Chapter 5: What Happened to Samuel

DOMINIQUE’S POV

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This guy with the weird ponytail thought he was going to just take me? He leered at me openly, and trained a lascivious gaze on my breasts. Who was this jerk, I wondered, and why did he think that was even a possibility? I looked at Griffin. Surely he wouldn't allow it, I thought. Even if he wasn’t interested in me that way, he had just paid millions of dollars for me, for whatever reason. That had to count for something, even if I was "just a slave".

"You will do no such thing," Griffin roared, standing up in fury, "How DARE you, Steph? I thought you were a better man than that!" His fists clenched, and the rage in his eyes burned bright. Steph, for his part, looked almost equally as angry.

I had to wonder, was this normal for such meetings? Was that why they called it the "War Room"?

"You need me, Griffin, you’ve said so yourself," Steph retorted, menace flashing in his icy blue eyes, "Why not make me happy? Give me what I want, and I’ll return the favor. Gold, weapons, troops to fight your war when it comes. Don’t you want all that? It’s such a small thing I ask. Surely you can spare one slave girl for the sake of your pack, can’t you?"

I had no idea what war he was referring to, but it sounded serious. I wondered, was it serious enough for Griffin to give into his demand? And what was to become of me if he did?

"As I recall, it was you who came to me this time," Griffin replied, his face a cold, unreadable mask, "It was you who asked for this meeting, and you who require our help in dispatching rogue wolves. If I refuse to help you, say, because I’m offended by your request, who will you turn to next? We both know that you are not a favorite of the Queen these days. And your brother, well, do we need to go there? What he said to you the last time you asked for HIS help?"

I watched as Steph visibly flinched when Griffin mentioned his brother. I wondered what happened to cause such a reaction in a man clearly so devoid of feeling. Perhaps, I thought, this was not the first time Steph had demanded something offensive from another. It occurred to me that despite what Griffin had said, he didn’t actually believe Steph to be a better man than that.

"Enough!" Steph growled, and pounded his fist on the table, "You need not mention my brother to me. Or the queen, ever again. I take it that you truly mean to deny me my request? Is that your final answer?"

"Indeed it is," Griffin replied firmly, and without hesitation, "Dominique is not for sale. If she is your price for doing business, then you can take your leave of us. You may go fight those wolves on your own. But know that if you leave this table now, our alliance is broken. You may never ask for our help again. The doors here will be forever closed to you. It is your choice. Choose wisely."

***

GRIFFIN’S POV

If Steph chose to break his alliance with us, then so be it. I would never, EVER, allow him to touch her. That he would even ask for such a thing spoke volumes about the man he truly was. James looked at me worriedly, but I held up my hand before he could speak. It was Steph’s move now, and I would be damned if I was going to give an inch on this, no matter what my Beta, or anyone for that matter, believed. We would survive Steph’s help. We would manage, somehow.

"Fine, fine," Steph finally responded with a rueful laugh, "Keep her. She isn’t worth the trouble. I officially withdraw my request. Apologies for the offense, Griffin. You know I tend to speak my mind. There’s no reason for us to fight. I do need your help with this. And you’re correct, I can’t do it alone."

Incredibly, something within me wanted to argue his point, that she was worth any amount of trouble. What was wrong with me, I wondered, he had given me the response I needed! I also wanted to tell him to go to h*ll, but I was loath to further jeopardize our already precarious alliance.

"Your apology is accepted," I replied mildly, despite the anger I still felt, and poured us both a glass of wine, "Our alliance remains intact. You have my support in your venture. I will send troops and weapons to your pack. We will crush the rogue wolves together, and restore peace throughout the packlands. A toast then, to our continued success."

As we drank, I surreptitiously glanced at Dominique. She still looked worried, and I didn’t blame her. She had no idea of the political maneuvering I was forced to do to keep our pack alive. I decided to explain it all to her later, away from prying eyes. That was, if she would allow it. She probably wanted to be as far away from me as possible at this point. All I wanted to do was keep her safe, and her very presence at my meeting had already put her in danger.

As Steph rose to leave, he suddenly reached out and gripped my arm, harder than necessary. The gesture caught me off guard, and as I stared at him, he whispered harshly, "Be careful of her, my friend. We both know what the mate bond did to Samuel. I would hate for such a fate to befall you as well." As he walked away, an ugly smile played around his lips.

I knew well what had happened to Samuel. He didn’t need to remind me. Samuel had been my best friend from childhood. He had found his true mate at the age of sixteen, and we all envied his success. She was beautiful, bright, and loved him more than anything in the world. They had only two years together before she was killed, tragically, by a rogue wolf. Samuel was inconsolable. We all tried so hard to help him. To pull him out of it, but he sank deeper and deeper into the abyss of his own grief. Samuel ultimately went mad, and was committed to the asylum, where he passed at the age of twenty one. He died of a broken heart.

No one needed to remind me of the fate of Samuel. It was the reason I would never, ever allow the mate bond to enter my life. I would protect Dominique, and keep her safe. But love was not a weakness I would ever allow myself to experience.