He Doesn't Love You Anymore (Amber and Ethan) novel Chapter 62

+25 BONUS

If Grace Remains

(Amber’s POV)

I woke up just before noon, stretching lazily in the soft sheets of my bed. The full fall moon festival had arrived, and tonight we would be dining at the Blackwood Pack House. I should have been excited, but I was still annoyed with Dominic for his behavior the night before.

He had been developing an irritating habit lately. Whenever he did something for me, he’d demand “payment” in return. Like getting wet when retrieving my yellow diamond studs from the auction, or when his car supposedly broke down. Each time, he’d ask for something in return with that infuriating smirk on his face.

“Don’t lie to me,” I had retorted last night. “You have bodyguards when you go out. How could they possibly let you get wet?”

His face had been priceless–completely speechless at being caught in his lie. But then he’d pinned me to the bed and made love to me until midnight, effectively ending the argument. Typical Alpha male tactic.

I rolled my eyes at the memory and dragged myself out of bed. Tonight would be interesting, to say the least.

After showering, I found myself thinking about the incident with Melissa again. Dominic had been insistent about providing me with a driver afterward.

“He’s attentive and excellent at avoiding accidents,” Dominic had explained, his blue eyes serious.

Isuspected he was trolling my driving skills and said as much to Lucas when we met for coffee last week.

Lucas had laughed. “That’s no ordinary chauffeur, Amber. He’s a former Muay Thai champion and professional bodyguard.”

“What? Why would Dominic assign someone like that to me?”

“Because Dominic always has multiple bodyguards following him discreetly,” Lucas explained, stirring his coffee. “It’s a precaution that started after a past car accident.”

That brought me back to the severity of the crash I’d witnessed on Ravenclaw Bridge. The mangled metal, the blood, the way Dominic’s body had been thrown from the vehicle…

“Do you think someone might be after him?” I asked, my throat suddenly dry.

Lucas’s expression turned serious. “It’s possible. The crash traumatized him–watching his friend die like that.”

He seemed uneasy discussing it further, which only confirmed my suspicion that there was more to the story than I knew.

I sighed and checked the time. I needed to start getting ready for tonight.

My mind drifted to the auction I’d asked Dominic to attend on my behalf. I had initially planned to go myself, but Dominic happened to be traveling to the same location for business. Before he left, I had given him an exquisite suede box.

“It’s a gift for the full moon festival in the fall,” I had told him.

But that wasn’t entirely true. It was actually for his birthday, which was tomorrow. I’d discovered the date on our partnership certificate–something I’d never paid attention to before, too preoccupied with Ethan and my own problems.

I wanted to get him the perfect gift. Our partnership was something I was taking increasingly seriously, and I wanted him to know that.

A month earlier, I had casually asked Ryan about Dominic’s birthday plans.

“He usually celebrates in a low–key way with friends,” Ryan had explained. “I tried organizing something bigger this year, but he refused. Just wanted something small and quiet.”

Later, I mentioned this to Paige, who immediately had her own theory.

“Maybe his change in behavior is because you’ve never celebrated his birthday before,” she suggested with a knowing smile.

1/3

If Grace Remains

+25 BONUS

I wasn’t sure if she was right, but I decided not to ask him directly. Instead, I bought a gift anyway, disguising it as a festival present. Cora, my wolf, was particularly pleased with this decision. She saw it as a step toward strengthening our mate bond. When Dominic returned from his trip, he took the gift I’d given him and opened it carefully. Inside were a pair of rare and precious yellow diamond cufflinks that would perfectly match his black shirt.

“Is this really a gift for the full moon festival of the fall moon?” he asked, his blue eyes studying me intently.

“Yes,” I affirmed, trying to keep my voice casual. “I chose them because they’re perfect for you. I found them at an auction because I didn’t think an ordinary gift would be good enough.”

He looked genuinely touched. “I’m sorry I don’t have a gift for you for the festival.”

I pointed to my earrings. “These are a couples‘ set that you bought for me at the auction. So technically, they’re a gift from you.”

His eyes darkened with understanding as he pulled me close and kissed me deeply, acknowledging the matching set. I had carefully coordinated our outfits as well, creating a subtle visual statement of our partnership.

As we arrived at the Blackwood Pack House that evening, I realized this year’s Fall Moon Festival was the most comfortable I’d ever felt here. The pack members present had witnessed my confrontations and Dominic’s unwavering support, making the atmosphere more respectful than ever before.

The absence of Ethan, who Dominic had conveniently sent away on pack business, and Melissa, who was still hospitalized, contributed significantly to the peaceful ambiance. I couldn’t help but smile at how Dominic had arranged things so perfectly.

Olivia, however, was furious about her son being forced to travel. She had wanted to confront Dominic face–to–face but was stopped by her husband Benjamin, who wisely convinced her to return home before she caused a scene. I caught a glimpse of her storming out earlier, her face flushed with anger.

Ivy seemed delighted by Olivia’s absence and took charge of preparing dinner, clearly enjoying her temporary role as hostess. I watched her flit about, giving orders to the staff with barely concealed pleasure.

Inside me, Cora remained vigilant as always, but I noticed she was significantly more relaxed than at previous gatherings. She no longer felt the need to be on high alert, sensing no immediate threats among the pack members present.

After dinner, King Alpha William summoned his sons and grandsons to his study. While waiting for Dominic to return, I received an unexpected invitation to Rebecca’s room.

“I wanted to thank you,” Rebecca said as she welcomed me inside. Her room was warm and cozy, with family photos arranged neatly on the dresser. “For helping Lucas secure that position at Shadow Peak. I recognize your influence in that.”

I shook my head. “Lucas earned that position on his own merits. I merely pointed out what should have been obvious to everyone.”

“Still, you defended him. That means a lot.”

“Lucas is brilliant,” I said firmly. “He’s second only to Dominic in intelligence and wit. His financial acumen in managing investments is exceptional. He’ll be successful because of who he is, not because of any favors.”

Rebecca’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You’re a good person, Amber. A good companion for Dominic.” She took my hand gently. “Grace would have loved you.”

“Grace?” I asked, puzzled.

“Dominic’s mother,” she explained with a sad smile. “You remind me of her in many ways.”

As I prepared to leave, Rebecca handed me a small box. “Some cupcakes I made myself. You and Dominic should try them together.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify