His bark slams into me, hard like a sledgehammer, reverberating its way to the furthest, deepest parts of my soul. Then it echoes through back the way it came, emphasising Hendrix’s place as my Alpha, reminding me of his complete adoration but also making sure I remember these people have no hold over me anymore. Once he sees I’m not at all affected or worried by Brody’s father’s posturing, he returns his focus to them.
Hendrix’s behaviour is predatory to say the least. He is doing everything in his power to fulfill my wishes and keepthis from turning into a bloodbath, even though I can see every muscle in his being aching for it.
His voice is sharp, cutting ribbons through the tension. “Watch yourself, Alpha. I don’t take kindly to my Omega being spoken to like that. We’re only here so Simona can see her father. If all you’re going to do is throw obstacle after obstacle in front of her, while attempting to regain coercive control, then we’re gone.”
The Alphas of the family respond as one, being entirely dismissive of Hendrix. Brody’s father retains his role as their leader, holding charge. “That is enough, Simona. Your father is dying and you’re being obtuse to the gravity of the situation. Even daring to walk in here with them,” he uses his hand instead of his words to indicate he means my pack, “is abhorrent behaviour after all we have done for you. That is how you repay us? If Lawson could see you now, he would be beside himself, trying to understand how his daughter could be so vindictive and malicious.”
“I told him once, you know,” I say, focusing on the ground as opposed to having to witness the vile evil staring back at me for a second longer. “Perhaps Lawson will take those secrets with him to the grave.”
“My son is sick because of you!”
“And my father suffered a heart-attack straight after I told him about Brody, and how abusive he was,” I counter, somehow keeping my voice and tone soft despite the rage igniting.
He laughs maliciously, as if proving a point. One I don’t get. One I don’t need to. I’m done trying to figure out the reason why they do anything.
Ryder presses a small kiss to the side of my head, saving me from having to say another word. He keeps his focus on me, his honey-golden eyes warm until he turns to them, and then they harden like shards of cold toffee. “Simona is awareBrody is unwell with Alpha Deteriorating Virus. We literally ran into him at St Gabriel’s. Early intervention for ADV has proven the most beneficial. What doesn’t make sense is this is the first time you are mentioning to Simona that Brody is infected. Were you seriously considering using her to fix your son? Your son who by all accounts is an absolute prick. Talk about bringing shame to a family’s name.” Ryder’s tone isn’t full of its usual vibrancy. If anything, it’s laced with the same malevolence and cruelty as theirs. I hate hearing him speak that way, but I hate being here too. He clears his throat, his voice returning back to the Ryder I know. “Simona would like to see Lawson.”
“Simona, you are free to see your father. He’s in the first room.” Wren continues pretending there’s not a protective wall of packed Alphas beside me. She completely ignores the direction of the discussions that have occurred in the last few minutes.
I go to take a step in that direction.
“But you go in alone.”
Then it is my turn to hold my hands up. Not in surrender. Pure frustration pools in my stomach. I’d like to shriek and scream. Instead of walking off to see Lawson, I take an obvious step back between the haven my Alphas provide.
“We’re done here,” I say, turning to look at my pack before refocusing on Wren. “I’m not going to lay blame, Wren, but you will need to accept responsibility for not letting a dying man’s last request come to fruition. He asked to see his daughter, so I came to see him. Don’t contact me. For anything.”
I take a slow, steady inhale before turning to look at Brody’s parents. “Your son needs help. The first place you should start is finding his scent matched Omega, because if he has Alpha Deteriorating Virus, he has met his scent match, and they’ve rejected him. That’s basic biology. That Omega isnot me. It never has been me. He hates me, and my scent, with passion. ADV is not Brody’s only issue. He is a violent abuser. One day that is going to get him killed. Here under your influence, you can spend the rest of your life brushing what he does under the carpet. But he’s not here all the time.” I focus on that part because clearly, he’s not here, or he’d be standing right next to them being his god-awful self. “In the real world, where the founding families do not have as much influence as you like to believe, real Alphas will not put up with his actions.”
