Chapter 3

Philip exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple as if I were nothing but a headache. “Canceling a wedding isn’t child’s play, Renee. Especially not for a family of our stature. How many times have I told you that you must consider the pack in all things, and your marriage -- think of what it will look like! What it has already cost!”

I wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it. Not just because he was wrong—my marriage to Tyler was no more expensive than the gala that Brightclaw often held for mingling and trades talks. It was cheaper actually, because I had made it so. Looking back, Tyler's praise of all of my frugality was just another slap in the face.

He probably didn't want that much money spent out so that he could eventually have more of the wealth I stood to inherit to spend on Vivian and her whims.

No. That was irritating, but the thing that really pissed me off was the fact that he, even now, was more concerned about saving his face than anything I might have to say.

"It's not as though I won't have plenty of money to pay back the costs in a few months time."

He set his jaw, glaring at me. "Watch yourself, girl."

I glared back. "You haven't given me a good reason that I can't cancel my own marriage."

He glanced at Dominic who was still staring at me, peering through the things I wasn't saying right to my soul it felt like. I wanted to tell him the truth. I wanted to scream that if this wedding happened, I would die. That this marriage was nothing but a humiliating death sentence. But I couldn’t. If I started talking about the future, they’d think I was crazy.

So I swallowed the fury burning in my throat and forced my voice to remain even.

“It's at the least rushed."

Dominic, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. “Tyler is the gamma of his pack. He’s been a childhood playmate of Vivian’s for years. He's a reliable person.”

The words stung.

Reliable.

For Vivian.

I bit the inside of my cheek, searching for how to reply.

"You --"

Philip simply scoffed. “You must be possessed,” he muttered. “Pre-mating jitters! Enough of this nonsense. You will be a good wife, Renee. They’re expecting children.”

A cold chill ran through me. I felt like I was going to hurl right there. My hands trembled with the effort it took not to recoil at even the thought of one of Tyler's children growing in my body, probably with the same dishonest, traitorous disposition as its father.

I'd rather fucking die.

I snarled at him before I could stop it. “You can stop the charade, Philip."

He sputtered. "You --"

"That’s all I’ve ever been to you. A means to an end.” I lifted my chin, rage burning away my hesitation. “A path to my mother's fortune, a path to elevate your little pack out of obscurity. You have always loved your face more than you loved me. Well, you're going to have to find another way to get that status you keep chasing. I'm. Not. Marrying. Tyler.”

I narrowed my eyes. “And you’re the last person I want to hear from about being a good spouse. You couldn’t even appreciate your own.”

Philip’s face twisted with fury. His hand shot out, aiming to shove me back, I didn't draw back as his eyes filled with light and the air stirred. The hair on the back of my neck lifted. I braced for the compulsion, hoping to fight against it.

But before he could touch me, before he could even speak, Dominic was between us.

His arm came up in a single, fluid motion, catching Philip by the wrist. His grip was firm but effortless, as if restraining my father required no more effort than swatting away an insect.

“Are you out of your mind?” Dominic’s voice was sharp, quiet, but edged with something dangerous. “Putting your hands on her?”

Philip’s anger wavered, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the right excuse, but Dominic wasn’t looking at him anymore. He was looking at me.

His grip on my father didn’t loosen, but his free hand came to rest at my back, drawing me subtly closer. To the delicious musky scent he radiated.

“Has he ever done this before?”

His voice was softer now, but the weight behind it was heavier.

I barely heard Philip sputtering in the background, trying to assure Dominic that this was just a misunderstanding, that he would never because I was too aware of Dominic’s hand at my back, of the sheer warmth of his body so close to mine. His scent wrapped around me, dark and rich, something deep and undeniably male. It was grounding. Comforting.

And that was dangerous… and an opportunity.

Philip loved the idea of climbing the rungs of society too much to ever listen to me. If I wanted to get out of this marriage, I would have to escape now or get Dominic to intercede.

Running wasn't an option, so I forced myself to breathe, forced myself to push away the distraction of Dominic’s presence, the way his voice curled around my name like something meant to shield me.

Philip was still talking, still trying to explain himself.

“I would never lay a hand on my daughter,” he insisted, his voice almost wheedling now. “You misunderstand, Dominic. This is a family matter—”

Dominic finally let go of Philip’s wrist, stepping fully between us, a wall of unshakable steel.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” he said smoothly. “After I speak with Renee. Alone.”

Philip hesitated, his jaw working as if weighing his options. Finally, he exhaled sharply, turning back toward me.

"Alpha Dominic, if you can speak some sense into her, you know how emotional women her age are."

"I've always found Renee to be quite level-headed, even in her passion."

Philip seemed stunned, and my stomach jolted at Dominic's words.

Philip glared at me then turned and walked away.

Dominic placed his hand on my back and steered me into one of the empty parlors. The heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind us, sealing us away from the rest of the house, the rest of the world.

He turned to me, arms crossing over his broad chest, assessing me in that unreadable way of his.

“Alright. We’re alone now.” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it. “Tell me the real reason.”

I swallowed. He wouldn’t believe me if I told him the truth, but I had to tell him something he would believe. So, I took a breath and leaned into what I knew was already simmering in his mind—the suspicion that my father was abusive.

I let my shoulders curl in slightly, my gaze dropping. “Philip has never seen me as his daughter. Not really. I’ve always been a chess piece." I scoffed. "A pawn. That’s all I’ve ever been to him.”

Dominic’s golden eyes pinned me in place, unreadable and sharp.

“That may be true,” he murmured. “But that’s not what sent you running down the hall just now.”

I scrambled for something to say, something to divert his attention, but he was already too close, already closing in on me with the quiet intensity that made my pulse hammer.

His scent filled my nose sending warmth curling through my stomach despite myself.

And then, a reckless idea struck me.

It was risky. Dangerous.

But at this point, it was the only option I had.

Before I could think too much about it, I rose up on my toes, grabbed the front of Dominic’s robe and kissed him with everything I had.