Mated by Contract to the Alpha
Chapter 103
Dominic’s POV
I checked my watch for the third time in ten minutes, leaning against the leather seat of my Maybach as Raymond kept the engine running. My phone buzzed with another message–Marcus, this time with a more urgent warning.
[Collins family actively looking for you. Elizabeth’s car spotted heading toward downtown.]
“Take the back roads to Golden Sands Bay,” I instructed Raymond, my voice leaving no room for question. “Avoid
main streets.”
Raymond nodded, understanding without explanation. “Avoiding Ms. Collins tonight, sir?”
“Tonight I’m not the Alpha heir or the CEO,” I said, watching Elizabeth’s convoy through the tinted window. My fingers tapped a steady rhythm against my knee, the only outward sign of my inner calculation. “Just a man taking his woman to dinner. Politics can wait.”
As we pulled away, I found myself reflecting on Rebecca’s words earlier. My entire life had been built around control -of my company, my pack, my emotions. The idea of partnership, of shared decision–making, was foreign territory.
Yet there was something undeniably right about it. Rebecca carried herself with a quiet dignity even in her vulnerability. She didn’t bow to pressure or intimidation, didn’t sacrifice her principles for security. These were qualities a true Luna needed–qualities my mother had slowly lost under my father’s dominance.
My phone vibrated again: Elizabeth. [Where are you? Your father insists we discuss the termination of our agreement. This isn’t over, Dominic.]
I silenced the phone just as Rebecca emerged from her building. She’d chosen the midnight blue dress I’d complimented once before, the one that made her eyes look like forest pools after rain. Her hair was loosely styled, cascading around her shoulders in soft waves. Something lightened in my chest at the sight of her, a sensation unfamiliar yet increasingly common in her presence.
Raymond opened the door, and she slid in beside me, her scent–vanilla and lavender with undertones of lingering anxiety–filling the car. I inhaled deeply, the wolf within me cataloging every subtle shift in her emotional state.
“You look beautiful,” I said simply, my eyes lingering on the curve of her neck where I longed to place my mark.
A slight blush colored her cheeks. “Thank you. I wasn’t sure what was appropriate for Golden Sands Bay.”
“You could wear a paper bag and still outshine everyone there.” The words came out before I could filter them, surprising even me with their sincerity.
Rebecca laughed, the sound easing some of the tension between us. “I’m pretty sure your werewolf social circle would have something to say about that fashion choice.”
1/2
20:37 Wed, Sep 24
Chapter 103
“They would indeed, I agreed, settling back as Raymond navigated through the quieter streets. I placed my hand casually on her knee, a gesture both possessive and reassuring. “Speaking of which, there are a few customs you should know about. When we enter, stay close to my left side–it signals you’re under my protection.”
“Is that necessary?” she asked, her heartbeat quickening slightly.
42
“Just a formality,” I assured her, though we both knew it was more than that. My fingers tightened imperceptibly on her knee. “And if anyone approaches, let me speak first. Especially other Alphas.”
Rebecca nodded, absorbing this information with the same seriousness she applied to everything she learned about my world. My phone vibrated insistently in my pocket–three messages in quick succession. I ignored them, though Rebecca noticed.
“Everything okay?”
“Just business,” I said, taking her hand.
As we approached the restaurant, I felt her pulse quicken beneath my fingers. The lights of Golden Sands Bay came into view, its elegant façade illuminated against the night sky. I could see the question forming in her eyes, the
hesitation.
“Second thoughts?” I asked quietly.
Rebecca straightened, chin lifting slightly. “No. Just… nervous, I guess. This is your world.”
“Tonight,” I said, lifting her hand to my lips, “it’s ours.”
We entered Golden Sands Bay to the subtle stares I’d expected. The restaurant fell momentarily silent, conversations pausing as heads turned toward us. Werewolves from various packs, their scents distinct to my nose, watched with expressions ranging from curiosity to disapproval. I kept my hand firmly at the small of Rebecca’s back, guiding her through the dining room with confidence. My posture straightened, shoulders back, head high–the stance of an Alpha claiming his territory.
The maître d‘ led us to my usual table, positioned to give me clear sightlines to both entrances while affording some privacy. Several diners inclined their heads in subtle deference as we passed, a gesture Rebecca likely missed but I acknowledged with the barest nod.
20:37 Wed, Sep 24
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
