Chapter 16

Nova & Dominic

Nova

Dominic had immediately refused a meal, even though Nova could tell he was starving. Besides, cooking for the employer was part of a nanny’s job, especially since Dominic had done so much already to help Nova.

He really was different from the arrogant werewolves Nova had met before. He was a little prickly on the outside, but inside he was actually quite soft and gentlemanly.

She still couldn’t let go of what he had done for her when Henry had showed up, and for that, she wanted to do something nice as a thank-you.

Despite Dominic’s rejection, Nova quickly set to work preparing a dish she knew he would like. She pulled steak, leftover rice from dinner, and various vegetables out of the fridge.

The steak went in the pan first, cut into small strips and sauteed in fragrant spices while Nova washed and cut the vegetables.

Within minutes, the kitchen was filled with the aromatic scent of oregano, red pepper flakes, and cajun seasoning. The scent made even Nova’s mouth water despite not being hungry.

Nova was just adding zucchini and asparagus to the pan when she heard a low voice behind her.

“What are you doing?”

“Making you something to eat,” she replied without looking over her shoulder.

Dominic came to stand beside her, staring into the pan. Even though he was trying to act uninterested, Nova could see the way his eyes lit up slightly at the sight of the juices extracting from the meat and tingeing the zucchini pink.

“I told you I wasn’t hungry,” he said, glancing at her.

She shrugged. “If you don’t want it, I’ll wrap it up for Aria to eat tomorrow. But you spent all day sitting in that office of yours, and I know you haven’t eaten a single bite of food since breakfast. You can’t go starving yourself all day, you know. What will Aria think if she finds you passed out?”

Dominic looked like he wanted to argue, but surprisingly, he didn’t. He just leaned against the counter, watching silently as Nova prepared the meal.

Once the steak was cooked medium-rare and the vegetables were perfectly seared, Nova took the pan off the heat. She warmed the rice up in the microwave, then carefully placed the meat and vegetables on top, ensuring the presentation was just right.

“Ta-da!” she sang, placing the plate on the counter with a glass of water. “Enjoy.”

Dominic stared at the plate for a moment.

“It’s not poisoned,” Nova pointed out. “If I wanted to kill you, I’d choose a different method. Something more theatrical.”

She thought she saw Dominic’s lips twitch upwards in a faint smile. Finally, he took a seat and tentatively speared a piece of meat on his fork, holding it up to inspect it. Then, he popped it into his mouth.

The sound of appreciation that escaped him as he chewed the meat made Nova’s chest warm. She watched, sipping her tea, as he scarfed down the entire plate in silence, the only sounds the occasional moan of delight.

The way he ate reminded her of Lila when she made her favorite meals. Quickly and with gusto.

Once he was finished, Dominic pushed the empty plate aside and leaned back in his chair.

“Aria was right. You are a good cook.”

“Up to your werewolf standards?” Nova tilted her head.

Surprisingly, Dominic nodded. “Werewolves require a very specific diet to fuel our wolves. In fact, this dish is a staple of a werewolf diet—the meat is cooked on the rarer side, and the vitamins and macronutrients are balanced perfectly. How did you learn to cook like this?”

Nova puffed her chest out. “My parents died when I was young, so I worked a lot of different jobs to get by. For a few years I worked in an upscale restaurant in another city—the head chef, who was a werewolf, taught me a lot.”

“Well, that was delicious,” Dominic said, then glanced at his watch. “But it’s half-past ten now. Shouldn’t you be getting home?”

Nova nodded and set the dishes in the sink. “Yes, I should start walking now if I want to get home before midnight.”

Dominic blinked. “You don’t have a ride?”

“The buses aren’t running this late and my sister doesn’t have a car. It’ll be fine. I don’t mind walking.”

“Nonsense. A woman shouldn’t walk by herself at night.” Dominic stood, grabbing his car keys off the counter. “I’ll drive you.”

Nova was surprised by that. “Why not your Beta or someone else?”

He shrugged. “All asleep. I could use the fresh air, anyway.”

Nova’s chest warmed once again. She followed Dominic out to the car, the night air cool against her skin. He drove slowly and with the windows down, allowing them both to breathe in the fresh evening breeze.

Eventually, Nova’s eyes fluttered shut. And before she knew it, she had begun to fall asleep.

…

Dominic

“Here we are.”

Dominic pulled up to the curb, parking in front of the small, narrow brownstone apartment that Nova and her family called home. It was sandwiched in between two other brownstones, and there was a single potted plant on the front step. The number on the door read “133”.

He took a moment to look up at the little apartment. It wasn’t much, but Dominic had to admit—every time he came here, the lights were glowing from within and figures were always moving around in the windows, silhouetted through the thin curtains.

Even from here, thanks to his enhanced werewolf hearing, he could make out music and laughter coming from inside.

The tiny apartment seemed full of life and love. It was a stark contrast from the quiet Alpha House. Dominic’s home hadn’t felt like that since his wife had died; it was as if even the house itself was in mourning, his wife’s ghost floating through the halls.

Although, lately, ever since Nova had arrived…

Dominic shook his head to dispel the thoughts and turned toward Nova, wondering why she wasn’t getting out of the car yet.

But she was asleep.

Dominic stared at her for a moment, frozen. Her chest was rising and falling gently beneath the seatbelt, her head tilted to expose the slender, pale column of her neck. A few strands of red hair fell in soft waves across her cheek.

She looked even more beautiful when she was sleeping. Younger. Peaceful.

For a moment, Dominic caught a whiff of that scent that was too similar to his late wife’s. It was almost intoxicating, so intoxicating that Dominic found himself leaning closer, yearning to bite down on her neck and mark her in the same way he had once marked his fated mate.

But he stopped himself, of course. That was absurd; Nova was a human, and his fated mate had been dead for seven years.

“Don’t do anything out of line,” he chided his wolf.

His wolf chuffed. “But she might be our second chance mate. Wouldn’t you want to find out?”

“Nonsense,” Dominic thought back. “Second chance mates are extremely rare. Besides, she’s not a werewolf.”

“You won’t know for certain until you stop trying to push her away.”

Dominic frowned as he looked down at Nova’s sleeping form. Could it be true? After all these years, the Moon Goddess had given him the gift of a new fated mate since he had lost his first?

The thought was both terrifying and thrilling. He didn’t want to move on from his wife—couldn’t move on. It felt wrong, twisted.

And yet… If he had another chance at happiness…

Out of instinct, Dominic began to lean closer, pulled toward Nova by that intoxicating scent. Perhaps…

He reached out to touch her face without even thinking.

But just before he made contact, Nova’s eyes snapped open and met his with ferocity. She jerked back, her gaze flickering to his hand hovering beside her cheek.

“What are you doing?”