CHAPTER 7: RECURRING MEMORIES

The dreams were back again. This time they came at her more intensely than they had been the last few times she had had them. What the hell was this about her being dressed in ancient regalia?

This time, she saw herself dancing and turning around in a cave that was covered with relics. She looked completely different from her normal self. It looked like her soul had left her body and possessed the body of a stranger. A powerful stranger at that because she could feel the energy as it seeped through her veins.

Summer kept thinking about it all day; she sat by the table lost in thoughts; she didn't even notice when it was time to take her bath.

The soft knock on her door and the sound of the door opening were what signaled to her that Hilda had come in. She had a big kettle in her hand.

"Ready to take a bath, ma'am?" Hilda asked her with a smile on her lips, but Summer was silent. Hilda noticed this and was puzzled. It was unlike Summer to be completely silent. She probably didn't even hear her when she had spoken.

"My lady?" Hilda called again.

"Just get the bath ready, Hilda," she muttered without even looking in Hilda's direction. Hilda nodded her head and quietly walked to the bathroom to prepare the bath.

The soft fragrance of lavender oils mixed with the unique fragrance that came from her lush bath filtered through the air. It was enough enticement to go and have her bath, and Summer, at that moment, decided that she was done contemplating the dream since she didn't know what it meant or what significance it held.

It was probably only a dream, except that it was reoccurring too much.

That was the part she didn't like and honestly couldn't understand.

Summer let out a sigh as she stood up from her seat and allowed her long, flowy dress to fall freely to the floor before she stepped over it and headed to the bathroom.

Moments later, when she was done bathing, she stepped out of the tub and allowed the water to drop on the floor as her beautiful toes touched the ground.

"Grab me a garment, Hilda, will you?" She requested without looking as she walked out of the bathroom stark naked. She walked out to see, to her dismay, that Dominic was standing tall and confidently in her room.

Her eyes widened as she realized that she was naked. Luckily for her, he had his back turned away from her direction as he seemed to be staring at something in her wardrobe, and she quickly ran back into the stall before he turned to see her.

"What are you doing in my room?!" She asked; she was already riled up and irritated.

How could he come into her room at a time like that?

And why the hell did Hilda not inform her that they had company?!

"How did you sleep last night?" Dominic's voice echoed. He completely ignored her question and her seeming outburst.

Summer cursed under her breath as she looked around the stall in search of something—anything at all—to cover herself with.

Soon, Hilda appeared in the bathroom with a long robe dress in hand. She eyed her apologetically as she assisted her in putting on the robe.

Summer let out an eye roll as she covered her body with the dress before she walked out of the bathroom, confident again.

"You haven't answered my question." She demanded with her head held high. Dominic turned to look at her. He allowed his eyes to run through her entire body, from her feet to her face, before finally settling on her eyes. He had a small smile on his lips, and it made Summer wonder whether he had seen her nakedness before she had the time to scamper to safety. She was sure he didn't turn to look at her, but she didn't know. He was after all a lycan, and there was only so little she knew about his capabilities.

"What was your question?" He asked her as he stared deep into her eyes, searching. For something she didn't know. She hated that he looked at her so fondly.

He was supposed to address her with honorifics. Not staring at her like they had known each other for years when in the actual sense he had been an enemy to her pack. She let out an eye roll at his forwardness as she looked away from him and simply kept silent.

Dominic soon let out a breath as he clasped his two hands behind him and walked to where she stood, glaring at him. Her hair was still wet from her bath, and he could see the little beads of water rolling from her neck down to the V-shaped opening that led to her breasts. He eyed her for a few seconds, though he didn't make that evident. He already knew she hated his guts.

"I was wondering if you would love to have dinner with me." He said to her, and she eyed him.

"Dinner?" She asked him in disbelief.

"Yeah," he responded and proceeded to explain. "I'm hosting a few friends for dinner. I have ordered the pack servants to get everything ready—the wines and the steak. I just want to have you eat with us at the table as well." He said as he continued to watch her to gauge her reaction.

Summer stared at him for a few seconds before she looked away with a scoff.

He was unbelievable; her subconscious rolled her eyes at him.

"I'm not hungry, and I am not having any dinner with you." She said to him and walked towards her wardrobe.

Dominic's eyes followed her, and he turned in the direction that she was headed.

"It's not something elaborate," he said, explaining. "It's just...I would want-"

"The answer is no!" She yelled, cutting him off. "Enjoy your steak." She added.

Hilda's eyes were as large as saucers. She couldn't believe that the Lycan king would be this disrespectful and constant.

She was honestly beginning to fear for Summer. She may be going too far and pushing her limits. She hated to think of what the Lycan king could do to her. What he had done to his past subordinates who had disrespected him in ways far more tolerable than what Summer was doing presently.

Dominic was silent, then he spoke after a beat.

"This was supposed to be a polite invitation," he said as he clenched his fists to hold back his restrained anger. "But you have left me with no other choice than to demand it." He said to her.

Summer let out another scoff.

"And here I thought I was being respected." She muttered sarcastically.

"You were," he maintained.

"I am not." She argued. "If this was a request, you sure would have taken my no for an answer. But here you are, commanding me to obey your demand just like the narcissist that you are." She spat and immediately regretted the words the moment they left her lips.

She saw the hurt that registered briefly in his eyes before he masked them with a stoic and unreadable expression.

It wasn't as if he was a narcissist; he wasn't at all. But the strange urge she had to hurt his feelings, just because her ego was bruised and she knew that she was left with no choice but to obey his demand, was what made her lash out at him.

"Dress elegantly," he said to her. The smile that was on his face earlier on had disappeared and was now replaced by a scowl. "There will be dignitaries present." He said and walked away.

Summer knew she was the one to blame for his change of mood. She felt bad but she managed to force the guilt that gnawed at her conscience down to the bottom of her thoughts.

She let out a huff and turned to see that Hilda was still standing there and watching her.

"What?" She snapped at her.

"M-my lady," Hilda stuttered out, not knowing how to say this in a polite manner. "D-don't you think you were rude to the Lycan king?" She asked, oh so politely, and Summer glared at her.

Who's side was she on in this?

"I can speak any way I like to whomever!" She maintained, and Hilda immediately nodded her head.

"I understand that, but considering his status and who he represents," she was saying. "I think for your safety you should water down on your approach towards him. He was only being nice to you." She said.

Who knew what he could decide to do when he no longer wanted to be nice anymore? Hilda thought in her heart.

Summer ran her fingers through her hair in evident frustration.

Of course, what was she expecting? She would be loyal only to her king.

"Leave me alone." She suddenly said.

"Sorry?" Hilda asked, confused.

"Leave this instant!" She yelled. "I can dress myself up." She claimed.