Dominic’s POV
In three long strides, I was at her side, kneeling beside her. I took her face in my hands, tilting it gently to examine the cut on her lip. “I’m here,” I said, my voice a low rumble. “You’re safe now.”
Her whole body was shaking, fine tremors that I could feel beneath my fingertips. The scent of her blood made my wolf howl for vengeance, but I forced it down, focusing on her immediate needs.
“Let me see, I said, carefully examining the w marks on her shoulder. They weren’t deep, but they would need cleaning. More concerning was the bruise forming on her cheek and the way she winced when she shifted position, suggesting more injuries hidden beneath her clothing.
“He… Reba began, her voice cracking. “I refused to apologize to Elizabeth… he tried to…” She couldn’t finish,
tears welling in her eyes.
“Shh,” I soothed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Don’t talk now. We need to take care of these wounds
first.”
I nced at the human girl still holding Reba. She looked terrified but determined, her arms protectively around my mate. I gave her a nod of acknowledgment. “Thank you for helping her.”
The girl–her nametag read “Emma“-nodded back, her eyes wide but steady.
I turned to Raymond, who had followed me inside and now stood by the door. “Take her to the car,” I instructed, my voice allowing no argument. “Call Dr. Winters and have him meet us at the house. Tell him it’s an emergency.”
Raymond stepped forward, reaching for Reba. She went willingly into his arms, too weak or too shaken to walk on
her own.
I’ll be right there,” I promised her, my voice softening only for her. “I need to handle this first.”
She nodded, eyes darting fearfully to where Steve still struggled against the Betas‘ hold. “Be careful,” she whispered.
Once Raymond had taken Reba from the room, I turned back to Emma. “Thank you for saving her,” I said, my voice softening slightly.
Emma nodded, wrapping her arms around herself. I had to do something. He…” She swallowed hard. “He’s been doing this for a long time, Mr. Sterling. We’re all his victims in one way or another.”
I raised an eyebrow, encouraging her to continue. The cold fury inside me intensified with each word she spoke.
“He likes to call female employees into his office after closing,” she exined, voice trembling slightly. I thought–I
:
hoped–he wouldn’t try anything with Reba since she’s… well, everyone knows she’s with you. But when I heard the struggle…” She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
“Has he hurt you too?” I asked quietly, though the stillness in my voice belied the rage building beneath.
Emma nodded, unable to meet my eyes. “Me and Vanessa both. We were too afraid to report him. He said no one would believe us over him.”
My jaw clenched, a muscle ticking visibly along my temple. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as my control over my wolf slipped further.
“Is there any proof? Any evidence of his behavior?” My voice remained calm, deceptively so.
<b>63 </b>
Emma nced toward the ceiling corner where a security camera was mounted. “He always turns it off,” she said. “But I know thepany keeps backups on the server. He thinks deleting the local footage is enough, but IT backs everything up automatically.”
“Smart girl,” I murmured. I would have someone look into thatter. For now, though, I had more immediate
concerns<b>. </b>
I gestured toward the door. “Go home, Emma. You’ve been through enough today. I’ll make sure you’repensated
for your bravery.”
Once Emma had left, I turned my full attention to Steve, who was still pinned to the floor by my Betas. They had forced him into a position of submission, face pressed to the carpet, arms wrenched behind his back. I straightened to my full height, rolling my shoulders back. The air in the room grew heavy with my presence, my authority filling the space like a physical force.
“Get him up,” I ordered, my voice dropping to a register that left no room for disobedience. “Put him in the chair.”
The Betas hauled Steve to his feet and shoved him into the office chair behind the desk. One of them kept a firm hand on his shoulder, ws extended just enough to puncture the fabric of Steve’s expensive suit, a warning against
any sudden movements.
‘Mr. Sterling, Steve gasped, his features shifting back toward human as he struggled to regain control. “This is all a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to hurt her!”
I regarded him coldly, letting the silence stretch until sweat beaded on his forehead. The room reeked of his fear. I didn’t speak, merely stared, allowing my presence to fill the room. The Betas lowered their eyes instinctively, responding to the wave of dominance emanating from me.
“A misunderstanding,” I repeated, my voice dangerously soft. I leaned forward, cing my hands on the desk, bringing my face closer to his. The wood creaked under the pressure of my grip, “Exin to me, then, how my people ended up bleeding and terrified in your office.”
Steve’s eyes darted nervously between my face and the door, as if calcting his chances of escape. He licked his lips repeatedly, a nervous gesture that betrayed his fear.
“She was insubordinate,” he stammered. “She refused a direct order from me to apologize to an important client. I was just trying to… to make her understand the hierarchy here.”
63
My lip curled in disgust. “By assaulting her? By putting your hands–your ws–on what belongs to me?” Each word fell like a hammer, precise and crushing.
“I got carried away,” he admitted, licking his lips nervously. “But I wasn’t going to really hurt her. I just wanted to scare her a little. You know how humans are–they need to be put in their ce sometimes.”
A growl rumbled from my chest, rising in volume until it filled the small office. Steve flinched, shrinking into the chair as if trying to make himself smaller. The Betas shifted their weight, responding instinctively to my anger.
“And what about the other women?” I asked, each syble clipped and precise. “Emma. Vanessa. Were you just putting them in their ce‘ too?”
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