Chapter 9 The next morning , I made my way to the financial office , my stomach tied in knots . The campus was quieter than usual since we were still on break . the fog hanging over the walkways giving everything a cold , muted feeling . Inside the office , the air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and paper , but it did nothing to calm my nerves . The woman behind the desk barely looked up as I approached . " Can I help you ? " she asked , voice flat . " I'm Renee Caldwell . I received a notice about my tuition balance ? " I gave her my student ID . She typed it up , her eyes flicking over the screen . " Yes , it looks like there was a block on your account . Unfortunately , the payment didn't process as expected ." I forced myself to stay calm . " How long do I have to fix this ? " She tapped a few more keys , then looked at me with something between sympathy and indifference . " We can hold off on any late fees for a week , but after that , you'll need to make arrangements for payment , or we'll have to withdraw you from the program . " A week . That wasn't much time . My fingers tightened around the strap of my purse . " I'll figure something out . " Please do . You can contact us with your payment information by then . " I nodded , leaving the office with my thoughts already running a mile a minute , but I already knew where I was heading : the office's bank of computers . I couldn't afford to chance taking any longer than a week , couldn't chance being removed from my program when I was literally a semester away from graduating . That meant I would have to apply for a loan . It took a little while to do so between comparing rates and figuring out the best type to get . The high- interest rates were unsettling , and the thought of being indebt until I turned 25 irritated me , but at least I could defer the interest until after graduation . After finishing the paperwork and getting it over to the financial aid office , I called my bank . A little while later , a customer service representative answered . " How can I assist you today ? " she asked , her tone robotic . " I need to lift the freeze on my account . I'm Renee Caldwell , and the account was locked recently ." The representative clicked a few keys . " It looks like the lock was placed by your pack alpha , Philip Caldwell . Since you're under twenty - five , only he can authorize the removal . " " That's fucking insane . He's not even on the account . " " It's the law ma'am … the Alpha's Authority Ordinances ? " I scoffed , remembering the political maelstrom … though I wondered now if Dominic had voted for or against the policy . " I'll figure something out , thank you ." I hung up before I lost my temper and gathered my things to leave the financial aid office . There was nothing more I could do here for now . I needed to get to the library to do some research on the path forward . I stepped out of the financial office , my head spinning with the weight of everything that was slipping out of my control . I barely made it two steps before I heard his voice . " Renee ! " I froze , my heart lurching in my chest . Of course , it had to be Tyler . He came rushing toward me , a strained look on his face , his posture stiff as though he was trying to mask his anger with feigned concern . " Renee , please - can we talk ? 1- " I didn't give him the satisfaction . I turned on my heel and kept walking , my steps quickening as I tried to block him out . It didn't work . Tyler grabbed my arm , forcing me to stop . " Why are you ignoring me ? " he demanded , his voice rising in volume . " What's your fucking problem , huh ? Are you really going to pretend nothing's wrong ? " I glared up at him . " You know exactly why I'm ignoring you , and what the problem is . " I yanked my arm free . " Stay away from me Tyler ." But Tyler didn't , grabbing my arm again and yanking the Philip used to when I was younger , pulling me to face him , his eyes wild now . 1/3 504 PM Chapter 9 " Who is he , Renee ? Who's the guy you're cheating on me with ? Is that it ? I know you're seeing someone else ." I felt my skin flush with irritation . The crowd that had gathered around us was growing , eyes locked onto the two of us like we were some kind of spectacle . I snarled , yanking my arm out of his grip , and got in his face . " You've got a lot of nerve accusing me ! " I took a deep breath , making sure everyone in the crowd could hear me loud and clear . " You're the one who showed up to our Confirmation Ceremony with someone used underwear in your breast pocket like a favor ." The crowd went quiet for a split second , and I saw the color drain from Tyler's face . He opened his mouth , but no words came out . " And don't think for a second I buy it's from your bachelor's party days ago . I'm not stupid ! A stripper doesn't wear expensive , limited - edition underwear , drenched in perfume ! " I continued , my tone dripping with sarcasm . " Not one that Vivian would wear . " 1 scoffed . " Even if there was a stripper who made enough , she wouldn't be more than two sizes smaller than me . " His jaw clenched , eyes darting around as people murmured and speculated . The strippers of all the kinds of clubs Tyler would be seen at as ganima of Brightclaw , employed women more voluptuous than me . No one would believe he went anywhere else for his bachelor party , especially since there were photos of it all over social media . " So , I added with a knowing smirk . Tell me , Tyler , are you going to pretend you don't know exactly why I'm ignoring you ? Should I spell it out any more clearly for you ? " For our awaiting audience ? He swallowed hard , and for the first time in ages , Tyler looked like he was the one who was caught off guard . He didn't speak . He knew that I knew . Good , the bastard . " Let , Me . Go ," He hesitated , tightening his grip for a moment before releasing me . I glared at him . " I had hoped you'd have at least the sense to back off after the dressing down you got , " I said , the bitterness in my words sharper than I intended . " But here we are . " He glared at that . " We wouldn't be here if- " " You , " I said , my chest aching with barely restrained rage . I could see his expression from that night in the cabin , the effortless , unbothered , unaffected way he had moved in , thrown me over and hadn't even waited long enough to see me hit the water before turning back inside . I snarled , the rumbled of it rattling my whole chest . He jerked back , eyes widened with shock , but not guilt . He must have seen the depth of my hatred for him . " Here's the deal , Tyler : if you don't want this to get bigger than it already is - if you don't want the entire world to know what I know - then I suggest you leave me the hell alone . " Tyler opened his mouth to argue , but I didn't give him the chance . I turned on my heel , striding away from him , leaving him standing in the middle of the crowd . I didn't look back . As I walked down the corridor , the adrenaline from my confrontation with Tyler still coursing through my veins , I spotted them . Dominic stood at the far end of the hall , his back to me as he conversed with none other than Tyler's father , the man who had always made it clear how little he thought of me . The older man's eyes locked onto me the second I walked into view , and his glare could have burned a hole through me if I had thin enough skin . I didn't , but as I took in the sight of Dominic standing beside him , something in my chest tightened . Tyler's family had been part of the Brightclaw Pack , ever loyal vassals to Dominic's family since Brightclaw was first established . They had Dominic's loyalty in a way that I never could . I glared back at him , returning it with every bit of fury I felt . He seemed surprised as I bared my teeth at him before turning away . As much as Dominic had interceded for me so far , I could not count on his help . For now , it was an issue of consent , but it would take no time for Tyler to convince Dominic it was just something else . He'd be back to championing how reliable and whatever Tyler was soon enough . And he likely always would until I had proof that couldn't be denied or explained away to show him . I swallowed hard . I knew the evidence was out there but the bath to get , and get it in front of Dominic , was something I still had to chart . As I reached the exit of the corridor , I glanced over my shoulder one last time , seeing Dominic just as he started to turn enough to see his face . For a moment , our eyes locked . My heart jolted , but I glanced at Tyler's father again before leaving without a word .