Mated by Contract to the Alp
刷品
I felt as if I’d been pped. He was my brother, I said, struggling to keep my voice steady.
“A brother you got killed,” she replied, her voice rising. You and your… associations. Her gaze flicked to Domini with undisguised loathing. “We found the messages on Jason’s phone. Your ncé–that wolf man William–he introduced Jason to those <b>loan </b>sharks! He led my son right to the ughter!”
Gasps <b>and </b>murmurs spread through the gathering. I felt Dominic’s hand at my back, steadying me.
“Mom, I didn’t know–I couldn’t <b>have </b>known,” <b>I </b>said desperately. “<b>William </b>and I broke up months ago. I had no idea. he even knew Jason.”
“Liar!” she hissed. “You brought these monsters <b>into </b>our lives! You’ve been with them for five years, and now here you <b>are </b>with another one!” She gestured wildly at Dominic. “What kind of daughter chooses beasts over her own family?”
My father stepped forward, his voice weak but insistent. “That’s enough, Helen. This isn’t the time or ce.”
She turned her fury on him. “You always defend her! Even now, when her choices <b>have </b><b>killed </b>our son!”
I felt tears streaming down my <b>face</b>, shame and guilt warring with anger. “Mom, please listen. William betrayed me too. He used all of us. And Dominic is the one who discovered the truth–he’s been trying to protect me, protect us
all.”
My mother’sugh was bitter and broken. “Protect? Is that what you call it when wolves use innocent humans as pawns in their power games?” She stepped closer, her finger jabbing at me usingly. “Look at you–you’repletely brainwashed. How long before you end up like Jason?”
Dominic’s arm slipped protectively around my waist, and I could feel the tension radiating from him, though his voice remained calm. “Mrs. Brown, I understand your grief, but Reba is a victim here too. She had no knowledge of William’s actions.”
My mother’s eyes narrowed on him. “Don
speak to me. You’re all the same–predators wearing human skin.”
The whispers in the crowd grew louder. I <b>heard </b>“wolves” and “monsters” repeated with increasing rm. My cheeks burned with humiliation and distress.
“I think we should go, Dominic murmured close to my ear.
I nodded, turning onest time toward Jason’s casket. “Goodbye<b>, </b><b>Jason</b><b>,</b>” I whispered. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect.
<b>you</b><b>.</b>”
As we turned to leave, my mother called after us, her voice breaking with anger and grief. “Don’te home again, Reba! When these monsters show their true <b>nature</b>, don’t expect any sympathy from me!”
My father reached for her, trying to calm her, but she shoved him away. I felt Dominic’s arm tighten around me as he guided me back toward the car, shielding me from the stares <b>and </b>whispers.
“Your family,” I said through tears as we walked away, “will they ept me? After all this?”
Dominic pulled me closer to his side. “My family follows my lead,” he said simply. “And I’ve chosen you. Nothing else matters.”
As we reached the car, I looked <b>back </b>onest time at my family–my father standing helplessly beside my raging mother, the casket containing what remained of my brother. Another life I was leaving behind.
Dominic helped me into the car, then slid in beside me. As Raymond pulled away from the cemetery, I felt Dominic’s fingers intertwine with mine, his thumb gently stroking my <b>skin</b>.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
I leaned against his shoulder, allowing myself to draw strength from his presence. “She’s grieving.” I said, though the words felt hollow even to me. “She needs someone to me.”
“That doesn’t make it right to me you,” he replied, his <b>voice </b>carrying a hint of the Alpha steel that I wasing to recognize.
I closed my eyes, suddenly exhausted. The bond between us seemed to pulse with shared emotion–his protectiveness, my grief, our mutual concern for the tiny life growing inside me.
“Take me home, I whispered, realizing as I said it that I meant his home–our home. The vi by theke that somehow, despite everything, had be my sanctuary.
Dominic pressed a kiss to my temple, his lips lingering as if to imprint his promise. “Always.”
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