Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 156

Dominic’s POV

"We dilute wolfsbane to control them, not kill them," she explained, the plan becoming clearer as she spoke. "We have them drive us in, disguised as captured Sterling faction members. I can hide in the front, controlling the steering wheel from below while one of them pretends to drive. You can be in the back, ready to act if something goes wrong."

I considered this for a moment, my fingers drumming thoughtfully against my thigh. "It's risky, but it might be our best option for getting inside undetected."

"It's better than a frontal assault," she insisted. "And once we're inside, we can take out Ronald and Caroline directly. Cut off the head of the snake."

My lips curved in a slight smile, pride glinting in my eyes. "You're thinking like a true Luna." I reached into my suit jacket and withdrew a small silver injector. "I always carry diluted wolfsbane for emergencies. Enough to control them without causing permanent damage."

I turned to Rivera. "Prepare the captives for transport. Minimal sedation - we need them coherent but compliant."

Rivera nodded sharply and moved to carry out the orders.

I turned back to Rebecca, my expression growing serious. "Are you sure about this, Rebecca? This will be dangerous, even with planning."

Her eyes met mine, steady and unflinching. "I've never been more sure of anything," she replied, steel in her voice.

Her determination reverberated through our bond, her resolve as unyielding as my own. In moments like this, I was reminded of how perfectly matched we truly were - her strategic mind complementing my tactical experience, her fierce protectiveness matching my own.

Thirty minutes later, our plan was in motion. The captives had been dosed with carefully measured amounts of diluted wolfsbane - enough to ensure compliance without endangering their lives. The youngest one sat behind the wheel of their black SUV, his eyes glazed from the wolfsbane but still functional.

Rebecca had positioned herself on the floor of the passenger side, her small frame hidden from view. Her hands gripped the bottom of the steering wheel, ready to control our direction if necessary. She wore one of my Kevlar vests, though it was absurdly large on her frame. I'd insisted, unwilling to take any chances with her safety.

"Remember," I instructed the drugged driver, "act normal at the checkpoint. Show your ID, say you've captured Sterling faction members. Nothing more."

He nodded slowly, the wolfsbane making his movements sluggish.

I climbed into the back seat, positioning myself directly behind the driver where I could easily reach him if needed. Rivera and Johnson had already stowed themselves in the trunk, accessible through a fold-down seat section if we needed backup.

Through our mate bond, I could feel Rebecca's heartbeat - rapid but steady. "I can feel your pulse racing," I sent through our mental connection, finding her presence in my mind as easily as breathing now.

"I'm okay," she responded, her mental voice clear despite her physical position hidden from view. "Just focused."

The SUV rumbled to life, and we began our journey toward the Collins safe house. Night had fallen completely now, providing additional cover for our operation. The roads grew progressively less maintained as we approached the territorial border, the SUV bouncing over potholes and uneven surfaces.

After twenty minutes of tense driving, the security checkpoint came into view - a barrier across the road with armed guards visible even from a distance.

"Slow down," I murmured to our driver. "Natural pace. Let them approach us."

Through the bond, I felt Rebecca's tension spike. "Stay calm," I reminded her. "I can handle this if something goes wrong."

The SUV slowed as we approached the checkpoint. A guard stepped forward, hand raised, weapon visible at his hip. Our driver rolled down the window, his movements mechanical but passing for normal at a quick glance.

"Identification," the guard demanded.

Our driver produced the ID they'd been carrying when captured. The guard examined it, then peered into the vehicle, his gaze sweeping over me.

"What's your business?" he asked, suspicion evident in his tone.

"Captured Sterling faction members for interrogation," our driver replied, his voice flat but coherent. "High priority."

The guard studied me more carefully, and for a moment, I thought our cover might be blown. I kept my expression neutral, allowing a slight dazed look as if I'd been drugged. The silver handcuffs on my wrists completed the image of a captured enemy.

After what felt like an eternity, the guard stepped back and waved to his companion to raise the barrier. "Proceed directly to the main house," he instructed. "They're expecting a report."

The SUV rolled forward, and I felt Rebecca's relief mirroring my own. "First hurdle cleared," I sent to her.

---

Rebecca's POV

I remained perfectly still on the floor of the passenger seat, controlling my breathing as Dominic had taught me. My hands gripped the bottom of the steering wheel, ready to take control if our drugged driver faltered. The kevlar vest Dominic had insisted I wear was uncomfortably heavy and far too large, but its weight was strangely reassuring.

When we passed the checkpoint, I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "First hurdle cleared," Dominic's voice echoed in my mind through our bond.

Once we were inside the compound, I felt safer continuing with our plan. The SUV rolled to a stop in a side area near what appeared to be a service entrance. As soon as we stopped, Dominic leaned forward. "Wait for my signal," he whispered to our driver. "Johnson, