Chapter 154
A 2000
Dominic’s POV
The tinted windows of my block SUV offered a perfect vantage point of Oak Park’s main entrance. I checked my watch: 11:45 AM. Dylan would arrive soon, expecting to find Rebecca waiting for him. Instead, he’d find Emily–one of my most skilled Deltas–wearing Rebecca’s clothes, her scent carefully masked with Rebecca’s perfume.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the mental link I’d established with Emily. It wasn’t as strong as a mate hond, but sufficient for this operation.
“Status report,” I pushed through the link.
Emily’s voice filtered into my mind, calm and professional. “Target has entered the south entrance, Alpha. Moving toward the fountain as planned.”
“Remember, stay calm and maintain the link. We need to know what he wants.”
“Understood. He’s approaching now.”
My jaw tightened until 1 felt pain in my teeth. Blood rushed in my ears as I fought to control the primal rage building inside me. Dylan Hurst had threatened my mate, endangered Sofia, and now believed he could manipulate Rebecca into meeting him alone. A growl rumbled in my chest before I could suppress it, causing Raymond in the passenger seat to glance at me with concern.
“Teams Alpha and Beta in position,” he reported, touching his earpiece. “All civilians have been quietly evacuated. from the immediate area.”
I nodded, checking the tactical display on my phone. My finger hovered over the screen, trembling slightly with suppressed anger. Three teams positioned strategically around the park, invisible to casual observers. Rivera’s team was blocking all exit routes, while Johnson’s men had established a perimeter. My phone vibrated with a message from Marcus confirming all was ready.
“Let’s move,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Remember, I want him alive.”
The scent of grass and earth hit my nostrils as we exited the vehicle. I led Johnson through a narrow path between oak trees, staying hidden as we approached the meeting point. Through the foliage, I could see Emily sitting on a bench near the fountain, wearing Rebecca’s cream–colored shirt and jeans, her head slightly down as if nervous.
Dylan appeared from the opposite direction, his posture confident, almost swaggering. I inhaled deeply, letting my enhanced senses parse his emotional state. Beneath his cologne, I detected the acrid scent of aggression mixed with excitement. My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms hard enough to draw blood.
My earpiece crackled. “Alpha, he’s not alone,” Rivera whispered. “Two men waiting in a black sedan at the east entrance.”
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Chapter 154
I signaled Johnson to dispatch a team to handle Dylan’s backup. We couldn’t afford any surprises,
Through the mental link, I heard Dylan’s voice as he approached Emily.
“Rebecca. I’m pleased you finally came to your senses,”
Emily kept her head down, mimicking Rebecca’s mannerisms perfectly. “You didn’t leave me much choice.”
Dylan chuckled, the sound making my skin crawl and my teeth ache with the need to shift. “Your friend Sofia has been quite… accommodating. The perfect lover, really. So passionate, so eager to please.”
Every muscle in my body tensed. The space between my shoulder blades burned with the effort of restraining my wolf. This wasn’t just about Rebecca–he’d been stalking Sofia too. Through our link, I sensed Emily’s disgust, though her face remained impassive.
“What do you want from me?” Emily asked, her voice a perfect imitation of Rebecca’s softer tones.
Dylan leaned closer. “I want Sterling to suffer. You’re the key to that.”
“Why do you hate him so much?”
“Because he has everything I deserve. Dylan’s voice dropped to a whisper. “And I’m going to take it all away, starting
with you.
That was my cue. I nodded to Johnson, and Emily reached up to remove her sunglasses, revealing her true identity.
“I’m afraid Rebecca couldn’t make it,” she said, her voice now hard and confident.
Dylan stumbled back, shock written across his face. “What the-
I stepped out from behind the trees, moving with deliberate slowness. The silence hung heavy between us, broken. only by the distant calls of birds and Dylan’s suddenly rapid breathing. His head snapped toward me, his eyes. widening before his expression settled into a cold smile.
“Sterling, I should have known.” He straightened his jacket, but I noticed his fingers trembling slightly. “You never could let her make her own decisions.”
“This meeting was never going to happen, Dylan,‘ I said, keeping my voice level even as rage pounded behind my temples. “Rebecca is under my protection.”
He laughed, a brittle sound that didn’t reach his eyes. “Your protection? You mean your control.”
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国
Mated by Contract to the Alpha
Chapter 155
