#Chapter 6 - He Protects

I was frozen at the altar, the weight of Philip’s compulsion still coiling around me like invisible chains, forcing me to keep silent, but Dominic's words echoed through me, giving me hope. My vision blurred with tears of relief. He looked down at me, meeting my gaze, and the anger on his face was like a fire barely held back from setting the whole building ablaze. The air in the room shifted. "But --" “I said, the engagement is off.” Dominic’s voice cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and absolute. His words echoed through the hall, sending a ripple of gasps through the crowd. He shifted me to one side. "Renee?" I couldn't answer him I couldn't speak. His brows drew together sharply. His jaw tightened. I thought he would release me, A stronger alpha could always override another's compulsion yet he didn't. Instead he slowly turned towards Tyler. Tyler’s mouth opened and closed, his eyes flickering with uncertainty. He glanced toward Philip, but for the first time since this nightmare began, he looked uncertain of if he would find any support. Dominic stepped between us, towering over us both. I could hear the fact that his fangs had dropped like he was about to shift. I almost wished he would shift and tear Tyler to pieces "You… As gamma of my pack…" His tone was curdled with disgust. “I always You were young for your position. I knew you had a lot to learn. But I had never doubted your integrity. I had never doubted that you could serve the brioche pack with honor, following and embodying the principles of my pack. I had never thought you would bring embarrassment to me shame until now.” "A-Alpha, I didn't --" "Didn't speak up for her? Didn't intervene for her? Didn't even have the decency to listen to her concerns? To care? Were you too overcome with your own selfish desires not to see her plight? Did you think that her father's consent was more important than hers?" "I--" "Answer me truthfully if you are going to answer me at all, but do know there is no answer from your mouth that could make me think better of you." His voice dropped lower, laced with contempt. “Watching her struggle against Philip’s compulsion, and you still intended to force her into this? I didn’t think you were so pathetic as to plot to publicly disgrace your future wife for your own selfish ends, whatever they may be.” Tyler flinched, his fists clenching at his sides. “I—” “Quiet.” Dominic cut him off. Though it didn't have the air of a compulsion, it certainly felt as heavy as one because Tyler's mouth snapped shut. “You would not even argue for her right to speak thus you don't deserve the right." A slow, burning satisfaction curled in my chest. I relished the way Tyler squirmed under his scrutiny. The murmurs that followed and rippled made me feel hopeful. At the least the people who might have been on Tyler's sides simply because Vivian was were likely to distance themselves. Dominic shifted, his gaze sweeping over me briefly before turning back to Tyler. “Back down.” His voice was steady, but the weight of it pressed into the air like a command. “Before you embarrass yourself and my pack any further.” Tyler’s face twisted, his pride warring with his fear. But he didn’t argue. He didn’t dare. He glanced at me with a bitterness in his eyes, but I could say nothing. Even if I could I would have nothing to say. With Dominic vocally being on my side like there's no one would say a thing, not even Vivian. I was all but in the clear. But why hadn't he overwritten the compulsion yet? “Release her,” Domini snarled. A sharp silence followed Dominic’s command, stretching unbearably, though Philip still remained silent. I could feel his eyes boring into he back of my head. "Alpha Dominic, I--" "You will release her or I will challenge you here for your head." The air turned harsh around us. I could only imagine the look of frustration on Philip's face. "You seem to care so much about your reputation, more than you care about your daughter --" "Alpha Domi--" "You will, for once, do right by her. Release her. Now.” Dominic's voice had dropped even lower, to something dark, something final. And I realized that he hadn't released the compulsion for my sake, to expose Philip's behavior as both correction and punishment. " You are released." The compulsion snapped. The weight on my limbs suddenly lifted, like a thousand-pound force being ripped away from me. My knees nearly buckled from the sudden release. I swayed and Dominic's steadied me with a hand on my shoulder. A shudder ran through me. I felt like every breath was at once too deep and not deep enough. My limbs tingled as my body seemed to all at once celebrate and freak out that it was under my own control again. I hated the come down from being under compulsion the most. Philip exhaled through his nose. "As I was saying, Alpha Dominic--" "You do this often, don't you?" Dominic cut in. I could barely lift my head, but as I did, I realized that Dominic was looking down at me. A flash of understanding and sympathy in his eyes. "You compel her often, don't you?" How could he tell? "She is a headstrong child. I'm sure you as a father can understand--" "No," he snarled. "I have never compelled my daughter to do anything. I reserve compulsion for criminals." "W-Well --" "Consider this your only warning. If you pull this again—on her, on anyone—if I so much as hear about it, you’ll regret it.” His voice was dangerously even. “And then I’ll take you to Court myself. Let’s see how well you hold up under a case of abuse.” I inhaled slowly. The Court stood as governance over all packs, it was more of a Senate made up of the most influential pack leaders. Phillip had always had eyes to get himself a seat on it eventually, but Dominic had had a seat since he became alpha as his father had before him and his father before him. An idea curled in the back of my mind, a seed of a plan I hoped I’d never have to use. But if it came to that… I would. It wasn't as if I didn't have proof. I lifted my head a little more and spotted Vivian across the room. Her expression was thunderous, her sharp features twisted in barely concealed rage. I didn’t need to guess why—this wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go, their little plan was crumbling, whatever its true nature was. Dominic turned from Philip, his eyes sweeping over the shocked crowd. His voice rang out, cutting through the silence with authority. “Leave. The evening is over.” There was no room for argument. The guests hesitated only briefly before moving toward the exit. Murmurs filled the air as they left. I stayed where I was, pulse steadying as the guests trickled out. I exhaled shakily, letting Dominic steer me towards a chair and lower me into it. He removed his jacket and settled it on my shoulders, the weight and warmth of it was like a soothing blanket on my mind. His scent filled my nose and he crouched down to look me in the eye. " I'll get you upstairs soon. Just breathe, and call for me if you start getting a headache." I nodded and he was gone again. I couldn't hold myself upright, I slumped against the table as I continued to shake, part adrenaline and part aftermath. The headache, blinding and near crippling, was definitely coming. Heels echoed against the marble floor, stopping just in front of me. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was. She always had the most gaudy taste in shoes, and there was no mistaking the sparkle of her dress. “Well, well,” Vivian drawled. “ I didn't think you were so stupid to ruin the best match you could ever get. What would your mother think?" I tilted my head up, meeting her gaze. Her usual smirk was in place, but there was tension at the corners of her mouth, a sharpness in her eyes that betrayed her irritation. She hadn’t expected things to fall apart so quickly. "Considering the kind of man she ended up marrying I think she'd applaud me for getting out before I even began." I smiled blandly. " Thanks for reminding me. I needed to pick me up." Vivian’s lip curled. “You--" “You know, Vivian, you really should be more careful.” Her eyes narrowed. “What?” I leaned forward slightly, lowering my voice just enough that only she could hear. “How much longer are you going to leave your dirty underwear on the floor?" Vivian’s entire face stiffened. For a second, she didn’t move. Then, with a sharp huff, she turned on her heel and stormed off, her perfectly styled hair swaying with every furious step.