Chapter 5

I descended the grand staircase, my red dress flowing around me like a wave of molten lava, cinched tight and clinging to every curve.

I caught a glimpse of Vivian's face as I walked down, her lips pressing into a thin line, her eyes flashing with jealousy.

Tyler stood near the buffet table, surrounded by a group of friends, looking every bit the handsome, charming man he pretended to be. As soon as he saw me, his eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, he was stunned. His jaw dropped. He gave me a heated look and a smile. It made me sick.

I stopped in the middle of the floor and he came toward me.

"Rene… you --"

I raised a hand, and the music screeched to a halt. The entire room seemed to freeze and turn to look at us. Tyler’s expression faltered, and I knew he was already feeling the heat of the moment.

"Tyler," I said, my voice cutting through the silence. "You should come clean now."

He blinked, his façade faltering for just a split second.

"What are you talking about?" His voice was strained, but he quickly masked it with a practiced nonchalance.

"Empty your pockets." I glared at him. "Now."

A tense silence filled the space between us as Tyler hesitated. The people around us began to murmur, unsure of what was going on. He shifted uncomfortably.

"Renee --"

Before he could react, I darted forward. Tyler tried to pull away, but I was quicker. In a single motion, I yanked open his jacket, shoved my hand in his inner breast pocket and pulled out the familiar red, limited edition, lace underwear.

I twirled them on my finger, high enough for everyone to see, the movement sent the scent of sex and perfume through the air. It made my stomach turn, but everyone in the hall was looking at us now. I met his gaze. The room went completely silent, the air thick with tension.

I recognized them immediately as Vivian's. I had been in the fucking shop when she bought them and they were the same shade of red as my dress.

Tyler’s face drained of color, his mouth opening and closing as he scrambled for words, but I didn’t give him the chance.

"I gave you the chance to be honest," I said, my voice low and filled with venom. "I even gave you the opportunity to save face, but you didn’t take it."

"Renee--"

"Save it," I said. "The wedding is off, you cheating bastard."

The murmurs around me shifted into a low buzz as Tyler’s embarrassment was replaced with anger. His face flushed crimson. Just as I thought I had gained some support from the crowd, Vivian stood up, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

She laughed. "Really, Renee? Tyler's bachelor party was last night," Vivian said, her tone dismissive and smooth. "It didn’t mean anything. You’re being petty, Renee."

The crowd hesitated, their uncertain whispers now turning into nods of agreement. The sheep of the upper echelons of werewolf society would always fall behind the Brightclaw princess, but I wasn't going to let her get out of this easily. I didn't see Dominic in the hall. I had to keep it going until he arrived.

"You think a bachelor's party is an excuse for cheating?"

Vivian smirked, her eyes glinting with malicious satisfaction. "You're just embarrassing yourself, you know? Not even married yet and you're showing how jealous you are," she continued, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Or are you saying I would introduce you to a cheater?"

Considering she didn't even have the sense to change perfume between their tryst and now it was ridiculous how no one even questioned it.

"His bachelor party was several days ago," I said. "And these are too expensive for a stripper hired for a bachelor party," I said, holding up the lace underwear for all to see. "The perfume is too expensive too, you should know since you wear it, too."

A tense silence fell over the crowd, and I could see the realization start to creep into their eyes that I knew.

But Tyler, ever the liar, tried to maintain his grip on the narrative. He scoffed, his face twisted in defensiveness.

"And you?" He narrowed his eyes. "You never wear lipstick and your lips look swollen… You must have cheated on me with someone else, and now you’re using this pathetic excuse to back out of our marriage."

Before I could respond, Philip's voice rang out, heavy and commanding.

"Enough," he hissed, breaking thorugh the crowd. He turned to me, his eyes flashing with fury. "How many people are you trying to make a joke of, Renee? "

"You--"

"Silence."

I felt the pressure of his alpha compulsion seep into my bones, like a heavy weight shutting my mouth. My body grew stiff, my breath coming in shallow gasps as his power pressed against me. I tried to fight it, but it was like trying to stand against a storm.

Vivian’s voice cut through the tension like a dagger, her tone biting and cruel. "She has to be cheating," she sneered. "As if she could do better than Tyler. I always said you weren't as smart as people thought you were."

Philip stormed towards me, grabbing my arm, yanking and bruising me.

"Who have you slept with? Tell the truth."

The pressure of Philip’s compulsion wrapped around me like a vice, but I grinned, baring my teeth and staring at Tyler.

"I haven’t slept with anyone," I said, loudly, glad that everyone could see that I was under compulsion so they couldn't just assume I was lying about it. "Not even Tyler."

Vivian flushed. A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd, and Tyler’s face flush with deep crimson, his embarrassment clear for all to see. I knew from the future that he'd been telling people that we'd already slept together before we were married.

Philip, seemingly satisfied with my admission, grinned. His tone became almost fatherly as he addressed the crowd and let me go.

"Well… that clears things up, doesn't it? Renee is clearly not cheating. Now, let’s move on with the ceremony." He leaned closer, his voice sharp and heavy. "Get to the fucking altar with Tyler, and not a word but I do."

He released me then. I felt like I was walking through molasses as I made my way toward the altar, my feet heavy with the weight of the compulsion. I looked around, searching for Dominic, but he wasn't there. Where was he? I tried to slow down, but it wasn't working. My body moved on its own.

Vivian’s eyes glinted with annoyance, her irritation palpable as she looked toward Tyler's parents, who were already murmuring about how great it was that Tyler would have a virgin bride. Embarrassment swept through me, but it was beat out by my desperation. The force of Philip’s compulsion, the weight of their eyes on me, the relentless march toward a fate I had no power to change—it was too much. I could barely keep my head above the rising tide of panic.

Tyler’s smug expression did nothing but fuel the fire of my fury. I wanted to claw his face off. I'd kill him.

I'd kill him before he could kill me even if that had to be tonight.

We got to the altar together, and the priest started talking. I tried to keep my hands away, refusing to participate when Philip growled again.

"Put your hands out and bare your neck."

I swore my neck cracked under the force of his command. My eyes burned as I glared at Tyler.

My heart hammered.

I wouldn't close my eyes, I wouldn't turn away as he leaned in, mouth open to mark me.

"Enough!" Dominic’s voice rang out across the room, sharp and commanding, slicing through the tension like a knife. His hand clamped around my arm, firm but gentle and pulled me away from Tyler as he snarled. "The wedding is canceled."