrick was lucky enough to have Dominic and his pack warrior to help them fight back and even won the battle against their rival.

They destroyed their homes, stole their supplies, killed their families, destroyed their farms...

“I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me and my family. If it wasn’t for you…”

Dominic placed his hand on Fredrick’s shoulder and shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me… we rise by lifting others,” he stated, recalling what his wife had said to him just less than an hour ago.

Every single day they spend as life partners, he realizes how lucky he is to live such an amazing life with an amazing wife.

“The supplies Zack brought in today is for starters, we’d see what we can do before the end of the month. And for Lumena pack, they aren’t going scot-free. We have to do something about them,” Dominic said as they strolled around to survey the ongoing works.

Dominic didn’t get the chance to leave the pack until it was after midnight. His heart was uneasy, recalling the promise he made to his wife to return home before midnight.

Zack had already left, leaving him behind. He made his way into the woods and picked up his pace.

The amount of tension building up in his chest made him feel as though he wasn’t walking fast enough—as if he was walking backwards. He breaths out, trying to let out some of the tension. It didn’t work—the only thing that’d make his heart at peace was having his wife in his arms and kissing Alice despite knowing she had slept hours ago.

The faint cracking sound of the branches he heard made him to halt in his place and disregard the thoughts wandering in his head.

He looks around, his eyes narrowing to the hasty movements he was seeing. He stood alert, ready to attack whoever it was that was stalking on him.

Out of nowhere, they walked out from behind the trees, surrounding him from every angle.

Dominic cautiously scanned around as they approached him in a menacing way. He was alarmed but his face showed otherwise. Knowing he was alone, fighting whomever these people were was going to be possibly difficult.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Alpha Dominic… The one and only Alpha of our dear Umbris Pack. The one whom dared to interfere in my affairs and business.”

Dominic recognized the voice before the owner even came to view. He exhales, calming the rage that was surging inside him. He knew this was going to happen and he was ready for it.

“It’s what you get for trespassing and causing chaos for no reason, Vincent,” Dominic said boldly, his shoulders standing straight. Taking out these powerless werewolves wouldn’t be as hard as he thought it would be.

Vincent furrowed his brows as he growled lowly. He balled his fingers to a fist, fuming rage anger. “Is that so?” Vincent said through gritting teeth. “Wait till you see the little surprise we left for you back at your pack,” he added before he ordered his pack warriors to retreat.

Dominic heart drop to the hard ground as his throat went dry. So many possible thoughts swirl around his heads, knowing what Vincent was capable of doing. And most of his thoughts were on his family that he left waiting for him. He knew Sofia must be sitting in the living room or at the porch, waiting for his return home. She never sleeps whenever he wasn’t home.

It was as though her heart was surrounded by hungry lions, ready to attack and end her—that was how she felt whenever Dominic wasn’t close to her. How could she sleep feeling uneasy?

Flustering, he hurried home just to encounter his pack warriors surrounded at the gate, perceptibly waiting for his return.

Zack mumbled under his breath approached him instantly. He breathes in and exhaled, unable to find a way to inform Dominic what had happened.

Dominic looked around as his heart aggressively pounded in his chest. His breathing and heart beat were so lurid that he couldn’t hear anything other than that.

He didn’t want to know the bad news Zack was about to tell him at the same time he wanted him to rip it off like a bandage. He could admit that he was selfish enough to say he wouldn’t mind if anything happened as long as his wife and daughter were safe. He doesn’t care if he lost the pack and they were homeless. The only thing that mattered to him was to be together with his family.

“Master…” Zack began but his words failed him. Dominic body went cold when Zack interrupted his ocean of thoughts. “Is it that bad?” Dominic mouthed, knowing Zack only calls him master when things went south.

“Lumena pack broke in and the pack warriors couldn’t handle it,” Zack said as he fiddled with his finger like a small kid. Dominic looked around again, nothing seemed to be demolished or touched.

“They didn’t touch anything,” Zack said, noticing how Dominic was surveying the place. “It’s…”

Dominic roared, gripping Zack’s throat and pinning him to the ground. “Enough with the bullshit and tell me if my wife and daughter are safe,” Dominic said through gritting teeth as he fumed with anger.

The irritation and antagonism were boiling inside him, making to have that urge to end someone’s life at the spot. And it appears that Zack was going to be the bait.

“I’m so sorry, Master… I wasn’t there when they broke in… he… it’s Sofia and Alice…”

Dominic’s orbs grew long and dark as the dim color around him went pale and icy. He fought to breath out but failed. His eyes were still fixed on Zack’s mouth blabbering but it was inaudible. He couldn’t comprehend anything after Zack mentioned his wife and daughter’s name.

He got to his feet swiftly and bolted toward his house. Upon reaching there, his front door was open, filled with Omegas already mourning the incident.

Dominic paused at to his spot, staring at the blood-stained porch. His vision blurred with tears as his throat clogged with agony. His legs wanted to fail him but he managed to walk toward the house and marched on the blood he was afraid to know whose is it.

He’d never forgive himself for neglecting them and not coming home when he promised. He’d never forgive himself for leaving their sight when they needed him the most. If he had come back when he promised, this wouldn’t have happened. They wouldn’t have efficaciously broken in just to take the two precious beings that mattered to him the most.

He dropped to his knees as he broke down completely. “Sofia…” He calls out hugging her to his chest. “I’m so sorry…” He buried his head in her slit opened neck. “I’m so sorry,” he cried out continuously.

“I failed you…”

The tears weren’t even half way through when Dominic went numb and hopeless. He raised his head up just to see his daughter’s body, lying on the cold floor—lifeless.

He shrieked with all that he got left in him. The pain he felt… the agony he was already going through was an underestimate.

The hole Vincent has suddenly poke in his heart was never going to heal. A part of him has died and there was no way he was ever going to heal. He was never going to be the same… the world was never going to be like it was hours ago… he was never going to look at himself the same way again.

He has failed as a leader, a husband, a father…

He has failed his family. He has failed to protect them like he promised to.