CHAPTER 5: The Gala

The tailored suit arrived at precisely nine in the morning, delivered by a service that handled the garment like it contained the crown jewels. Gabriel stared at the midnight blue fabric, at the way the light caught subtle patterns woven into the material, and knew without checking the label that it cost more than he had earned in the past six months combined.

It fit perfectly. Of course it did. Dominic would have ensured that every measurement was exact, that Gabriel would have no excuse to appear as anything less than what an Alpha's companion should be. Gabriel stood before the full-length mirror in his assigned room and barely recognized himself. The suit transformed him from the shabby exile he had become into someone who looked like they might actually belong in Dominic Ashford's world.

The illusion was almost convincing enough to believe.

Ethan collected him at six o'clock, his professional mask firmly in place as he looked Gabriel over with critical eyes. "You'll do," he said, which Gabriel suspected was the closest thing to a compliment the Beta would offer. "Mr. Ashford is waiting in the car. Try not to keep him waiting longer than necessary."

The private elevator descended directly to the parking garage, where a sleek black Mercedes waited with Dominic already seated in the back. Gabriel slid in beside him, acutely aware of the expensive leather seats and the privacy partition that separated them from the driver. Dominic wore a charcoal suit that probably cost as much as a small car, his dark hair styled with casual perfection, looking every inch the billionaire Alpha who commanded empires with a gesture.

He did not look at Gabriel as the car pulled into traffic, his attention fixed on his phone as he scrolled through what appeared to be endless emails. The silence stretched between them, heavy with everything that had happened the night before in the shower. Gabriel could feel Dominic's awareness of him through the mate bond, could sense the tight control his mate maintained over his body's involuntary responses.

"The guests tonight will include representatives from every major pack in North America," Dominic said finally, his voice carefully neutral. "There will also be human politicians, business leaders, and various supernatural entities who prefer to keep their nature private. Everyone there will know who you are. Everyone will be watching to see how I handle the exorcist who should have stayed forgotten."

Gabriel absorbed the casual cruelty of the statement, reminding himself that this was part of the arrangement. Dominic wanted him humiliated, wanted to parade him as proof that even rejected mate bonds could be controlled and suppressed through sheer force of will.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" Gabriel asked, keeping his voice level.

"Stay close to me. Speak only when spoken to directly. Do not discuss your family, the Holy Order, or anything related to exorcist business. Smile when appropriate, and look appropriately grateful to be there." Dominic finally turned to look at him, golden eyes sweeping over Gabriel's appearance with an expression that might have been approval or assessment. "You clean up better than I expected. Try to remember that you're there as my companion, not as yourself."

The Fairmont Hotel rose before them, all historic elegance and modern luxury combined. Valets rushed to open doors as the Mercedes pulled up to the red carpet entrance. Gabriel could see photographers positioned strategically, flashes already going off as other guests arrived in their expensive cars and designer clothes.

Dominic stepped out first, his movements fluid and confident, immediately comfortable being the center of attention. He turned back and offered Gabriel his hand, a gesture that looked chivalrous but felt like a test. Gabriel took it, feeling the shock of skin against skin, feeling the mate bond flare between them with enough intensity that he saw Dominic's pupils dilate before iron control reasserted itself.

They walked the red carpet together, Dominic's hand settling possessively on Gabriel's lower back, warm through the expensive suit fabric. Cameras flashed continuously. Gabriel heard whispers following them, voices that carried despite attempts at discretion.

"Is that the exorcist?"

"I heard Dominic rejected him years ago."

"What is he doing here?"

"Maybe the rumors about them were true after all."

Dominic's hand pressed more firmly against Gabriel's back, a subtle reminder of ownership or perhaps a warning to ignore the speculation. They entered the grand ballroom, and Gabriel felt the weight of hundreds of eyes turning to assess them. The room was magnificent, all crystal chandeliers and gold accents, tables decorated with floral arrangements that probably cost more than Gabriel's monthly rent.

