Chapter 185
Dominic’s POV
L
Elizabeth recovered first, a cold, calculating smile spreading across her face. “Well, isn’t that convenient?” she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “That shop girl suddenly becomes your destined male and miraculously is pregnant with your heir?” She gave a slow, mocking clap. “What a marvelous coincidence.”
My eyes flashed with golden light, a warning sign of my wolf rising to the surface. This is not a lie, Elizabeth. Rebecca is carrying my child and heir.”
Elizabeth leaned forward, her smile turning vicious. “A human carrying on Alpha’s child? That’s almost laughable, Dominic. We all know how rarely such pregnancies succeed.” She tilted her head, studying me with narrowed eyes. “Or perhaps you’re just using this as an excuse to avoid your responsibilities to our families,”
“I have no responsibilities to your family, I growled, feeling my canines lengthening slightly.
Caroline Collins was openly weeping now, her perfect makeup streaking down her face. “How could you do this to my Elizabeth? She’s been preparing to be your Luna for years! This human knows nothing of our ways, nothing of what it means to lead a pack!”
“Rebecca will learn,” I said with absolute certainty. And the pack will accept her because she is my choice.”
Elizabeth’s laugh was brittle. “Will they? A human Luna who knows nothing of our traditions? Who has no strength, no power of her own?” She shook her head in mock pity. The pack will eat her alive, Dominic. And you know it.”
My patience was wearing dangerously thin. “Do not test me further, Elizabeth. Do not insult my mate again.”
“Your mate,” she spat the word like it was poison. ‘She’ll never truly be one of us. She’ll always be an outsider, a weak link. Is that really what you want for the Silver Shadow Moon Pack? A Luna who can’t even defend herself?”
1 felt a rumble building in my chest, my control slipping.
“She doesn’t need to defend herself. That’s what I’m for.”
Caroline wiped at her tears angrily. “You’re making a terrible mistake, Dominic. This this human will never understand our world. She’ll never be able to stand at your side as an equal. How could you throw away a perfect match with my daughter for someone who doesn’t even belong in our world?”
I kept my voice dangerously quiet. “I suggest you stop now, Mrs. Collins. You’re treading on very thin ice.”
Ronald Collins had remained silent throughout the exchange, his expression carefully controlled. Now he stood, commanding attention with the natural authority of an experienced business leader.
‘Dominic,” he began,
his
voice tight with contained anger, “I am deeply disappointed in you.”
I met his gaze
s gaze unflinchingly. “I don’t recall giving you reason to expect anything from
me, Ronald.”
His jaw clenched. “We had an understanding. Our companies, our families-
“Your daughter has been telling people you and I were practically engaged,” I cut in coldly. “That was never the case, and you know it‘
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Chapter 185
Ronald’s nostrils flared. “It was your father and I who arranged this. We discussed the benefits of joining our families years ago.”
“You and my father tried to force an arrangement on me that I never agreed to,” I corrected him. “From the beginning, this was nothing more than a political alliance that would benefit your company more than mine.
Elizabeth’s face flushed with humiliation as I laid bare the truth of our so–called relationship.
“The pack will never accept a human as Luna, Ronald said, his voice lowering to a threatening rumble. “You re risking everything your family has built for generations.”
I felt my partial transformation begin–my eyes glowing blue, my voice deepening with the power of my wolf. “The pack will accept whoever I choose as my mate. That is the law of our kind.”
Ronald took a step back, instinctively responding to the display of Alpha dominance. “You will regret this decision, Dominic. When you discover that human is unsuitable as Luna, don’t expect us to welcome you back with open arms.”
rose to my full height, allowing more of my wolf to surface. “I am formally revoking access privileges to Silver Shadow Moon Pack territory for the Collins family. However,” I added with cold courtesy, “you and Mrs. Collins may attend my wedding as a professional courtesy. Elizabeth is not welcome.”
Ronald’s face darkened with fury. This is an outrage! After all our years of alliance-
“The alliance ended the moment your daughter attacked my mate,” I stated flatly. “Be grateful I’m extending any courtesy at all.”
“This isn’t over,” Ronald warned, gathering his dignity as he gestured for his family to leave. “You’ve made a powerful enemy today, Dominic.”
I smiled without warmth. “No, Ronald. I’ve merely revealed one that was hiding in plain sight.”
Elizabeth paused at the door, her expression venomous. “When your precious human fails you–and she will–I’ll be there to watch you Tall
I didn’t dignify her threat with a response, simply watching as they filed out, the door closing behind them with a decisive click.
Rebecca’s POV
The sleek black Bentley glided to a stop in front of Sterling Group’s imposing glass tower. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my churning stomach. Morning sickness was becoming my constant companion, though Dominic insisted on calling it “all–day sickness” given its complete disregard for the time of day.
“We’ve
arrived, Miss Brown,” said Raymond, Dominic’s driver, his voice formal but kind. “Mr. Sterling asked me to bring you up after his meeting concludes.”
down I nodded, smoothing
my navy dress and checking my appearance in the compact mirror one last time. Dominic had messaged that he was wrapping up with the Collins family and would meet me soon. We were scheduled to visit his parents immediately after–a prospect that filled me with equal parts dread and curiosity.
“Thank you, Raymond,” I said, closing my parse. “I’m feeling a bit queasy. Would you mind if we waited a moment before going in?”
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Chapter 185
“Of course, Miss, Mr. Sterling was very specific about ensuring your comfort.” Raymond smiled.
Just as Raymond finished speaking, the massive glass doors of Sterling Group swung open, and two women emerged–one middle–aged and elegant, the other younger with familiar blonde hair. Ilizabeth Collins and who I assumed was her mother. Their faces were flushed with anger, and they were followed closely by an imposing man who could only he Ronald Collins,
“Perhaps we should wait until they’ve gone.” Raymond murmured, but it was too late. Elizabeth had spotted the car and was striding toward us, her mother hurrying to keep up.
“I need some air,” I said, suddenly feeling trapped in the confines of the car. Before Raymond could object, I’d opened the door and stepped out, straightening my shoulders despite the wave of nausea that threatened to overcome me.
Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed as she recognized me. “Well, if it isn’t the little homewrecker herself,” she said, her voice carrying across the courtyard. “Enjoying your victory, are you?”
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