Chapter 37
I sat between Jax and Marek while I ate my dinner. The sun was starting to set and I found myself searching for a reason to postpone the end of the night.
Dominic was right, in that, the longer I fought it, the harder it was becoming. It was only a matter if time before I gave myself completely to him. If he hadn’t chose it earlier, I already would have done so.
I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking of ways to avoid his bed. If I were to be isolated to his room every night, alone with him, then I’d never make it.
I only needed to last until the next full moon, then I would be free of him and could choose Julien instead. My feelings for Julien had dulled but if we bonded then I could have him back.
Just a few weeks and things would return to how they were before. Julien was the safer choice, the kinder choice. Dominic had changed things, but if I were free then I could find my love for Julien again.
Sparks popped in the fire and I could see the flames dancing in the eyes of Julien. I sighed with a longing that wasn’t for him, but for myself when I was with him.
My gaze moved to Dominic, who leaned over his bowl. His possessive nature leaked into every aspect if his actions, even eating. If he caught on to my thoughts then I would become his prisoner. There would never be love with Dominic, only control.
I needed the protection of the rest of the pack. On my own, I held little authority over Dominic. My powers allowed me an edge but their were limits. Still, I thought, I could try.
An idea was forming, a risky one compared to the last. Before I got lucky, they hadn’t noticed what I had done. What I planned to do now would involve all of them, fully aware.
But if it worked, it would buy me time and security. All I needed was to sway them. I had done it before with others. I thought back to Grayson’s manor when I made demands that were obeyed amongst his followers.
In the grand room of Grayson’s palace, I commanded an entire room with the exception of Grayson. Would Dominic be immune as well? Or was Grayson just stronger?
Dominic caught me staring and I stood abruptly. If I waited any longer, his senses would alert him to my scheming.
With all eyes on me, my hands began to sweat with nervousness. Shit, this won’t work if I’m not confident in my own abilities.
"I won’t be sleeping in your hut anymore." I said it too quickly, not enough force. I breathed through my nose, trying to let rage replace anxiety.
I didn’t have time to meditate, I needed to get emotional. It seemed to be the only thing that made my powers work before.
"Oh, really?" Dominic challenged with a smirk that told me he thought this would turn into a game.
"I will be returning to the bunkhouse to sleep with the pack." My voice was becoming more stern but still didn’t have the force behind it that I needed.
"We’ve already been over this." Dominic leaned back, hands falling to his knees. He cocked his head a little, like he was considering throwing me over his shoulder again.
He held the look of an alpha and to command an alpha, I would need to be stronger and more cunning. I straightened my back and raised my chin, eyes narrowing.
"I can make my own choice over where I sleep and I’ve made up my mind." I could feel a royal voice rising in me. My demands wouldn’t be met peacefully but they would entice the reaction I was hunting for.
Dominic’s expression was starting to turn to annoyance. The others fidgeted uncomfortably in their seats at the tension that was slowly building.
"I wouldn’t mind having you both back with us," Julien mentioned, trying to tend to both sides.
Dominic’s glare snapped him, "not everything is yours to fix. You know the stakes here."
Julien looked away with a look that felt...guilty? What stakes was he referring to? Julien had more to gain from our failed bonding then the rest. I wondered if Dominic held something over Julien, or maybe made a deal for his compliance over me.
Dominic’s cryptic message had tightened Julien’s lips and I looked to the others for support. Marek stared at his feet but Jax smiled the second my eyes fell on him. The rebellion too close for him not to take advantage.
"Nah, come on Dom. Let the girl live a little. If she wants to rut around in the wolves den, then she has my vote."
"This isn’t a democracy and the girl is mine." He was sneering now. Words coming from clenched teeth.The more we argued, the more heated Dominic was becoming. His voice raised slightly with each jab.
Marek sat a little taller in his seat, becoming more apprehensive over the rigidity in the air.
"Im right here," I interrupted. "And I’m not sleeping with you." I meant it in more ways then one and let it be known in the tone of my voice.
"And you all will honor that." I looked to each of them, allowing the serious nature in my words settle.
I watched Dominic as he stood, trapping the attention once again. His nostrils flared and his skin flushed with the red hot heat of anger. He was leaning into my plan.
My head bowed as I felt the energy rising. There was a low hum at the back of my ears, like the sound of a low-flying airplane from above. Static filled the air as the island heard my call.
He stomped over to me, dirt kicking up with each step. "Don’t test me, princess. I’m the alpha here."
"You’re not the only one," I retorted, testing his temperance.
A snort burst out from him, causing a visible strain in the others. He never tried to hide his superiority from them and it was on full display now.
Their guards were down, I thought. They were distracted by Dominic’s condescending attitude . It was the perfect opportunity to push my influence.
The power was at the tip of my tongue, ready to bend at my will. I could feel it so purely in this moment, crystals formed in my vision. It felt so familiar, like an ancestral awakening.
Turning around, I looked each of them in the eye. I took my time before I spoke, making sure they would heed me.
"You will protect me and my wishes at all costs." I could see a surge of purple wash over them with my decree.
They went still in a stupor and I turned back to Dominic, pleased with my ability. I hadn’t expected them to follow my word but had depended on it and wasn’t dissapointed.
"Back down, Rebel," he warned. He inched close enough that my head had to tilt back to look at him.
I could feel something now, a distant thought, a feeling that wasn’t my own. It was like a ringing, notes of anger and a touch of fear with each chime. I was reading him, I realized. It was so clear, I felt that if I reached out and touched him that I would hear all of his secrets.
I scoffed, the power inside turning me into someone other than myself. I was on the verge of laughing at his weakness. I actually wanted to see him suffer. This wasn’t me, but it felt too good to let go.
I had crawled my way into his soul and could see the raw version of him. His eyes turned yellow, his anger rising and washing over him from his lack of control, only I was in charge now.
"You can’t tell me what to do anymore. We might be bound but I am not yours."
Everything was quiet except his breathing. He was on the edge, ready to jump off and snatch me away. I took a step back towards my guardians.
"Rebel, you don’t know what you’re doing."
A sensation rose, an awareness of a hidden message in his words. He held a secret.
"Just do as your told and stop this."
I felt them rise rather than saw them. A silent beckoning. I asked for their protection and they were answering. Dominic’s focus shifted, the fury dissolving into alarm.
A low growl hummed around me. The noise startled me from my ecstasy.
Turning toward the others, I saw rapidly rising chests among golden eyes and razor sharp teeth. They were changing, ready for a battle and Dominic their only enemy.
"Stop!" I yelled, but my power had faltered. I was no longer in control. Marek heaved through a snarl. Julien’s head bowed with aggression, fists clenching and un-clenching. Jax jerked his head about, like he was fighting what I had unintentionally forced.
"Rebel, what did you do?!" Dominic roared.
Panicked, I pushed Dominic back. Their was a snap and a flurry of fur as the wolves emerged by my side.
"Run!" I yelled.