“Are you threatening my son?” Fiona gasps, her mouth falling open.
Dominic presses his hand on my lower back, reminding me my pack is still with me. “Our sweet Omega is not threatening your son. However, you come for her and we will do whatever necessary to protect Simona’s freedom. If you’d like to call that a threat, by all means, you do that.”
Brody’s father barks a laugh. “You? Your own father disowned you because you’re a homosexual.”
Dominic hums in agreement, but it’s Hen who answers, taking a step forward with his hand outstretched, not stopping until he’s close to Brody’s father. “If we’re doing introductions, I’m Hendrix Torres. Alpha of Pack Torres and one of Simona’s Alphas. I’m a successful and wealthy businessman, making my fortune by being the owner of Porte Noire, arguably the best sex club in the country. The first time I met your son was when I kicked his ass to the curb after he forcibly tried to bite the throat of one of my workers. Clearly, because I’m physically and emotionally involved with two men myself, I’m not about to pass judgement on your son’s sexuality, but I do have issues with violence. Along with being a loud and proud advocate for consent. I have video documentation of Brody in a few compromising situations, which are neither here nor there. But him tryingto force a claiming bite on the throat of one of the highest paid male sex workers in the industry is where I draw the line.”
“So you’re blackmailing me?” Brody’s father blazes.
Hendrix looks over his shoulder to Dominic. “Did I blackmail him, babe?”
His casual stance, his casual question, even the way he speaks adds to the simmering tension, but it was intentional. Done to goad them into reacting or listening.
Dominic looks off like he’s deep in thought before answering Hendrix. “Perhaps alluded to. I don’t have an issue with your wording, Innamorato, but even if we were to blackmail them I’d rather be on the streets with nothing than touch even a single dime of theirs. Besides, we all know sometimes it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Dominic swings and pins Brody’s father with his sneer, all but confirming we know they paid the judge off, but also, we did the same, and won. “I will do anything to protect my pack. You understand that, don’t you? If you want the world to learn who Brody Henderson really is, all you need to do is come for my pack.”
“Now that was a threat.” Hendrix throws up a frustrated hand, turning around to look at Dominic.
Dominic shakes his head, a small smirk on his face for Hendrix, before turning to face the others with the full force of his commanding presence. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out a thick envelope for Wren and one for Brody’s father. “Inside, you will find an emergency protective order, a temporary restraining order, as well as a copy of our request for a permanent restraining order. Your lawyer has the individual copies for each person who we included, and to whom the orders pertain. In a nutshell, we have included each member of the founding family and their direct family unit. And obviously Brody Henderson. Your sick son.”
Wren takes a visible step back when Dominic goes tohand it to her. He shrugs before dropping it at her feet. She doesn’t need to accept it for it to be enforced.
“Under The Violence Against Women Act, and Penal Code Section 13700, Brody Henderson is now registered as a repeat offender.” Dominic moves to stand in front of Brody’s father, directing all his anger and energy on him. “And, last but not least, I’ve included the subpoena to St. Gabriel’s Hospital. Their confirmation that Brody is suffering from ADV enabled us to inform the government, because it seems you overlooked the requirement of registering any Alpha sick with the disease.”
I feel infinitely better when he returns back to me, and as soon as he’s close enough, I grab his hand, needing his soothing touch.
Dominic stands next to me and waits for our pack to do similar. “Simona is no longer a Vanderling, she isTorres.” Dominic has to wait while I swim through his bark. He watches me carefully, light dancing in his eyes as I find my way back from his control and influence. “Her emancipation is an obvious message that she does not want anything to do with you. Graciously, she is giving you an out.”
The Alphas scoff, talking under their breath, and we wait for them to finish before Hendrix starts speaking again. “Benjamin.” He turns to Ryder, and Ryder passes over his phone. He fiddles his phone, the silence while we wait interrupted by an alert on Wren’s phone confirming what he was doing. Hendrix points to the cameras in the room. “Wren has a video transcript of our conversation.”
