Chapter 3

Bree Fitzpatrick POV:

At over seventy years old, Cornelius still stood tall, his black ironwood wolf-bone cane striking the floor tiles with a heavy thud. Across the hall, everyone—including arrogant Gerard and domineering Edrie—immediately lowered their heads in a respectful bow.

Cornelius swept his sharp brown eyes across the room until his gaze locked onto me shivering on the servant's stool in the corner.

"How absurd!" The former Alpha roared, his lingering high-ranking dominance making the air in the hall feel thick and heavy.

Edrie's face stiffened as she forced a polite smile.

"Walk slowly. We were just joking around with the children."

"Joking? Driving the legally bound granddaughter-in-law of this pack to a servant's stool—is that the Luna etiquette you learned for thirty years?" Cornelius barked. He turned his stern glare straight onto Gerard. "Gerard, bring your mate to sit beside you. Immediately!"

Gerard's jawline flexed, irritation flashing across his eyes, but even the reigning CEO could not openly defy the Chief Elder at a family banquet. He strode over to my corner in a few long steps and extended his right hand, a luxury watch glinting on his wrist.

"Get up. Don't make me say it twice," he muttered under his breath.

I tried to push myself up, but my blood-drained legs gave out, and my body lurched sideways. A mocking sneer crossed Gerard's face as he roughly grabbed my wrist and yanked me up from the stool. His palm was burning hot, yet the touch brought none of the electric sparks fated mates were supposed to feel—only a cold, dead ache. He dragged me to the main table and shoved me into the chair right across from Demetra.

Demetra bit her lip pitifully, lowering her eyelashes to hide the dark glint in her eyes as her fingers twisted her napkin under the table.

Cornelius gestured for a servant to bring over a steaming bowl of tonic soup, pushing it toward me himself.

"Why is your face so pale? Drink this while it's hot to nourish your wolf."

Our high metabolism required heavy energy tonics, especially during the autumn chill. However, as the thick smell of meat and herbs hit my nose, my empty, traumatized stomach twisted violently. I slapped a hand over my mouth and gagged, pushing the bowl about a centimeter away.

"I'm sorry... I really can't keep it down right now."

Beside me, Gerard's face turned as dark as storm clouds, his temples throbbing with veins. It looked like he assumed I was deliberately throwing a tantrum in front of the elders to embarrass him and compete with Demetra for attention.

Gerard snatched up the spoon, scooped up the boiling soup, and shoved it hard against my lips.

"Open your mouth and drink it," he growled low enough for only me to hear.

I clamped my lips shut and turned my head away, tears of pain stinging the corners of my eyes.

"I said I can't."

Crack! Gerard threw the spoon back into the bowl, splashing hot broth across the polished wood table. Around us, several elders frowned and whispered about my lack of gratitude. Cornelius let out a heavy sigh and waved his hand.

"Since she is unwell, the banquet ends here. Gerard, take your wife back to her room to rest."

The family members filed out one by one. The second Grandfather's footsteps faded into the inner hall, Gerard grabbed the back of my neck and dragged me out of the dining room into the dim side corridor. He slammed my back against the freezing stone wall. Pain shot through my spine as his tall frame caged me in, his furious cedarwood Alpha pheromones crashing over me like a tidal wave.

"Bree, putting on an act in front of the whole clan—do you think having Grandpa's backing means I can't do anything to you?" He pinched my chin between his fingers, squeezing so hard my jawbone felt ready to crack.

I stared straight into his eyes, which had shifted into glowing golden wolf slits, and let out a cold laugh.

"When have you ever held back?"

My defiance snapped his control. Gerard lowered his head and crushed his mouth against mine. There was no warmth in the kiss, only brutal punishment and suffocating dominance. He pried my lips apart, the metallic taste of blood spreading between our teeth as my hands pushed weakly against his chest.

Just as I twisted my head to break free, the private terminal in his suit pocket erupted with a shrill, custom ringtone.