Chapter 5: Breaking Point

Liana pov

The compound erupted into controlled chaos.

Wolves ran through corridors with military precision, armed and deadly, preparing for a war that had just landed on Dominic's doorstep.

 I stood frozen in his office, watching through the windows as vehicles rolled out, as his pack mobilized with terrifying efficiency.

Twelve more dead. Because of my father. Because of me.

"This is not your fault." Dominic's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts.

I turned to find him watching me, his ice blue eyes tracking every micro expression on my face. 

The mate bond made it impossible to hide what I was feeling, the guilt, the horror, the crushing weight of being Vincent Moretti's daughter.

"How can you say that?" My voice cracked. "He is using me as bait. Every wolf who dies, dies because your enemies think I make you weak."

"You do make me weak." The admission was raw, reluctant. He crossed the room, his presence overwhelming as always. "But that is my problem, not yours."

"Dominic."

"Alpha." His hand caught my wrist, thumb pressing against my racing pulse. "When we are alone, you call me Alpha."

The command in his voice sent heat pooling low in my stomach, the bond responding to his dominance even as my mind rebelled. "I will not submit to you."

"Yes, you will." His other hand cupped my face, forcing me to meet his gaze. "Eventually. Because this bond will not be denied, little wolf.

 We can fight it, hate it, but in the end, we will both break."

"Is that what you want? For me to break?"

Something dangerous and possessive flashed in his eyes. "I want you to remember. I want you to look at me and see the boy who taught you to track, who promised to keep you safe. 

I want you to remember that before my father destroyed everything, you were mine."

The words hit like a punch. "I was six years old. That does not count."

"It counts." His forehead pressed against mine, the mate bond singing at the contact.

 "It has always counted. Do you think fate is random? The bond recognized what was already there, Liana. What was stolen from us."

I could not breathe. Could not think past the heat of his body, the cedar-smoke scent that made my wolf, the one I could not shift into whimper with need.

"You still want revenge," I whispered. "For your twelve wolves. For your father's death. For everything Vincent took from you."

"Yes." His thumb traced my lower lip, and I hated how I trembled at the touch.

 "I want to watch your father bleed. I want him to suffer for every life he destroyed, including yours. But you?" His grip tightened, possessive and claiming. "You, I want to keep."

Before I could respond, the office door slammed open. Marco stood there, blood splattered across his face, his expression grim.

"We have a breach. North perimeter. They used the explosion as a distraction."

Dominic released me instantly, the ruthless Alpha snapping into place. "How many?"

"At least twenty. Mixed pack signatures, some Volkov, some Castellano. They are after her." Marco's eyes cut to me. "They are demanding we hand over the Sanguis hybrid."

My blood turned to ice. Word had gotten out. Whatever Vincent had planned, it was already in motion.

"Lock down this floor." Dominic moved to his desk, pulling weapons from hidden compartments with practiced ease.

 "Get Dr. Volkov here now. If Liana's suppressants are metabolizing, we need to know what abilities might surface."

"Dominic, wait," I grabbed his arm, desperation making me bold. "If I am the one they want, let me go to them. 

End this before more of your wolves die."

He went utterly still. When he turned to face me, the look in his eyes made my stomach drop.

"Say that again," he said, voice deadly soft. "Tell me again that you think I would hand my mate over to wolves who want to drain your blood and use you as a weapon."

"I am not worth a war."

His hand fisted in my hair, yanking my head back to expose my throat in a gesture of dominance that should have terrified me. Instead, the bond flared hot and urgent, my body responding to his Alpha presence in ways that made me ache.

"You are worth burning this entire city to the ground." His words were a growl against my ear. "You are worth every drop of blood I will spill to keep you safe. And if you ever suggest I hand you over again, I will chain you to my bed and make sure you never forget who you belong to."

Heat and fear and something darker twisted through me. "You cannot just decide."

The window exploded inward.

Glass shattered everywhere as three wolves crashed through, already mid-shift, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger.

 I screamed as Dominic shoved me behind him, his body a shield between me and the attackers.

Everything happened too fast. Dominic shifted partially, his bones cracking and reforming, claws extending as he met the first wolf with brutal efficiency. Blood sprayed. Snarls filled the air. Marco dove into the fight, and I pressed back against the desk, useless and weak and human.

One of the wolves broke past them. Headed straight for me.

I did not think. My hand shot out, connecting with the wolf's snout as it lunged. The moment my skin touched its fur, something inside me ignited.

Black veins spider-webbed from the contact point. The wolf's eyes went wide, foam bubbling from its mouth as it collapsed, convulsing. 

Dead within seconds.

The room went silent.

Dominic stared at me, at my hand still extended, at the dead wolf at my feet. His eyes were pure amber now, his wolf fully present and assessing the threat I had just become.

"Liana." My name was a warning, a question, a claim all at once. "What did you just do?"

I looked down at my trembling hands, at the power I did not know I possessed.

"I have no idea."