Bound by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 71

Dominic's POV

I checked my watch for the third time in ten minutes, leaning against the leather seat of my Maybach as Raymond kept the engine running. My phone buzzed with another message—Marcus, this time with a more urgent warning.

[Collins family actively looking for you. Elizabeth's car spotted heading toward downtown.]

"Take the back roads to Golden Sands Bay," I instructed Raymond, my voice leaving no room for question. "Avoid main streets."

Raymond nodded, understanding without explanation. "Avoiding Ms. Collins tonight, sir?"

"Tonight I'm not the Alpha heir or the CEO," I said, watching Elizabeth's convoy through the tinted window. My fingers tapped a steady rhythm against my knee, the only outward sign of my inner calculation. "Just a man taking his woman to dinner. Politics can wait."

As we pulled away, I found myself reflecting on Rebecca's words earlier. My entire life had been built around control—of my company, my pack, my emotions. The idea of partnership, of shared decision-making, was foreign territory.

Yet there was something undeniably right about it. Rebecca carried herself with a quiet dignity even in her vulnerability. She didn't bow to pressure or intimidation, didn't sacrifice her principles for security. These were qualities a true Luna needed—qualities my mother had slowly lost under my father's dominance.

My phone vibrated again: Elizabeth. [Where are you? Your father insists we discuss the termination of our agreement. This isn't over, Dominic.]

I silenced the phone just as Rebecca emerged from her building. She'd chosen the midnight blue dress I'd complimented once before, the one that made her eyes look like forest pools after rain. Her hair was loosely styled, cascading around her shoulders in soft waves. Something lightened in my chest at the sight of her, a sensation unfamiliar yet increasingly common in her presence.

Raymond opened the door, and she slid in beside me, her scent—vanilla and lavender with undertones of lingering anxiety—filling the car. I inhaled deeply, the wolf within me cataloging every subtle shift in her emotional state.

"You look beautiful," I said simply, my eyes lingering on the curve of her neck where I longed to place my mark.

A slight blush colored her cheeks. "Thank you. I wasn't sure what was appropriate for Golden Sands Bay."

"You could wear a paper bag and still outshine everyone there." The words came out before I could filter them, surprising even me with their sincerity.

Rebecca laughed, the sound easing some of the tension between us. "I'm pretty sure your werewolf social circle would have something to say about that fashion choice."

"They would indeed," I agreed, settling back as Raymond navigated through the quieter streets. I placed my hand casually on her knee, a gesture both possessive and reassuring. "Speaking of which, there are a few customs you should know about. When we enter, stay close to my left side—it signals you're under my protection."

"Is that necessary?" she asked, her heartbeat quickening slightly.

"Just a formality," I assured her, though we both knew it was more than that. My fingers tightened imperceptibly on her knee. "And if anyone approaches, let me speak first. Especially other Alphas."

Rebecca nodded, absorbing this information with the same seriousness she applied to everything she learned about my world. My phone vibrated insistently in my pocket—three messages in quick succession. I ignored them, though Rebecca noticed.

"Everything okay?"

"Just business," I said, taking her hand.

---

As we approached the restaurant, I felt her pulse quicken beneath my fingers. The lights of Golden Sands Bay came into view, its elegant façade illuminated against the night sky. I could see the question forming in her eyes, the hesitation.

"Second thoughts?" I asked quietly.

Rebecca straightened, chin lifting slightly. "No. Just... nervous, I guess. This is your world."

"Tonight," I said, lifting her hand to my lips, "it's ours."

We entered Golden Sands Bay to the subtle stares I'd expected. The restaurant fell momentarily silent, conversations pausing as heads turned toward us. Werewolves from various packs, their scents distinct to my nose, watched with expressions ranging from curiosity to disapproval. I kept my hand firmly at the small of Rebecca's back, guiding her through the dining room with confidence. My posture straightened, shoulders back, head high—the stance of an Alpha claiming his territory.

