Mated by Contract to the Alpha
Chapter 104
Once seated, I ordered a drink without looking at the wine list – a privilege for regulars – and watched as Rebecca ordered some dishes on my recommendation. Her composure impressed me; despite the continued glances from other diners, she maintained her dignity, neither shrinking from attention nor seeking it.
Before I could speak, I caught a familiar scent–expensive perfume with undertones of citrus and amber. My spine stiffened instantly, muscles coiling in preparation. Elizabeth. I turned my head slightly, jaw clenching as I tracked her approach through the restaurant.
“Elizabeth is here,” I said quietly to Rebecca, my voice dropping to a register only she could hear. “Stay calm.”
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Elizabeth glided toward our table, her smile practiced and predatory. She moved with the calculated grace of someone born to wealth and power, bypassing Rebecca entirely to stand beside me. Without invitation, she slid into the empty chair at our table, her perfume overwhelming the space between us.
“Dominic, darling,” she purred, her voice carrying just enough to ensure nearby tables would hear. She placed her hand on my forearm, an intimacy I immediately rejected by shifting my arm away. Her eyes narrowed at the rebuff. “Your father asked me to check on you.” She held up her phone, showing a message on the screen. “Alpha Sterling is concerned about our… misunderstanding earlier. He assures me it was just a joke that got out of hand, and we should resume our collaboration immediately.”
She turned to Rebecca then, her gaze dismissive, lingering insultingly on Rebecca’s dress, her hair. “Oh, you’re still here? I assumed you were just a temporary distraction.”
I felt the wolf rise inside me, protective rage building as Elizabeth’s insult hung in the air. My vision sharpened, the restaurant’s lights suddenly too bright, sounds too clear–the beginnings of a shift I forcibly suppressed. But before I could respond, Rebecca spoke, her voice clear and steady.
“Elizabeth, isn’t it?” She smiled, the expression not reaching her eyes. “Some people believe the quality of a person’s soul matters more than their bloodline. Humans may not have your physical strength, but we possess something you might never understand–empathy.”
Elizabeth’s composed facade cracked, her eyes flashing amber. I watched her fingernails begin to lengthen, a dangerous sign of her control slipping. The scent of her anger spiked, acrid and sharp.
“Foolish human,” she hissed, leaning forward. Her voice dropped to a growl, the wolf in her rising to the surface. “A true Alpha only chooses a mate who can provide pure–blooded heirs for the Silver Moon Shadow Clan! What can you possibly offer him? You’re nothing but a temporary amusement, a novelty he’ll discard once he remembers his responsibilities.”
I stood abruptly, my movement deliberate and controlled despite the fury coursing through me. The chair scraped against the floor, the sound sharp in the sudden silence that fell over the restaurant. My presence expanded, filling the space around us–not just physical but primal, the unmistakable aura of an Alpha asserting dominance. Nearby diners lowered their eyes instinctively, some tilting their heads to expose their necks in unconscious submission.
“Enough,” I said, my voice deceptively quiet but carrying throughout the space. Elizabeth shrank back in her seat,
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Chapter 104
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her wolf responding to the power in my tone even as her human pride struggled against it. “Elizabeth, we have nothing to discuss regarding business. The Collins Group’s divestment has already caused tangible losses to Sterling. As for insulting my guest-” I leaned forward, hands flat on the table, eyes boring into hers with barely contained rage, “-you’ve violated the most basic pack protocol of respect. Leave. Now.”
Elizabeth’s confidence faltered, her wolf recognizing the command of a stronger Alpha. She stood, smoothing her dress with shaking hands, unable to meet my gaze directly.
“I apologize for my rudeness,” she said stiffly, the words clearly forced. “It was… inappropriate.”
As she turned to leave, she paused beside Rebecca, leaning down to whisper words meant only for werewolf hearing and Rebecca’s ears: “When he inherits the Alpha position, he’ll make his choice. And you, human, will be forgotten.”
20:37 Wed, Sep 24
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
