?” The hopeful note in her voice triggered a twitch in my jaw.
“I’d like you to attend as my personal guest. Would that interest you?”
Her intake of breath was audible. “I would be honored, Dominic. Does this mean-”
“Let’s discuss details when I pick you up,” I interrupted, my voice smooth but allowing no room for question. “I’ll
send a car for you at seven.”
“I’ll be ready,” she promised, voice practically trembling with anticipation.
After ending the call, I found Marcus lingering in the doorway, his expression troubled.
“You’re going to destroy her,” he said quietly. It wasn’t a question.
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I met his gaze directly, allowing some of my wolf to show. I felt the heat behind my eyes as they shifted color. “She attacked a defenseless human woman. She attacked my mate.”
“I’m not questioning your right to retribution,” Marcus clarified, his stance shifting slightly backward. “I’m concerned about the method. This is… unusually public.”
My lips curved into a cold smile, revealing just the edge of teeth. “That’s precisely the point. Let her fly as high as possible, Marcus. The higher she rises, the harder she’ll fall.”
Elizabeth’s villa was a sprawling Tudor–style mansion on the north side of the city, surrounded by immaculate gardens and protected by an ornate iron gate. As my car pulled through the entrance, I noted the additional vehicles in the circular driveway clearly, Elizabeth had invited her parents to witness what she believed would be her
triumph.
Raymond pulled the car to a stop, and I straightened my already perfect tie with practiced precision. The Sterling family crest gleamed on my cufflinks, a silent reminder of my authority.
The front door opened before I reached it. Ronald Collins stood there, his face displaying a self–satisfied smile that triggered a surge of disgust within me. My fingers flexed once before settling into stillness.
‘Dominic! Come in, come in.” He ushered me inside with exaggerated hospitality. “Margaret and I were just saying how pleased we are about this evening’s arrangements.”
Margaret Collins, a slim woman with the same blonde hair as her daughter, approached to air–kiss my cheeks. “It’s about time, if I may say so. We’ve always known Elizabeth was destined for greatness.”
I offered them both a practiced smile that never reached my eyes. “Elizabeth has certainly made herself…
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Chapter 119
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memorable. The slight pause before the final word was deliberate, though neither of them seemed to notice the danger in it.
“She’ll be down in a moment,” Margaret gushed. “She’s been preparing all day.”
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Ronald leaned closer, his voice dropping conspiratorially. “Between us, I think tonight would be perfect for a formal announcement. The press will be there, all the right families…” He trailed off meaningfully.
“It will certainly be a night no one forgets,” I agreed, maintaining my pleasant expression while my eyes hardened. For a split second, Ronald seemed to register something in my gaze that made him straighten, uncertainty flickering across his features.
The sound of heels on marble interrupted us. Elizabeth descended the grand staircase, one hand trailing dramatically along the banister. She wore a custom sapphire blue gown that matched my suit perfectly a coordination that would have seemed planned to observers. Diamonds glittered at her throat and wrists, catching the light with every movement.
“Dominic,” she breathed, reaching the bottom step and extending her hand, her eyes sweeping over me possessively.
I took her hand, brushing my lips across her knuckles in a gesture that made her pupils dilate. I straightened slowly, standing at my full height, looking down at her from my superior position. “As do you, Elizabeth. Shall we? We wouldn’t want to be late.” My tone conveyed finality, brooking no delay.
As I guided her toward the door, my hand resting lightly but firmly on her lower back, she leaned close, her perfume assaulting my sensitive nose. “I’ve been thinking about what I’ll say in my speech,” she whispered. “About how an Alpha’s mate must embody strength, purity of bloodline, and unwavering loyalty.”
“Indeed,” I murmured, my eyes fixed forward. “Loyalty is paramount.”
Her parents followed us out, Ronald making one last attempt. “Perhaps after the gala, we could discuss the details of joining our families‘ business interests? I’ve prepared some preliminary paperwork-”
“One step at a time, Ronald,” I cut him off, my words polite but my tone leaving no room for discussion. “Tonight is about celebration, not contracts.”
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20:39 Wed, Sep 24
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
Chapter 120