The maître d' led us to my usual table, positioned to give me clear sightlines to both entrances while affording some privacy. Several diners inclined their heads in subtle deference as we passed, a gesture Rebecca likely missed but I acknowledged with the barest nod.

Once seated, I ordered a drink without looking at the wine list – a privilege for regulars – and watched as Rebecca ordered some dishes on my recommendation. Her composure impressed me; despite the continued glances from other diners, she maintained her dignity, neither shrinking from attention nor seeking it.

Before I could speak, I caught a familiar scent—expensive perfume with undertones of citrus and amber. My spine stiffened instantly, muscles coiling in preparation. Elizabeth. I turned my head slightly, jaw clenching as I tracked her approach through the restaurant.

"Elizabeth is here," I said quietly to Rebecca, my voice dropping to a register only she could hear. "Stay calm."

Elizabeth glided toward our table, her smile practiced and predatory. She moved with the calculated grace of someone born to wealth and power, bypassing Rebecca entirely to stand beside me. Without invitation, she slid into the empty chair at our table, her perfume overwhelming the space between us.

"Dominic, darling," she purred, her voice carrying just enough to ensure nearby tables would hear. She placed her hand on my forearm, an intimacy I immediately rejected by shifting my arm away. Her eyes narrowed at the rebuff. "Your father asked me to check on you." She held up her phone, showing a message on the screen. "Alpha Sterling is concerned about our... misunderstanding earlier. He assures me it was just a joke that got out of hand, and we should resume our collaboration immediately."

She turned to Rebecca then, her gaze dismissive, lingering insultingly on Rebecca's dress, her hair. "Oh, you're still here? I assumed you were just a temporary distraction."

I felt the wolf rise inside me, protective rage building as Elizabeth's insult hung in the air. My vision sharpened, the restaurant's lights suddenly too bright, sounds too clear—the beginnings of a shift I forcibly suppressed. But before I could respond, Rebecca spoke, her voice clear and steady.

"Elizabeth, isn't it?" She smiled, the expression not reaching her eyes. "Some people believe the quality of a person's soul matters more than their bloodline. Humans may not have your physical strength, but we possess something you might never understand—empathy."

Elizabeth's composed facade cracked, her eyes flashing amber. I watched her fingernails begin to lengthen, a dangerous sign of her control slipping. The scent of her anger spiked, acrid and sharp.

"Foolish human," she hissed, leaning forward. Her voice dropped to a growl, the wolf in her rising to the surface. "A true Alpha only chooses a mate who can provide pure-blooded heirs for the Silver Moon Shadow Clan! What can you possibly offer him? You're nothing but a temporary amusement, a novelty he'll discard once he remembers his responsibilities."

I stood abruptly, my movement deliberate and controlled despite the fury coursing through me. The chair scraped against the floor, the sound sharp in the sudden silence that fell over the restaurant. My presence expanded, filling the space around us—not just physical but primal, the unmistakable aura of an Alpha asserting dominance. Nearby diners lowered their eyes instinctively, some tilting their heads to expose their necks in unconscious submission.

"Enough," I said, my voice deceptively quiet but carrying throughout the space. Elizabeth shrank back in her seat, her wolf responding to the power in my tone even as her human pride struggled against it. "Elizabeth, we have nothing to discuss regarding business. The Collins Group's divestment has already caused tangible losses to Sterling. As for insulting my guest—" I leaned forward, hands flat on the table, eyes boring into hers with barely contained rage, "—you've violated the most basic pack protocol of respect. Leave. Now."

Elizabeth's confidence faltered, her wolf recognizing the command of a stronger Alpha. She stood, smoothing her dress with shaking hands, unable to meet my gaze directly.

"I apologize for my rudeness," she said stiffly, the words clearly forced. "It was... inappropriate."

As she turned to leave, she paused beside Rebecca, leaning down to whisper words meant only for werewolf hearing and Rebecca's ears: "When he inherits the Alpha position, he'll make his choice. And you, human, will be forgotten."