CHAPTER 13

MIA POV.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as the darkness seemed to swirl around me. My sleep was plagued with images of Tony and Dominic. It must be because of the altercation I had with Tony yesterday. His words echo in my mind like a cruel mantra. "You're just a hybrid, not a purebred noble heir like me."
I felt a sting at his words, my heart racing with a mix of anger and hurt. Even though the truth has been revealed of my linage, being a half blood and not a defective she-wolf like I thought of myself, it still stung.
I tossed and turned restlessly. It was still dark outside and If I could just manage to get another hour’s sleep, maybe I would feel better. I thought, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that lingered within me. But it was no use. My mind was a jumble of emotions, my thoughts racing with worries about what my future would be like. I finally drifted off to sleep again but my dreams were disrupted again, but this time it was by Dominic only. I jolted awake, feeling hot and restless. I kicked off the bed covers and got up and just as I took a breath to get myself together, there was a soft knock at my bedroom door.
Making sure I was decent; I went to open the door to find myself face to face with a group of ladies in matching outfits. Without waiting for an invitation, the eldest woman of the group walked past me, into my room and the group of younger girls followed her as she urged them to hurry up.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I looked at all of them in question. The eldest lady turned to me and bowed her head. “Good morning luna, we are here to help you get ready for the day.” She spoke and gave me an eye from my hair to my toes. I stood there with my mouth open, speechless. “And from the looks of it, I’d say that you had a rough night’s sleep. Now come along dear.” She said as she ushered me towards the bathroom whilst the other ladies tended to my bed and rummaged in the closets.
“Thank you but this is all unnecessary.” I tried to resist but the woman would have none of it. “Nonsense.” She said as she started filling the bath with steaming hot water and dropped in different kinds of oils that even managed to prickle my senses. “My name is Elizabeth, my Luna.” She introduced herself as the room started to fill with steam.
“I’m Mia. Nice to meet you, Elizabeth. And you don’t have to call me Luna. Mia will do just fine.” I said and smiled at the woman. Under the hat she was wearing, I could see greying hair that matched her aging face. I would guess her to be in her sixties or so. She had blue, kind eyes, but by her demeanor I knew that she was a no-nonsense woman that rarely took no for an answer.
“Her lips quirked upwards at one corner of her lips. “Unfortunately, I am obligated to call you by your rightful title.” She said and I made an OH with my lips as I understood what she was saying. “But, if you wish, I can call you Mia when it is just the two of us.” She said and I smiled at her in thanks. “That would be nice, thank you.” I said and the woman nodded.
The bath was eventful to say the least. I hesitated at first, but Elizabeth was quite persuasive to getting me to do what she wanted. Afterwards, they laid out different outfits and I picked a fitted white blouse and a flowing black skirt that fell in soft folds to the floor. I would have just let my hair dry naturally, but they quickly styled it in loose waves, while applying light make up to my delicate features.
My mouth dropped open when I finally gazed into the mirror. I barely recognized the person staring back at me. I was amazed at what they could do with so little make up and I hated to admit it, but it felt nice to get dolled up like this. Elizabeth quickly dismissed the girls in a playful manner before gesturing for me to follow. “Breakfast will be ready soon, Mia.” Elizabeth said and although I smiled at the older woman in thanks as I passed her, my heart rate suddenly ran up. I realized that I would have to face Tony again and he was the last person I wanted to see right now.
As I entered the kitchen, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filled the air, making my stomach growl with anticipation. It was then that I had to do a double take at who was preparing breakfast… Dominic!
He stood with his broad back to me. Elizabeth caught my attention and gestured for me to take a seat at the table, and I did, trying to shake off the shock of seeing the mafia kingpin cooking breakfast and as I briefly looked around the kitchen… it was just going to be him and me. As I sat down, Elizabeth poured me a steaming cup of coffee and whispered, "Help yourself, dear. Dominic's been quite busy this morning my dear." With that, she patted my hand and bustled out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.
“Good morning.” Came the sultry voice of Dominic. “Good morning.” I replied back. My pulse skipped a beat as my eyes immediately sought out his. A warmth crept up the skin of my neck and to my face as I saw the way his eyes lingered over me. Something in the way he was looking at me made me feel… I couldn’t describe it. Dominic seemed to be the first one to snap out of it. He broke eye contact, clearing his throat. “Please help yourself, I’ll be with you in a moment.” He said turning back around. I quickly looked away at the cup in my hands too, trying to brush off what I was feeling.
He busied himself with making breakfast again, but I couldn't help but steal glances at him. His movements were confident and fluid. I noticed the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he concentrated.
I mentally shake my head to snap out of it. What the hell was I doing to think like this? I asked myself. Looking at the food in front of me, my appetite returned, and I quickly took a plate and served myself from the array of dishes on the table –bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. A moment later, Dominic joined me at the table across from me. The silence between us was unmistakable and a bit uncomfortable. I didn’t know what to do or say so I decided to focus on my food instead.
As I took my first bite, I felt Dominic's eyes on me, the weight of his gaze like a gentle touch. I glanced up, and our eyes met. This time, I saw something different in his expression – a flicker of warmth, a hint of curiosity perhaps. It was as if he was trying to read my thoughts.
I held his gaze for a moment, my heart beating a little faster, before I managed to look away, focusing on my breakfast. I could feel his eyes still on me, so I cleared my throat before speaking. “Will Tony also be joining us?” I asked as I met his gaze again. Dominic’s eyes darken slightly as his lips turn into a thin line. “No. Tony had something to take care of this morning.” He said and busied himself with his breakfast.
Tony's absence hung in the air, a silent acknowledgement of the tension between us. Just as I took a bite, Dominic Spoke. “I didn’t know that the two of you knew each other. How long have you known my son?” He said and took a big bite out of the sausage that he had on his fork. I watched him chew for a few seconds before swallowing my own bite to answer.
“A few months. We met at one of the seasonal games and got on well from the start until…” I spoke before my sentence trailed off. I had almost forgotten that his father was sitting right across from me. I reached for my coffee, purposely diverting my gaze away from him. “Until he cheated on you?” Dominic filled in the rest, and I nearly choked on my sip of coffee.
I looked at him with wide eyes as Dominic looked at me knowingly. “Yes, I know about that. I overheard your conversation last night.” He said and embarrassment filled my cheeks. “Don’t worry about Tony. I will make sure that he treats you with the respect that you deserve, and I will try not to be a complete asshole for a father-in-law.” He said smirking as his eyes glinted mischievously. “And you can feel free to call me daddy, anytime. I definitively won’t mind.” He said and I was too stunned to respond. That and a strange sensation went through my body that made me feel even hotter than before.
Just then, footsteps could be heard before a gorgeous dark-haired woman came walking into the kitchen. Her sparkling eyes settled on Dominic as a warm smile graced her red lips. Nothing was out of place from head to toe. I immediately knew that there was something between Dominic and this woman, which was strange because I couldn’t remember reading about Dominic having someone in his life. I felt a pang of unexpected jealousy, which I quickly suppressed.
“Good morning.” The woman greeted warmly as she took a seat at the kitchen table, leaning over to kiss Dominic on the cheek as her hand rested on his arm. It was clear that the woman spent the night in his bed and for some reason I didn’t like the thought of that.