Bound by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 23

Rebecca's POV

The scratching of the pen against paper seemed unnaturally loud in the kitchen's silence. Each stroke of my name felt like I was carving away another piece of my independence. Rebecca Brown. There it was—my identity, now bound to this man, this werewolf, by a legal document that might as well have been written in my own blood.

When I finished, I set the pen down with a soft click against the marble countertop. Dominic stepped forward, his movements fluid and predatory, and collected the papers with a satisfied nod.

"Very good," he said, his lips curving into a smile. "I'll have everything arranged for your father immediately."

I nodded stiffly, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. The thought of Dad receiving proper treatment was the only consolation in this moment, the only thing preventing me from bolting out the door and never looking back.

Dominic slipped the contract into a folder, his movements methodical and precise. When he turned back to me, something in his expression had shifted. His eyes were darker, more intense—the look of a predator who had successfully cornered his prey.

"Go shower," he instructed, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Then come to the master bedroom."

My stomach dropped. Of course. This was what I had signed up for, wasn't it? I was his "companion" now. The euphemism seemed almost cruel in its vagueness.

I nodded again, not trusting my voice, and turned away from him. I could feel his eyes on my back as I walked out of the kitchen, each step feeling heavier than the last.

The master bathroom was larger than my entire bedroom at Sofia's apartment. Gleaming marble countertops, a shower stall that could comfortably fit four people, and a deep soaking tub positioned beneath a window that overlooked the lake. Under different circumstances, I might have been awed by the luxury. Now, it just felt like a beautiful cage.

I turned the shower to its hottest setting, hoping the scalding water might somehow cleanse me of the decision I'd just made. Steam quickly filled the large space as I undressed, folding my clothes neatly on the counter—a small, pathetic attempt to maintain some control.

I washed my hair twice, shaved my legs with meticulous care, and used every expensive product lining the shower shelves. I was deliberately taking my time, postponing the inevitable. What would Dominic expect from me tonight? Would he be gentle, or would his wolf nature take over? The memory of our previous encounters flashed through my mind—his intensity, his dominance, the way my body had responded despite my better judgment.

After nearly an hour, I couldn't delay any longer. I turned off the water and wrapped myself in one of the plush white robes hanging by the shower. The soft material enveloped me like a cloud, offering a moment's comfort.

I stared at my reflection in the fogged mirror. My face was flushed from the hot water, my eyes wide with apprehension. "You can do this," I whispered to myself. "For Dad."

Taking a deep breath, I opened the bathroom door and stepped into the master bedroom.

---

The room was dimly lit by a single bedside lamp, casting long shadows across the expansive space. My eyes immediately found Dominic, and my breath caught in my throat.

He was lying in bed, the sheets pulled up to his waist, his chest bare. His skin glowed golden in the lamp light, the defined muscles of his torso on full display. His hair was damp, suggesting he'd showered in another bathroom while I'd been taking my time.

His eyes tracked me as I hesitantly approached the bed, his gaze so intense I could almost feel it like a physical touch against my skin. I clutched the robe tighter around myself, suddenly feeling exposed despite being covered.

"You took your time," he remarked, one eyebrow arched. He patted the empty space beside him. "Come here."

I swallowed hard and moved to the side of the bed, perching nervously on the edge. Before I could react, Dominic's arm shot out, wrapping around my waist and pulling me against his chest. I gasped, my heart hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it.

"What were you expecting tonight, little deer?" he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. There was amusement in his voice, and something else—something darker.

"I... I don't know," I stammered, hating how vulnerable I sounded.

Dominic chuckled, the sound reverberating through his chest and into mine. "Tonight, you just need to sleep. That's all."

Relief flooded through me so suddenly I felt dizzy with it. But it was quickly followed by confusion. If not tonight, then when? What game was he playing?

I lay stiffly in his arms, acutely aware of every point where our bodies touched. His skin was unnaturally warm, a reminder of his non-human nature. His scent surrounded me, infiltrating my senses.

"Relax," he commanded softly. "I won't bite. Not tonight, anyway."

The implied promise of "not tonight" sent a shiver down my spine that I couldn't entirely attribute to fear.

Gradually, as minutes stretched into hours and Dominic's breathing became deep and even, I began to relax. The exhaustion of the day caught up with me, and my eyelids grew heavy. Just as I was drifting off, I decided to test my boundaries, shifting slightly away from Dominic's embrace.

Instantly, his arm tightened around me, pulling me back against him. Even in sleep, he was possessive, unwilling to let me create any distance between us.

I sighed and surrendered to the inevitable, allowing sleep to finally claim me.

---

I woke to sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows and an empty space beside me in the massive bed. Disoriented, I sat up, the events of the previous day rushing back. The contract. The shower. Dominic's unexpected restraint.

The sheets still held his scent, woodsy and masculine, but he was nowhere to be seen. The bedroom door stood slightly ajar, and I could hear faint sounds coming from elsewhere in the house.

After changing and making a quick trip to the bathroom to freshen up, I ventured out of the bedroom. The hallway extended in both directions, lined with closed doors that made me curious about what other rooms this massive house contained. But the sounds from downstairs drew me forward, and I followed them to a grand staircase that curved elegantly to the main floor.

As I descended, the clinking of dishes and muted conversation became clearer. I followed the sounds to a bright, open kitchen and dining area where Dominic sat at a large table, immaculately dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, his attention fixed on a tablet in his hands. Across from him, a slender, elegant woman with silver-streaked dark hair moved efficiently around the kitchen, preparing what appeared to be a substantial breakfast.

I hesitated in the doorway, suddenly feeling like an intruder. Dominic, without looking up, said, "Sit down."

His acute awareness of my presence, despite not visibly noticing me, was another reminder of his enhanced werewolf senses. I moved awkwardly to the table, taking the seat across from him.

"This is Diana," Dominic said, finally glancing up from his tablet. "My housekeeper. She'll be attending to your needs as well from now on."

Diana turned toward me, offering a polite nod. Her face was lined with age but still held a striking beauty. Her eyes, a warm amber color, studied me with undisguised curiosity and something else—assessment.

"Good morning, Miss Brown," she said, her voice rich and cultured. "Would you prefer coffee or tea with your breakfast?"

"Coffee, please," I replied, my voice sounding small in the spacious room. "Black is fine."

Diana nodded and turned back to the stove, where several pans sizzled with appetizing aromas. Within moments, she placed a steaming mug of coffee in front of me, followed by a plate laden with fluffy scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.

"Thank you," I murmured, genuinely grateful for the food. My stomach growled.

Dominic continued scrolling through something on his tablet, occasionally taking bites of his own breakfast. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the sounds of cutlery against plates and Diana's movements in the kitchen.

I was halfway through my meal when the doorbell rang, the chime echoing through the house. Diana wiped her hands on a towel and moved to answer it. Dominic didn't react, seemingly absorbed in whatever he was reading.

Moments later, rapid footsteps approached, and a woman's voice cut through the morning quiet.

"Dominic, I've brought the preserves your mother prepared. She insisted I deliver them personally rather than sending them with a—"