Bound by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 55

Rebecca's POV

We walked toward the lake, following a path between ancient trees. The weight of Dominic's hand at the small of my back was reassuring. With each step deeper into this place, I noticed subtle changes in him—his shoulders relaxed, his stride lengthened, his breathing deepened. It was as if layers of armor were falling away, revealing a different man beneath.

At the lake's edge, he stopped. Water stretched before us, perfectly still in the late afternoon light. When Dominic turned to face me, his expression made my breath catch. The guardedness that usually shadowed his features was gone, replaced by a vulnerability I'd never seen before.

"Away from all the pressure and expectations... I just want to be myself with you," he said, his voice rougher than usual. His eyes searched mine, as if looking for permission. "I want to show you all of me... including my wolf form."

The words sent a cold jolt through me. Steve's attack flashed in my mind—his face contorting, bones cracking as he transformed, those savage golden eyes, the teeth and claws tearing at my flesh. My heart hammered against my ribs. I took an involuntary step back, my palms suddenly damp.

"I..." My voice failed me. I swallowed hard. "I'm a little scared."

Dominic didn't move closer, giving me space. His expression softened, eyes filled with understanding rather than offense. He extended his hand slowly, giving me time to refuse if I wanted.

"I would never hurt you," he said, each word deliberate and weighted with promise. "If you don't want to see, we can leave. Right now."

I studied his face—the sincerity in those blue eyes, the tension in his jaw as he waited for my answer. This was Dominic, who had saved me, protected me, respected my boundaries even when his instincts pushed him otherwise. This wasn't Steve.

"No," I said finally, forcing my voice to remain steady. "I want to see. I want to know the real you."

Relief washed over his features. He nodded, stepping back and beginning to loosen his tie. His fingers moved to his shirt buttons, methodically undoing each one.

"I'll go behind that large oak tree," he said, indicating a massive tree a short distance away.

As he disappeared behind the oak, I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to still my trembling. The forest around me felt unnaturally quiet, as if holding its breath in anticipation.

Then movement caught my eye. From behind the oak emerged a massive wolf with deep gray fur. My heart stopped, then raced painfully fast. The wolf—Dominic—moved with controlled power, each step deliberate. His eyes were the same intense blue as his human form, intelligence and awareness evident in their depths.

I gasped, stepping backward until my heel hit a rock. My chest constricted with a strange sensation, not just fear but something deeper—the mate bond between us suddenly so strong it was almost painful.

Wolf-Dominic remained motionless, watching me with those unnervingly human eyes. He made no move toward me, his body language carefully non-threatening. Through our bond, emotions flowed—his concern, his patience, his hope.

I couldn't move, frozen in place by competing emotions. Steve's attack replayed in my mind, but the contrast was stark. This wolf wasn't snarling or lunging. He was waiting, completely still, his focus solely on me.

Dominic lowered his massive head, a gesture that seemed intentionally submissive. The bond between us pulsed with reassurance. I felt his desire to comfort me, to ease my fear.

I forced myself to inhale deeply, then took one shaky step forward. Then another. My hand trembled as I extended it, stopping inches from his head.

"You're... not as scary as I thought you'd be," I whispered, my voice unsteady.

I touched his forehead, fingers sinking into fur softer than I'd imagined. Dominic remained perfectly still, then slowly leaned into my touch. A rumbling sound vibrated from his chest—not a growl, but something more like contentment.

The fear began to recede, replaced by a sense of wonder. I knelt on the soft ground, bringing myself to his eye level. The terror that had gripped me moments ago faded as I looked into those familiar blue eyes.

"You're... you're still you," I said softly, amazed by the realization. "I can see you in there."

He moved back slightly, then nodded toward the open area by the lake. Understanding his intent, I followed. Dominic began to run, his powerful body moving with a grace that was hypnotic to watch. Muscles rippled beneath his fur as he circled the clearing, his movements displaying a freedom I'd never seen in his human form.

"You look... free," I called out, surprised by the smile in my voice.

He circled back, coming closer, brushing against my legs as he passed. The contact was gentle, controlled—a request for acceptance, not a demand. I laughed, the sound startling in its genuine joy. My hand reached out, stroking along his back, feeling the power in the muscles beneath my fingertips.

---

When he approached again, sitting before me with those intelligent eyes fixed on mine, something shifted inside me. The fear was completely gone, replaced by a different kind of tension—a pull toward connection that I couldn't explain.

"I want to feel our connection better," I said, lowering myself to sit on the grass. My heart raced, but not from fear. "To really sense our bond."

Dominic watched me, his gaze intense. I realized we were communicating without words, through emotions and instinct. The raw honesty of it made me shiver.

I reached for the zipper of my dress, slowly drawing it down. The cooling air touched my skin. "This helps us sense each other better, doesn't it?"

Dominic's eyes widened slightly. He backed away, disappearing behind the oak tree. When he emerged moments later in human form, completely naked, my mouth went dry. His body was all lean muscle and strength, scars marking his skin here and there—evidence of battles fought and won. His eyes burned with an intensity that made heat pool low in my belly.

He walked toward me with that fluid grace he always possessed, now amplified without the constraints of clothing or social expectations. The raw masculinity of him made my breath quicken.

"You have no idea what you do to me," he said, his voice deeper than usual, roughened with desire. He knelt beside me on the grass, one hand coming up to trace the line of my jaw. His fingers were warm against my skin, slightly calloused.

I leaned into his touch, my body responding immediately. When his lips met mine, the kiss was different from any we'd shared before—more honest, more hungry. His tongue slid against mine, and I moaned into his mouth, my hands finding their way to his shoulders.

His hands moved to my dress, pushing it down my shoulders with careful movements. The cool evening air touched my exposed skin, raising goosebumps in its wake. Dominic's eyes darkened as he looked at me, his breathing becoming heavier.

"Are you sure?" he asked, his voice strained with the effort of control. I could see the tension in his jaw, in the way his hands trembled slightly as they hovered above my skin.

"Yes," I nodded, reaching for him. "I've never been more sure."

He guided me down onto the soft grass. I pushed against his chest, wanting to take control, and he allowed it, a flash of surprise and approval crossing his features as I straddled him. His hands found my hips, strong fingers digging into my flesh as I positioned myself above him.

When our bodies joined, I gasped at the intensity of it. Here, in this sacred place, every sensation was heightened. I could feel him inside me, filling me completely.

I began to move, setting my own pace. Dominic's eyes never left mine, his gaze so intense it was almost uncomfortable. His hands on my hips guided but didn't control, his fingers flexing with each movement.

"Rebecca," he groaned, my name a prayer on his lips. Sweat beaded on his forehead, his muscles tense with restraint.

When we approached our peak, I felt his body tense beneath me. His head moved toward my neck, drawn to the spot where wolves mark their mates. For a moment, I thought he would bite me, claim me fully as his own. Part of me wanted him to.

But instead, he pressed his lips to my forehead, fighting his own instinct. The gesture—his choice to respect my autonomy—pushed me over the edge. I cried out, my body clenching around him as pleasure washed through me. Dominic followed moments later, his hands gripping my hips hard enough to bruise as he groaned my name.

Afterward, we lay together on the grass, his body warm against mine despite the cooling evening air. His fingers traced the curve of my neck, lingering on the spot where a mark would go. The touch was feather-light but loaded with meaning.

"I almost couldn't control myself," he admitted, his voice low and rough against my ear. His breath was warm on my skin.

I turned to look at him, catching the tension still evident in the tight line of his jaw. "You wanted to mark me, didn't you?"