Chosen by the Beast Alpha

Chapter 87: Chapter 87

Lena’s POV

Work was super light today, so during a quiet moment, Lena sent Dominic a text, asking what he was up to.

Ten minutes later, he finally replied. "Are you bored?"

She shot back almost right away. "Not bored. Just thinking about you."

Then nothing again.

Seriously, sometimes this man was like texting a brick wall.

"Are you coming to pick me up this afternoon?" she asked, already bracing herself for another long wait.

This time, his reply came fast. "You don’t have plans tonight?"

"No."

After that, he sent just two short words, and then vanished for the rest of the day.

By the time she got off work, the last message in their chat was still her "No." Fine. He was honestly impossible to read.

She walked out of the office with her coworkers and was just about to wave down a cab when she spotted Dominic’s car parked across the street.

She quickly said goodbye, then limped her way over. Pulling open the passenger door, she leaned in with a bright grin. "What’s this? A surprise?"

"Get in."

She buckled her seat belt and turned to look at him. "Are we going home for dinner?"

"It’s Samuel’s birthday. He’s throwing a dinner party."

"Oh. But I didn’t get him a gift."

"You don’t need one. Just show up."

She nodded, but the next second, it hit her.

If Samuel was hosting a dinner party, then his friends would definitely be there too.

Which meant Eliza would probably be there.

The thought dropped into her chest like a stone, and her mood instantly tanked.

"How’s your friend doing?" Dominic asked out of nowhere.

"Who?" Lena froze for a second.

Dominic Voss flicked her a look. "Last night."

"Oh." Her pulse kicked up out of nowhere. "They just... just had a fight."

"A fight doesn’t mean they broke up."

"Right, so after the fight, they probably made up, I guess." She tried her best to make the lie sound casual.

He let out a short, dry laugh through his nose.

Lena frowned. "What’s that laugh supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." He turned on the music. That was it. Conversation over.

She studied his face quietly, and the more she looked, the more it felt off. Something was wrong with him. He was nothing like he had been yesterday.

Yesterday, he’d been warm, teasing, alive. There had been jokes, sparks, that kiss in the car. Now all she could feel from him was distance, cold and sharp.

Did he figure out she lied about Anna?

The uncertainty sat on her chest like a rock, heavy and impossible to ignore. For the rest of the drive, neither of them said a word.

When they got to the club, they got out of the car. Before he could say anything, she slipped her arm through his.

"My ankle hurts. Help me walk."

He didn’t shake her off, and to Lena, that counted as a small win.

They went in together. Samuel Clarke had booked a private room with a karaoke setup, a bar counter, and leather couches lined up against the wall. From the half-open door came a deep male voice singing.

"Who is that? He sounds really good," she said.

They walked in. Samuel was holding a mic and singing. When he saw them, he waved at them mid-song without stopping, motioning for them to sit wherever.

A few people Lena didn’t know were scattered across the couches. Eliza wasn’t there.

She hadn’t even had time to fully relax before the door opened again.

Eliza walked in wearing a white dress, a carefully arranged bouquet in her hands. It was obvious she’d made it herself.

She smiled and set the flowers in front of Samuel. "I know you don’t take gifts, and you definitely won’t take cash, so I made this on a whim. Hope you like it."

"It’s beautiful. Thanks." Samuel didn’t make a big deal out of it. He just moved the bouquet to the side.

Then Eliza turned and spotted Lena tucked against Dominic, her hand looped around his arm.

"Lena." She greeted her first.

Lena gave a small smile. "Eliza."

Eliza took a seat nearby. Lena stayed right between her and Dominic. Eliza didn’t go out of her way to talk to Dominic. Instead, she chatted with the others, warm and easygoing, the kind of charm that never looked forced.

"Anyone up for a duet?" Samuel held out a microphone. "I need a partner."

Eliza got to her feet. "I’ll sing."

Samuel flicked a glance at Lena, then passed the microphone to Eliza.

"We need a guy too," Samuel said. "Anyone volunteering?"

Eliza looked straight at Dominic. "Dominic, want to do it?"

Lena lifted a brow. Seriously? No shame at all.

"I can’t sing." Dominic’s tone was flat, no emotion, no extra words.

Lena almost laughed, but held it in.

"I’ll do it!" one of Samuel’s friends cut in. Eliza was stunning, and that kind of beauty always made men line up without even thinking twice.

She had no choice but to smile and accept.

The music started, slow and heavy, the kind of sad love song about two people who loved each other hard and still ended up losing one another.

The kind of song that lived on every breakup playlist out there.

Eliza’s voice was raw and sincere. Every line of the lyrics hit like it had been written for her and Dominic.

She knew it. Everyone in that room knew it. And Lena knew it too. When the song ended, the whole place broke into applause.

She clapped too. For real. Eliza had sung beautifully.

Dominic stayed in his seat like a statue, not moving an inch.

"That was really beautiful," Lena said after Eliza sat back down.

Eliza glanced at Dominic, just once. Only one look. But Lena still caught the shimmer of tears at the corner of her eye. It was such a quick glance, yet it carried way too much feeling.

For a second, Lena almost felt guilty, like she was the extra person standing in the middle of two people who were supposed to end up together.

Eliza used the restroom as an excuse and got up.

"Hey." Lena lightly tapped Dominic on the arm. "She was crying."

He cut his eyes at her. "So?"

"Nothing. Just telling you." Lena leaned back in her chair. "She really put her whole heart into that song. It kinda got to me."

Dominic let out a heavy breath through his nose.

Lena tilted her head. "Two people clearly that in love, and still ending up apart... that’s honestly kind of tragic."

His expression darkened even more. Lena figured he thought she was messing with him, so she dropped it before it went any further.

The party kept rolling. The room was packed, noisy in a good way, and everyone seemed to be having a great time. But Lena had work the next morning, and an early shift at that, so she couldn’t stay long.

"I need to go," she whispered to Dominic. "I have work first thing tomorrow."

He got to his feet right away, said a few quick words to Samuel, then turned to leave.

"I should head out too." Eliza stood as well and looked straight at Lena. "I’ve had a little to drink, so I can’t drive. Lena, would you mind giving me a ride?"

Lena blinked.

Eliza was asking her, not Dominic. That wasn’t random. She’d totally set this up. She knew that with everyone watching, Lena would feel awkward saying no.

Lena was just about to agree when Dominic spoke first. His tone was flat, and he was clearly addressing Samuel. "Call her a cab."

Then he took Lena’s hand and led her out of the room.

I was honestly stunned. Eliza had gone around him and come straight to me, and he still shut it down.

No hesitation. Didn’t even look back.

Sitting in the car, Lena sneaked a glance at Dominic from the corner of her eye. From the moment he’d picked her up until now, he’d been icy the whole day, like he had a wall built around him.

"Is something on your mind?" she asked softly.

Dominic said nothing.

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