Chapter 187
Rebecca’s POV
Following Dominic down the long corridor of Sterling Manor, 1 felt my heart hammering against my ribs. The ancient wolf emblems and stern family portraits lining the walls seemed to watch me with judgment in their eyes–the same piercing bloe Sterling eyes that would soon evaluate whether I was worthy of joining their bloodline.
My palms were clammy. I wiped them discreetly against my dress, trying to steady my breathing.
“It’ll be fine.” Dominic whispered, his warm hand pressing against the small of my back. But I felt the rigid tension in his fingers, betraying his own anxiety.
We paused before massive double doors carved with intricate wolf designs. Dominic knocked once, then pushed them open without waiting for a response. The subtle power play wasn’t lost on me–he was establishing his own authority even as we entered his father’s domain.
The study that greeted us was overwhelming in its display of power and history. Floor–to–ceiling bookshelves housed leather–bound volumes that probably predated my grandparents. A massive stone fireplace dominated one wall, above which hung an ancient shield bearing the Sterling family crest–a silver wolf howling beneath a crescent moon.
Alpha Sterling sat behind an enormous ook desk. Despite the imposing furniture, his presence dominated the room completely. The air felt thick, almost difficult to breathe. Beside him stood Marianne, her elegant posture rigid, cold eyes fixed on me with such intensity I fought the urge to look away.
“Come in. Close the door, Alpha commanded. His voice resonated deep in my chest, and I felt my throat tighten with instinctive fear.
Dominic guided me to one of the chairs opposite his father’s desk. His hand never left my back, and I drew strength from his touch–the only warm thing in this cold, intimidating room.
“Father,” Dominic began, his voice steady though I could feel a slight tremor in his hand. “I’ve already made my position clear to the Collins family.”
Alpha’s eyes–the same deep blue as Dominic’s but harder, glacial–flicked from his son to me, then back again. His nostrils flared slightly as he scented me, and I felt exposed, vulnerable.
“So this is why you refused Elizabeth? A human girl?”
The words stung like a slap. I dug my fingernails into my palms, determined not to show how deeply his dismissal cut me. My chin lifted slightly–a small defiance I couldn’t suppress.
Dominic’s POV
The moment my father called Rebecca “a human girl” in that dismissive tone, I felt my wolf surge forward, clawing at my insides. My jaw clenched tight enough to make my teeth ache. The animal in me wanted to snarl, to bare teeth, to stand between Rebecca and any threat -even from my own father.
pulse raced. “She is my male. My true mate.”
“She is not just ‘a human girl,” I said, forcing evenness into my voice even as my pulse
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12:46 Sat, Sep 27
Chapter 187
Father’s eyes widened–just a fraction, but for him, it was equivalent to open shock. Ils chair scraped harshly against the floor as he stood abruptly, the sound making Rebecca flinch beside me.
“Your mate? Impossible. His voice dropped to a dangerous register. “The Sterling line hasn’t mated with humans for generations.”
My mother’s soft, cold laugh filled the room. The sound raised the hair on my arms. “Darling, he’s simply making excuses to avoid his responsibilities. Her perfectly manicured hand waved dismissively. The Collins family must he furious.”
I straightened my back, meeting my father’s gaze directly–a challenge that would have earned anyone else in the pack immediate punishment. “I can feel the band, Father.” I tapped my chest, where the mate hond pulsed between Rebecca and me. “As Alpha, you know this feeling cannot be faked.”
The air between us crackled with tension, Rebecca’s scent sharpened with anxiety, though her face remained composed. I wanted to pull her into my arms, to shield her from this inquisition, but that would only show weakness,
Father moved around the desk with deliberate slowness, each step measured, predatory. I tensed as he approached Rebecca, my muscles coiling in readiness. He bent slightly, inhaling deeply near her neck where my mark lay hidden beneath her collar. I watched Rebecca tense, her knuckles whitening as she gripped the chair arms, but she didn’t flinch or look away from his intimidating gaze.
Pride surged through me at her courage.
“True mate bonds are exceedingly rare,” my father said, his eyes narrowing. “Especially with humans.”
Rebecca surprised me then. Her voice cut through the tension–clear, steady, despite the rapid pulse I could see at her throat.
“I understand your skepticism, Mr. Sterling,” she said. “But my feelings for your son are genuine.”
My mother moved from her position beside the desk, silk rustling as she approached. “This will destroy our alliance with the Collins family,” she said sharply, anger flashing in her eyes. “The board has already approved the merger.”
She placed her hand on Father’s arm, her wedding ring catching the light. The gesture was proprietary, political–a reminder of alliances and bloodlines.
My patience snapped. “She’s carrying my child, Father.”
The words fell into the room like a thunderclap. Father went absolutely still–the unnatural stillness of a predator. His nostrils flared wider as he scented Rebecca again, verifying my claim. I saw his eyes widen, pupils dilating slightly.
“A child… he breathed, and something shifted in his expression–calculation, interest, perhaps even a flash of something softer.
The atmosphere in the room changed, pressure building like before a storm. Father’s eyes took on that faint golden glow that signaled his wolf rising close to the surface. Power emanated from him in waves that made Rebecca shrink back slightly in her chair.
“If there truly is a Sterling heit…” he murmured, almost to himself.
Mother’s perfectly composed mask cracked. ‘You can’t possibly be considering this,” she said, voice rising, hands gesturing sharply. “Because of an accidental pregnancy? We’re throwing away generations of planning?”
Father’s head snapped toward her, and his voice when he spoke crashed through the room. “Enough!” The single word vibrated with Alpha command, making even me flinch. “The mate bond and the continuation of our bloodline supersede any political marriage.”
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12:46 Sat, Sep 27
Chapter 187
Rebecca placed a protective hand over her stomach–an instinctive, maternal gesture. Father’s keen eyes tracked the moment, then rose to meet hers with new intensity. I saw her swallow hard under his scrutiny.
“Show me the mark, Father commanded suddenly, turning back to us.
I hesitated only briefly before gently pulling down the edge of Rebecca’s blouse collar, revealing, the wolf–shaped mark on her neck. The mark I’d left during our bonding–clear, deep, and unmistakable. I felt a surge of possessiveness as Father leaned in to examine it.
His eyes definitely glowed gold now, his wolf close to the surface. “This is indeed a true mate mark,” he said, voice softer, almost reverent. “The color and depth cannot be faked.”
He straightened and stepped back, the harsh lines of his face softening almost imperceptibly. “My son has found his true mate…”
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