Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 107

Dominic's POV

The ancient werewolf oath still lingered on my lips as I carefully positioned myself on the edge of Rebecca's hospital bed. I'd whispered those sacred words to her sleeping form: "By the moon as my witness, my heart, my strength, my life are yours." Words my father had spoken to my mother, and his father before him—binding words not meant to be taken lightly.

I placed my hand gently on her abdomen, feeling the warmth beneath the thin hospital blanket. My child. Our child. The realization sent waves of fierce protectiveness through me, my wolf rising closer to the surface than I typically allowed in public settings.

Rebecca's breathing remained steady, her chestnut hair splayed across the white pillow. I traced the outline of her cheek with my finger, careful not to wake her.

I settled into a half-sleep state beside her, my body maintaining its alertness even as my mind drifted. Each time Rebecca shifted in her sleep, my eyes instantly opened, scanning for potential threats before confirming she was merely adjusting her position. This vigilance was instinctive—a biological imperative I couldn't have suppressed if I'd wanted to.

The vibration of my phone shattered the quiet hospital room. I reached for it immediately, checking the screen—unknown number. Normally, I wouldn't answer such calls, but with the recent threats against Rebecca and her family, I couldn't afford to miss potentially crucial information.

"Sterling," I answered, keeping my voice low to avoid disturbing Rebecca.

"Dominic." The voice on the other end was cool, controlled, and instantly recognizable. Elizabeth Collins. Her timing couldn't have been worse.

I moved toward the window, creating distance between Rebecca and this unwelcome conversation. "What do you want, Elizabeth?"

"I'm asking you one last time, Dominic." Her voice carried the practiced poise of someone accustomed to getting her way. "If you agree to marry me, I'm willing to overlook how you humiliated me at the charity gala."

I nearly laughed at the absurdity of her offer. Here, with Rebecca sleeping mere feet away—carrying my child—Elizabeth's proposition seemed almost delusional.

"We never had any real commitment, Elizabeth." My tone was flat, brooking no argument. "Stop harassing me."

"You'll regret this, Dominic Sterling." Her voice shifted from controlled to brittle, rage seeping through the cracks of her polished veneer. "No one treats the Collins family this way."

"Goodbye, Elizabeth." I ended the call and turned to find Rebecca awake, her gray-green eyes watching me intently from the hospital bed.

---

The morning light illuminated her face, highlighting the scattering of freckles across her nose that I'd grown to adore. She looked better than yesterday—some color had returned to her cheeks, though the shadows beneath her eyes remained.

"Morning," I said, returning to her side. "How are you feeling?"

Rebecca nodded slowly, then took a deep breath. "Dominic, I have something to tell you..."

I sat beside her on the bed, taking her hand in mine. "You're pregnant," I said simply.

Her eyes widened in shock, lips parting slightly. "How did you—did the doctor tell you?"

I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Your scent changed. It's sweeter now, with a hint of something new." I brought her hand to my face, inhaling deeply. "It's the scent of life, Rebecca. Our wolves can detect it early."

"Oh." Her free hand moved instinctively to her stomach. "I was so nervous about telling you. We've only just... and everything's been so complicated..."

"I noticed last night," I admitted, placing my hand over hers on her abdomen. "When you were sleeping, my wolf sensed the change in you. It's made my protective instincts even stronger."

Tears gathered in her eyes. "You're not angry? We barely know each other, and this is all happening so fast."

I leaned forward, pressing my forehead against hers. "I never thought I'd have a family of my own, Rebecca. This is a gift." The sincerity in my voice surprised even me. The Sterling bloodline had always been my duty, not my desire—until now.

"What happened yesterday?" I asked, pulling back to study her face. "Why were you suddenly in pain on the street?"

Rebecca's expression clouded. "The doctor said it was emotional stress causing contractions. I have early signs of potential miscarriage." Her voice trembled slightly. "After what happened with my parents at the hospital—my mother blaming me for Jason's death—I just couldn't breathe. I had to get out of there."

My jaw tightened at the mention of her mother's accusation. "You shouldn't have left the hospital alone, especially in your condition."

"I know that now," she admitted quietly. "But in that moment, I couldn't think straight. My parents were falling apart—my father trying to hold it together while my mother..." Her voice broke. "She said if I had used my connections—meaning you—to get Jason a better job, he wouldn't have been home when those men came."

The monitor beside her bed registered a slight increase in her heart rate. I immediately placed my hand on her cheek, my thumb stroking gently across her skin.

"Deep breaths, Rebecca," I murmured. "For our child, you need to stay calm."

She nodded, making a visible effort to control her breathing. "I'm trying."

We sat in silence for a moment, my hand still cradling her face, her pulse gradually slowing under my touch. This was all my fault—she'd been dragged into my world of pack politics and enemies, and now she was suffering the consequences.

"You should go back to work," Rebecca said suddenly, breaking the silence. "You can't sit here all day watching me sleep."

I frowned. "I don't want to leave you, especially now."

"You have responsibilities to the entire Silver Moon Shadow Pack. The doctors and nurses will take good care of me and the baby," she replied, her voice stronger.

Her understanding of my position sent a wave of warmth through me. Most humans—even those aware of our existence—never truly grasped what it meant to be Alpha. The weight of responsibility for every pack member's safety and wellbeing, the constant vigilance required. Yet Rebecca, despite her short time in our world, seemed to understand intuitively.

"I'll set up remote monitoring," I compromised, already typing instructions to Marcus on my phone. "The hospital security cameras will feed directly to my phone."

Rebecca rolled her eyes, but her smile took the sting out of the gesture. "Of course you will."

I leaned closer, my expression turning serious. "Rebecca, don't tell anyone about the pregnancy. Not even Sofia. The fewer people who know right now, the safer you both will be."

She nodded, understanding the gravity of my request. "I won't say anything."

---

I spent the next hour making arrangements, connecting with hospital security, and ensuring Rebecca's protection before reluctantly preparing to leave. Dr. Morgan arrived as I was gathering my things.

"Ms. Brown is doing much better this morning," she said, checking the IV and vital monitors. "The intravenous nutrients we administered overnight have helped stabilize her condition."

"And the baby?" I asked directly, seeing no point in pretending I didn't know.

Dr. Morgan glanced at Rebecca, who nodded permission. "The fetus appears stable for now." She turned more fully toward Rebecca. "These hybrid pregnancies typically progress faster than purely human gestations. You'll need to be especially vigilant about your health."

"Hybrid pregnancies?" Rebecca echoed, a new worry crossing her features.

"When one parent is a werewolf and one is human," Dr. Morgan explained. "They're relatively rare, but not unheard of in medical literature. The werewolf genetic contribution tends to accelerate fetal development and can place additional stress on a human mother's body."

I felt my muscles tense. I should have considered this, should have researched this possibility as soon as I'd realized Rebecca was pregnant. The thought of her being at risk because of my child tore at something primal within me.

"What does she need to do?" I asked, my voice sharper than intended.

Dr. Morgan didn't flinch at my tone. "Rest for the next week, absolutely. No stress, no emotional upheavals." She handed Rebecca a folder. "I've prepared a specialized nutrition plan and prenatal vitamin regimen designed specifically for human mothers carrying werewolf offspring. It contains higher levels of certain nutrients to support the accelerated development."

"When can I go home?" Rebecca asked.

"Tomorrow, if your condition remains stable overnight." Dr. Morgan made a note in her chart. "But I want strict bed rest for the following week, with minimal physical activity and emotional stimulation."

After the doctor left, I kissed Rebecca goodbye, lingering longer than necessary. "I'll check on you throughout the day," I promised.

"I know you will." She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Go run your empire, Alpha."