Chapter 15 Renee I blinked . " Wait - what ? " Dominic looked just as stunned as I felt . " Pardon , did you say me ? " The head of the council adjusted the collar of his robes , clearly unbothered by our disbelief . " Yes . You are not of the Frostborne pack , and you have no legal claim to the estate beyond your current … proximity to Ms. Caldwell . That makes you an ideal temporary steward ." " I " Dominic glanced at me , then back at the council . " With respect , I'm hardly unbiased . Renee is- " " Are connected , yes ," the man said with a dismissive wave of his hand . " And usually , after such an event , as that failed confirmation ceremony , you wouldn't be considered ideal , but the law requires proximity , capability , and presumed impartiality . Her mother's family does not meet that burden . You , however , meet those conditions better than anyone else available to us who has not been directly tainted by Frostborne influence . " I bit back what I wanted to say . That was such a bullshit . My mother's family would have perfectly met the burden , and it would have made the most sense to have them manage her accounts and estate on my behalf . This was just a last - ditch effort to buy time to find a way to restore Phillip as manager of the estate until I turned twenty - five . They knew that if they would turn it over to my mother's family , they would never get it back . Something told me that a lot of them benefited from Philip's misuse of her money and made a note to get my lawyer to look into it . " I disagree , " Dominic said , and the quiet in the room shattered into a dozen murmurs . " It's ridiculous to state that her relatives , who knew the deceased while she was alive and thus would know what her mind was with regards to her own daughter , are not fit to manage the estate . " The judge's mouth dropped open . " Alpha- " " For the record , I will only agree to this until I can speak with the alpha of her mother's birth pack . In addition to that , I will only serve as steward over her estate insofar as she's a minority . Her estate lawyer has stewarded over these accounts all this time , and should thus remain in primary control of them as she learns to manage them herself . " He looked at me . " She may be underage of majority now , but she will not be for much longer , and given her chosen major , it makes sense that this will only be a formality ." I swallowed . My lips twitched into a small smile . He nodded at me in a short , quick way before turning his attention back to the judge who sat at the forefront of the panel . " Until the investigation is complete , " Dominic continued , " all decisions concerning the estate will go through me . Ms. Caldwell will have full access to the legal counsel of her choosing throughout the process ." I sat frozen in my seat , unsure if I was holding back tears or laughter . Maybe both . It wasn't everything I wanted , but it would guarantee that my money would be restored and I could attend school without issue . I swallowed hard , trying to make sense of why he wouldn't say that he supported my move for emancipation . " This is ridiculous ," the lawyer said , scoffing . " Ms. Caldwell is not a child . Emancipation all of a handful of months early is not significant enough for the panel to deliberate . He scoffed . " Let alone this farce of giving guardianship over to a man whose own daughter runs amok at the least provocation ." Dominic's eyes narrowed . " You will watch yourself when speaking of my daughter . " My lawyer smirked . " You find out whose underwear was in your gamma's inner coat pocket yet ? " His eyes narrowed . " Of all the people that it should be turned over to , Alpha Brightclaw should not be on the list . " " My determination is final , and you will not find enough dissenting voices on this panel to force a different outcome . " The head judge's lips twitched . " I would just as soon throw out her whole case as her case for abuse and the financial case are two separate matters . We could motion to have it heard in a separate court . As a lawyer , I'm sure you know how long it will take to get back on the court docket . " The lawyer smiled . " I would just as soon call in the International Judicial Body for it . They certainly won't entertain this thin attempt to placate a young woman seeking justice , Or go to the public about how the Panel has fallen to the very same corruption they all suspect . " He looked at Dominic . " Not even the seemingly impeachable Alpha Brightclaw would escape that sort of smear campaign , so let's be reasonable , shall we gentlemen ? " The man paled . Dominic turned to me slowly , something unreadable passing behind his eyes . " Counselor , I think we can both agree that drawing more attention to Ms. Caldwell's uniquely vulnerable state would not be in her best interest . You have my word that I will transfer control of her estate , her guardianship to the appropriate member of her mother's birth pack . " He looked at me again . " I have no desire to exercise that sort of power over a young woman more than capable of governing herself . It's demeaning . " The lead judge cleared his throat . " Well , that is settled . Furthermore , should it be proven that Philip Caldwell misappropriated the funds of the late Mrs. Caldwell's estate , both he and the Frostborne pack will be held financially liable . " " As well as anyone else implicated in the misappropriation of funds , " Dominic added , eyeing the lead judge . 1/3 Chapter 15 That made everyone sit up straighter . The man shifted . " If such entities exist , of course . " " And how are you going to ensure that it is all paid back ? " The lawyer asked . " Down to the cent . Including interest and penalties in accordance with the prenuptial agreement and will ? " I tried not to smile , but from Dominic's cocked eyebrow , I must have slipped . That kind of restitution would gut Frostborne . Their power , their holdings , and their future all hinged on Philip being innocent . And he wasn't . " We will have to search the laws to find precedence . " " That should have been done before you all came to chamber ," the lawyer said . " Otherwise , what is the purpose of submitting case documents ? " Dominic chuckled . " I can see why her mother chose you . Conscripted labor is the last option , but a viable one if Philip is not gainfully employed and the monies in his account are found to be actually his by right . " The lawyer seemed almost pleased beside me . I clenched my jaw . " And what about my emancipation ? " The head judge didn't hesitate for a moment . " My initial ruling stands . " " I will be twenty - five before the end of the year , " I said , shaking my head . " Why the paperwork ? " The judge cleared his throat . " Until the full investigation concludes , we cannot make a permanent ruling on your legal independence . Hence the guardianship order . We have to verify these claims of financial abuse . Bringing evidence is one thing but given the wide - reaching consequences of such a thing … " However … " He trailed off . Flinching as he noticed that Dominic was staring at him , glaring actually . " There should be no consequences to be considered other than the ones of keeping her from her freedom . Denying her emancipation would leave her exposed to whatever other issues may crop up within Frostborne , and do you expect , even if Philip is proven innocent somehow of financial abuse , that she could ever return to living in the packhouse , even if only for a short time ? " " Given her relationship with your daughter , Alpha Brightclaw , we expected her to live with you . " " No. " I swallowed at the low , biting tone of his voice . " Yoù will not make me party to whatever game you are playing with her life and mental well- being . She refused to marry a gamma of my pack who was agreeable to marrying her under compulsion . I recognize that you don't care about your own daughter , but no good father would even consider letting her be anywhere near him ." " Alpha Brightclaw- " He held up a hand . " I cannot override the majority on this . I understand . I will speak with Ms. Caldwell about what arrangements she might want to be made . " He looked at me . " Wherever and whatever will make you feel safest . " My heart thudded , and I nodded . " If that is all , " the judge said , scowling . " Court is adjourned ." He slammed the gavel down with a heavy crack that echoed through the chamber . I headed out feeling numb . I didn't even look back at Philip - I didn't want to see his face . But he made sure I saw him . The moment I stepped through the building's grand doors into the crisp afternoon air , I heard his voice behind me . " You ungrateful little- " I didn't even get the chance to brace myself before he grabbed for my wrist hard , fingers digging into the same spot that had bruised more times than I could count over the years . " You think this is over ? " Philip hissed . His breath was hot with rage . " You've humiliated me . Do you have any idea what you've done ? " I didn't get to answer because a second later , a blur of motion slammed into him from the side and a loud crack filled the air as he collapsed . I turned , and there stood Dominic .