Supernatural beings mingled with humans who had no idea they were surrounded by werewolves, vampires, and creatures Gabriel could only guess at. The scent of power and money hung thick in the air, mixing with expensive perfumes and the underlying musk of predators pretending to be civilized.

Dominic introduced Gabriel to an endless stream of influential people, his hand never leaving Gabriel's back, his tone coldly formal as he presented his "companion" to pack leaders and business associates. Gabriel smiled when expected, shook hands with people who looked at him with expressions ranging from curiosity to contempt, and tried to ignore the way the mate bond pulsed stronger with every passing minute.

They were speaking with a vampire who owned half of Portland's commercial real estate when Gabriel felt someone's attention on him with predatory intensity. He turned slightly and found himself looking into pale blue eyes that belonged to a man who radiated Alpha dominance almost as strongly as Dominic did.

Silas King was beautiful in the way dangerous things often were, all sharp edges and controlled violence wrapped in an impeccably tailored suit. His platinum blond hair was styled to perfection, his smile charming in a way that did not quite reach those calculating eyes. He approached them with the confidence of someone who had never been refused anything he wanted.

"Dominic," Silas said warmly, extending his hand for a shake that looked friendly but felt like a challenge. "What a surprise to see you here with a companion. You've been turning down social invitations for years."

"Silas," Dominic replied, his tone cordial but cool. "Allow me to introduce Gabriel Thorne. Gabriel, this is Silas King, Alpha of the Northshore Pack."

Silas's gaze fixed on Gabriel with an intensity that made his skin prickle with awareness. The other Alpha took Gabriel's hand, holding it slightly longer than necessary, his thumb brushing across Gabriel's knuckles in a gesture that felt deliberately intimate.

"Gabriel Thorne," Silas said, his voice dropping to something almost seductive. "I've heard so much about you. The exorcist heir who captured an Alpha's attention despite all the reasons he shouldn't have. Fascinating."

Gabriel felt Dominic tense beside him, felt the possessiveness radiating through the mate bond even as his mate's expression remained perfectly controlled. Silas noticed it too, from the way his smile widened with satisfaction.

"I'd love to hear your story," Silas continued, still holding Gabriel's hand. "Perhaps we could have lunch sometime this week? I'm sure Dominic wouldn't mind sharing you for an afternoon."

"Gabriel's schedule is full," Dominic said, his voice dropping to something dangerous. His hand on Gabriel's back became almost painful in its pressure. "He's here as my companion, Silas. Not as entertainment for other Alphas looking to cause trouble."

Silas finally released Gabriel's hand, holding up both palms in mock surrender. "No offense intended. I simply appreciate quality when I see it." His pale blue eyes swept over Gabriel one more time, lingering in ways that made the appreciation clear. "If you ever find yourself in need of a different arrangement, Gabriel, you know where to find me."

He walked away, disappearing into the crowd with the satisfaction of someone who had accomplished exactly what he intended. Dominic's hand on Gabriel's back trembled slightly with suppressed rage, his breathing carefully controlled as he fought whatever instincts were screaming at him to respond to another Alpha's blatant interest in his mate.

"We need to talk," Dominic said quietly, his voice strained. "Now."

He guided Gabriel through the ballroom with barely controlled urgency, navigating around clusters of guests until they reached a quiet corridor that led toward the hotel's private meeting rooms. The moment they were alone, away from prying eyes and curious whispers, Dominic spun Gabriel around and pinned him against the wall.

The movement was pure predator, all dominant Alpha responding to a perceived threat to what belonged to him. Dominic's hand came up to Gabriel's throat, not squeezing but resting there with possessive weight, his thumb pressing against Gabriel's pulse point where it hammered frantically. Their bodies pressed together from chest to thigh, and Gabriel could feel every hard line of Dominic's body, could feel the evidence of his mate's arousal despite all his protests about wanting nothing to do with their bond.

"When Silas looks at you like that," Dominic growled, his voice rough with barely controlled need, "you remember who you belong to."

