Chosen by the Beast Alpha

Chapter 108: Chapter 108

Lena’s POV

She looked out the window. A thin streak of blue still clung to the edge of the sky, like the last bit of daylight just couldn’t let go.

Then she turned to Jess. “Your family didn’t call either.”

“My family isn’t here,” he said simply. His voice was calm, flat, no drama, no pity play.

“So you’re not from one of the nearby packs?”

“No.”

That only made her more curious. With his face, that voice, the easy way he carried himself, it was honestly hard to picture him working in a nightclub unless life had really backed him into a corner.

“You want to know why I do this,” he said, like he’d read her thoughts straight off her face.

She paused, a little caught off guard. “You don’t have to tell me.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of.” He smiled, casual and open. “I sing, I bartend, I keep people company. I make my own money.”

“With standards,” she said, the corner of her mouth lifting.

“A guy’s gotta eat. I’d rather earn it myself.”

She respected that. And the fact that he didn’t circle back to the question about her family from earlier? Yeah, she appreciated that more than he probably knew.

He walked her back to her building.

“Thanks.” She lifted a hand in a small wave. “Next time, dinner’s on me.”

Jess flashed her a grin. “Or you could come by the club and see me. I could use the commission.”

She blinked, then laughed. “Deal.”

“Kidding.” His grin softened. “We should grab food sometime. Bring your friend too. The one from that night.”

He meant it exactly the way he said it—a real group hang, not some sneaky one-on-one invite with hidden meaning. No weird vibes, no mixed signals.

That definitely scored him extra points.

“Sounds good.” She nodded.

He lifted a hand. “Go on in. It’s getting cold.”

“Bye.”

Lena watched his car disappear out of sight before turning and heading into the building.

She unlocked her apartment door. The lights were on. The pair of shoes by the entrance made her chest tighten on the spot.

Dominic was stretched out on the couch, eyes closed, breathing slow and even. He was asleep.

She’d meant to throw together some pasta, but the second she stepped into the kitchen, she froze. Three dishes were already set out on the counter, still holding a little warmth.

She turned and looked back at the man on the sofa. Her heartbeat kicked up, and God, she wished it wouldn’t do that.

She hated how easily she could still be shaken by tiny things like this. Every time she managed to build a wall, he somehow left food on the other side of it.

She carried the dishes to the table, set out plates and silverware, then walked over to the couch.

“Dominic.”

His lashes flickered. He opened his eyes, saw her, and sat up right away. “When did you get back?”

“A few minutes ago.” She looked him over carefully. “Aren’t you busy?”

“Yeah. Busy.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I came over after I was done.”

There were dark circles under his eyes, and the whites were streaked red.

He looked like he hadn’t had real sleep in days, but he still came. Cooked for her. Then crashed on her couch waiting for her to get home.

“Why didn’t you call?” she asked.

“You said you always had meetings.” He got up and headed for the bathroom. “I figured you’d come home eventually.”

While he washed up, Lena sat at the table and started eating.

Guilt rose in her chest, hot and sharp, and she blamed it on the food.

While she’d been watching the sunset with Jess, Dominic had been in her kitchen the whole time, chopping vegetables, cooking dinner, and waiting for her to walk through the door.

Ever since that night she’d blocked his number and made him wait outside until she added him back, this was the first time Lena and Dominic had been in the same room together.

She didn’t bring up the manor. She didn’t mention what Celeste had told her about the puppy, either. That whole subject was basically a minefield to her, and she was nowhere near ready to step on it.

"I’m staying tonight." He glanced at her as he sat down.

"The guest room’s exactly how it was." Lena kept her voice flat.

He looked at her for a long second. She lifted a hand and touched her cheek.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?"

"No." After two bites, Dominic set down his fork, leaned back in the chair, and pulled out a cigarette. He held it between his fingers but didn’t light it.

His other hand tapped lightly against the table, slow and steady. Lena ate in silence. He watched her in silence. The whole room felt tight, like the air itself was holding its breath.

"Do you want to travel?" he asked.

She paused mid-bite, honestly wondering if she’d heard him wrong.

"Anywhere you’ve always wanted to go?"

"Do you even have time for that?"

"When this project’s over, yeah."

She lowered her eyes and kept eating. "There are a lot of places I want to go. Nothing’s coming to mind right now."

"Take your time. Think about it." His tone was calm, almost too calm. "Tell me when you figure it out." He put the cigarette away, then handed her a napkin.

She frowned. "What?"

"There’s something on your mouth."

She wiped at it with her hand first, then took the napkin and cleaned her fingers.

For once, he didn’t comment on her table manners. He just looked at her and said, "You’re quiet today."

"Because I’m eating."

He knew me too well. He knew I was changing the subject. Still, he didn’t push.

Lena set down her fork, and he reached for the plate.

“I’ll clean up.” She got to her feet. “Go wash up, then get some sleep.”

“You’re not supposed to shower right after eating.”

“Then sit down.”

Dominic’s POV

He didn’t move.

He just stayed in the chair, watching her at the sink as she washed the dishes.

While the water ran, he pulled out his phone and texted Samuel Clarke.

“Did she bring up ending the agreement again?”

“No.”

Dominic turned his head and glanced at Lena. A second later, another message from Samuel popped up.

“Why are you asking?”

“She’s changed.”

“How?”

He didn’t answer.

After she finished the dishes, he called out to her. “Can we talk?”

She drank a glass of water, set the cup down, then headed toward the bedroom. “I’m tired. I’m going to shower and sleep.”

He didn’t stop her.

Instead, he sent Samuel another text.

“She barely talks to me now. She even put me in the guest room.”

Samuel replied almost instantly.

“haha, she’s not into you anymore.”

Dominic stared at the screen, jaw tight.

He really shouldn’t have expected anything useful from Samuel.

He tossed the phone aside and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Then the phone buzzed again.

Samuel: “Is she wearing the ring?”

I remembered Lena’s hand—her right ring finger had been bare.

A moment later, Lena finally came out.

I lifted my head right away. She didn’t say a word as she walked past me, then shut the bathroom door behind her.

When she came out again, her hair was still damp. I was still sitting in the same chair. I watched her head back to the room, and in the end, I just couldn’t hold it in anymore. I went over and knocked on the door.

"What is it?" she called from inside.

"Talk to me, okay?"

I waited quietly. After a stretch of silence, I heard soft footsteps. Then Lena opened the door. "What is it?"

My eyes dropped to her right hand again. Just like I thought, the ring was gone.

"Where’s the ring?" I asked.

"I took it off before my shower." Her fingers curled slightly.

"Put it back on."

"I’m going to sleep. What are you doing?" She frowned. "Do you actually need something?"

I saw it clearly—the impatience on her face, the chill in her eyes, and that teasing warmth she used to have was completely gone, like it had never been there at all.

"So this is it?" I asked softly, forcing down the ache crushing my chest. "Is this really how you feel about me?"

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