Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 118

Dominic's POV

I watched Rebecca from the corner of my eye as we drove, noting every subtle change in her expression. The carefree smile she'd worn at the beach house had gradually given way to concern, her brow furrowing as she stared out the window. I couldn't blame her. The sanctuary we'd created at the beach house couldn't last forever, and returning to the city meant facing the consequences of our choices.

When she mentioned the strange smell, alarm bells rang in my mind. Enhanced senses were common in pregnant mates of werewolves, but they usually developed more gradually. The speed of these changes suggested our child might be developing faster than a typical human pregnancy—not unheard of in mixed couples, but definitely requiring specialized medical attention.

As we pulled into the driveway of Sterling Manor, I sent a quick text to Dr. Winters to arrange a check-up for Rebecca. The doctor had been our family physician for generations, one of the few medical professionals who understood the unique physiology of werewolves and their mates.

"We're home," I said softly, reaching over to touch Rebecca's hand, which was resting protectively over her stomach.

She blinked, as if coming out of deep thought, and looked up at the imposing façade of the manor. "Home," she repeated, testing the word.

I wanted to give her time to adjust, to settle in after our trip, but pack business wouldn't wait. As soon as we stepped through the door, Diana approached with a stack of urgent messages.

"Mr. Sterling," she greeted me with a respectful nod, then smiled warmly at Rebecca. "Ms. Brown. Welcome home."

"Diana, please arrange refreshments for Rebecca," I instructed. "And ask Raymond, Emily, and Marcus to meet me in my study in twenty minutes."

Rebecca gave me a questioning look. I leaned down to brush my lips against her forehead. "Security meeting," I explained quietly. "I won't be long."

Her gray-green eyes searched mine for a moment before she nodded. "I understand."

I watched her follow Diana down the hallway, my wolf growling protectively inside me. Everything had changed now. Every decision I made, every strategy I planned, would be influenced by the need to protect not just my mate, but my child as well.

In my study, I paced as I waited for my team. The marking had changed things more than I had anticipated. I could feel Rebecca's emotions like shadows at the edge of my consciousness—her uncertainty, her determination, her love. It made focusing on business more difficult, but it also hardened my resolve. There were threats to eliminate, alliances to secure, a future to protect.

The door opened, admitting Raymond, Emily, and Marcus. My most trusted lieutenants took their customary positions around the room—Raymond by the window, Marcus near the fireplace, Emily standing directly before my desk with perfect posture.

"Rebecca is pregnant," I stated without preamble. "She is also now officially marked as my mate. This changes our security priorities effective immediately."

I observed their reactions carefully. Marcus nodded, unsurprised—he'd likely sensed the changes in Rebecca's scent. Raymond's eyebrows rose slightly, but he quickly schooled his expression. Emily remained impassive, though her eyes sharpened with interest.

"Emily," I addressed her directly, "from this moment forward, your primary duty is Rebecca's protection. You will be her shadow whenever I cannot be with her."

Emily sank to one knee, her head bowed in acceptance of the assignment. "I will guard her with my life, Mr. Sterling. No harm will come to your mate or your heir while I draw breath."

The formal pledge satisfied my wolf's need for certainty. Emily was one of our most lethal fighters, despite her slender build and quiet demeanor. She was also female, which would make her presence less intrusive in Rebecca's daily life.

"There's something else," I continued as Emily rose. "Tomorrow morning, I'm calling a meeting with the Collins family. It's time to formally terminate the betrothal agreement."

Marcus shifted his weight, the only sign of his discomfort. "The Collins pack won't take this lightly. Ronald has been counting on this alliance for years."

"The agreement was never binding," I reminded him. "And even if it were, finding my true mate supersedes any arranged match."

"Elizabeth will make trouble," Raymond said bluntly. "She's been telling people that you're just going through a phase with Rebecca, that you'll come to your senses eventually."

A growl built in my chest at the thought of Elizabeth's delusions. "Then tomorrow's announcement will clarify things permanently. I want the PR team to prepare a statement for immediate release after the meeting. The entire werewolf community needs to know that Rebecca is my chosen Luna and that our child will be my heir."

"And if the Collins pack retaliates?" Marcus asked carefully.

"Then they will learn why my father named me his successor." The cold threat hung in the air between us.

The meeting continued with discussions of increased security patrols around both the manor and Rebecca's apartment, surveillance on Elizabeth and Ronald Collins, and preparations for the bonding ceremony that would take place in two months.

As my team filed out with their assignments, I felt Rebecca approaching before I heard her footsteps in the hallway. The mate bond was growing stronger by the hour, allowing me to sense her proximity and her emotional state with increasing clarity.

She appeared in the doorway, looking small but determined. Her scent reached me, now mingled with the subtle marker of pregnancy that only a werewolf would detect.

"Are you ready to go to my apartment?" she asked. "Sofia's expecting me. I promised to tell her about... everything."

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Rebecca's POV

"You're getting married!" Sofia squealed, throwing her arms around me so forcefully that I nearly spilled my tea. "And in two months! Holy shit, Rebecca!"

I laughed, setting down my mug on the coffee table before returning her hug. After the tense security meeting at Dominic's estate, Sofia's unfiltered excitement was exactly what I needed.

"Let me see the ring again," she demanded, grabbing my left hand and examining the platinum and diamond creation that now adorned my finger. "Jesus, it must be worth more than this entire building."

"Sofia!" I protested, but couldn't help smiling. The ring was extravagant—there was no denying that.

"So in two months, you'll be—what's the word again?"

"Luna," I supplied, sinking back into the couch cushions. "I'll officially be the Luna of Silver Shadow Clan."

Sofia shook her head in amazement, her short black curls bouncing. "From small-town girl to werewolf queen. What kind of fairy tale is this?"

"The kind with witches," I said with a wry smile. "Elizabeth Collins isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat."

At the mention of Elizabeth, Sofia's expression darkened. "That bitch pushed you down the stairs. She should be in jail, not walking around making threats."

I sighed, absently touching my stomach. "Werewolf justice doesn't exactly involve the police. But Dominic's handling it. Tomorrow he's meeting with the Collins family to formally announce that he's breaking the betrothal agreement with Elizabeth."

Sofia whistled low. "That's going to go over well."

"About as well as a silver bullet at a werewolf convention," I agreed grimly.

"So what are you going to wear?" Sofia asked, abruptly changing the subject in her typical fashion. When I gave her a puzzled look, she rolled her eyes. "For the ceremony, dummy! You need something spectacular. Something that says 'I'm the boss bitch now, bow down.'"

I couldn't help but laugh. "I don't think that's quite the message I should be sending as Luna."

"Yes, it absolutely is." Sofia leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. "Look, I know this world better than you do. These people respect strength. The pack is watching you, especially the females. They need to see you as Dominic's equal, not some human charity case he took pity on."

Her bluntness stung, but I knew she was right. I'd seen the way some of the pack members looked at me—with curiosity at best, disdain at worst.

"I have no idea how to be strong in their world," I admitted quietly. "I can't transform. I don't have their physical abilities."

"But you have something they don't," Sofia countered. "You have Dominic's mark and his child. That gives you power in their eyes. You just need to own it."