The mate bond flared between them like lightning, bright and undeniable, responding to Dominic's possessive declaration with a surge of heat that made Gabriel gasp. Dominic's other hand gripped Gabriel's hip hard enough to bruise, holding him in place as the Alpha leaned in and inhaled deeply at the curve of Gabriel's neck.

Scenting him. Marking him with scent if not with teeth. The gesture was pure wolf instinct, pure mate claiming what was his regardless of what his human mind insisted about rejection and suppression therapy.

Gabriel could not stop the small sound that escaped his throat, could not control the way his body arched into Dominic's touch despite knowing this was temporary, despite knowing his mate would pull away and pretend this never happened. His hands came up to grip Dominic's shoulders, fingers digging into expensive fabric, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer.

Dominic's lips brushed against Gabriel's neck, not quite a kiss but close enough to make Gabriel shudder with want. He could feel Dominic's breath hot against his skin, could feel the way his mate's control wavered and threatened to shatter completely. The hand on Gabriel's throat tightened slightly, and Gabriel felt his own arousal respond with painful intensity.

"You're mine," Dominic whispered against Gabriel's skin, the words sounding like they were torn from somewhere deep and primal. "No matter what I said five years ago, no matter what therapy we do or how much distance I try to maintain, you're mine. The bond knows it even if I refuse to acknowledge it."

Gabriel's breath came in shallow gasps, his entire body trembling with need and the terrible hope that maybe, maybe Dominic would finally give in to what existed between them. He tilted his head back against the wall, offering his throat in instinctive submission, silently begging his mate to take what they both wanted.

For one perfect moment, suspended in time and desire, Gabriel felt Dominic's control slip completely. Felt the Alpha's teeth graze his throat, felt the promise of a claiming bite that would make their bond visible to everyone who looked at them.

Then Dominic jerked back like Gabriel had burned him, his chest heaving with the effort of restraint. His golden eyes were wild, pupils blown wide with desire and fury at himself for losing control. He stared at Gabriel pinned against the wall, looking thoroughly debauched in his expensive suit, and something like horror crossed his face.

"This changes nothing," Dominic said, his voice harsh. He stepped back, putting distance between them, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. "You are here for therapy, and to prove that proximity weakens rather than strengthens rejected bonds. This was a mistake."

Gabriel slid down the wall slightly, his legs weak, his body aching with unfulfilled need. He could still feel Dominic's hand on his throat, could still feel the phantom sensation of teeth that had almost claimed him. He was painfully hard in his expensive suit pants, desperate and wanting in ways that made shame burn through him.

"A mistake," Gabriel repeated hollowly. "Right. Because wanting your mate is always a mistake."

Dominic's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking as he fought whatever response wanted to break free. "We're going back to the gala. You will smile and pretend nothing happened. You will stay close to me and remember that you belong to me whether I want you to or not. Tomorrow we start the actual therapy sessions. Tonight was proof that we need them."

He turned and walked back toward the ballroom, leaving Gabriel alone in the corridor to compose himself, to will away the arousal that showed clearly through his expensive clothes, to pretend that his mate had not just come within seconds of claiming him completely.

Gabriel took several deep breaths, trying to calm his racing heart, trying to rebuild the walls that Dominic's possessiveness had shattered. His fingers touched his throat where Dominic's hand had been, where he could still feel the warmth of his mate's palm, where teeth had almost broken skin and changed everything.

Thirty days of this. Thirty days of Dominic claiming him in private and rejecting him in public, of proximity that inflamed rather than suppressed their bond, of playing games with desire and denial while Gabriel's father suffers and the mate therapy tries to destroy what connects them.

Gabriel straightened his suit, checked his reflection in a gilt-framed mirror hanging in the corridor, and forced himself to return to the ballroom. Dominic stood exactly where Gabriel had left him, surrounded by admirers who sought his attention and approval, looking perfectly composed as though he had not just pinned his rejected mate against a wall and nearly claimed him completely.

Their eyes met across the crowded room, and the mate bond pulsed with want, frustration and the terrible knowledge that neither of them would survive these thirty days unchanged.

The only question was what would remain when the therapy either broke their bond or proved it was stronger than rejection could ever be.