The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 35

Dominic POV

I honestly don’t know how I ended up here.

Actually, that’s a lie. I do.

It started with me yelling at my Betas to shut their mouths about Ellie. Maybe I thought backing her publicly would fix… something.

It didn’t.

But it wasn’t my fault. Ellie was ticking me off — letting Lucas, of all guys, actually kiss her.

I wanted her to get her back. Get under her skin, so I agreed to a date. With Vivian.

I did it loudly enough that Ellie could hear. I waited for the reaction — tears, begging for me not to go, the crack in her composed act.

But Ellie didn’t even flinch.

She only arched a brow as if she found the whole thing predictable, then turned away without a word, stepping right beside Lucas like it was the easiest thing she’d done all day. He smirked, she shrugged, and before I could process any of it, the two of them walked out together.

Just left. She didn’t care about the date. She didn’t care when I defended her. I didn’t get it.

And now here I am, sitting at a tiny pastel café table across from Vivian like I’d planned the whole thing — when, in fact, Vivian insisted on this place. Soft lighting, tiny teacups, walls painted like a bakery in a storybook, and her favorite cute mugs with hand-painted cats. She practically glowed when she ordered two pistachio croissants “for sharing.”

Perfect. Except I’m allergic to pistachios.

I stare at the flaky, golden pastry like it’s a death sentence wrapped in buttery layers.

Ellie always remembered my allergies. She used to bring me chocolate croissants after her morning coffee runs without asking, just dropped them on my desk like it was nothing.

Vivian beams at me. “Isn’t it adorable? I get these every time I come here.”

“Yeah,” I say, because I don’t have the heart to ruin her mood. “Looks… great.”

She talks.

And talks.

And talks.

Not in an annoying way, exactly. She’s sweet. Enthusiastic. She laughs at everything. Smiles at every half-joke. Even a few that weren’t jokes. I used to like that.

Vivian is… nice. Delicate. Soft in a way that makes me feel like I’m supposed to protect her.

I’ve always felt that way with her.

But as she fills every space between breaths with desperate chatter about her favorite books, the café décor, her morning routine, her shampoo scent—something uncomfortable creeps along my spine.

I remember her being more soft-spoken. Not so…wound tight.

With Ellie, silence filled the space naturally. Even before her weird personality flip, she never fought to fill it.

I didn’t have to perform like an Alpha, scramble for the right words, or prove I was worth sitting next to. She was just… there.

And we could just exist.

With Vivian, silence was more like quicksand. She’s been talking for ten minutes straight, and I can barely wedge a single sentence in. I nod at the right moments. Smile when she laughs. Pretend I’m here on purpose.

My mind drifts. Back to the bench. Back to Lucas’s stupid grin. Back to the moment he kissed Ellie on the cheek. I can’t help it, it’s on repeat behind my eyes.

Something twisted hard in my chest when I saw it, even now, the memory drags heat up my neck.

Why would she let him do that?

Gods. Why Lucas? He’s a second-rate future alpha at best and a playboy at worst.

And the only explanation is the one that makes sense in my head:

The Healer Academy.

Lucas has his connections, and the Healer Academy has a few of his family kin involved.

Ellie, before meeting me, always wanted that route. I remember she gave it up for me. Claimed she denounced it, for us. She wouldn’t show interest in it or kiss Lucas unless…

Unless she was doing it to get my attention.

I nearly smirked.

Yeah. That’s the only thing that makes sense. And that means she’s still thinking about me. She still feels the bond.

She’s trying to make me jealous. That’s why she’s doing all this. An act.

Whatever. She’ll come back eventually once she’s done being dramatic.

Vivian pauses mid-sentence, noticing I’ve zoned out.

“You look bored,” she says gently, her lips dipping into a pout. “What are you thinking about?”

I force my gaze back to her. “Nothing. Just—”

Her eyes narrow with surprising accuracy.

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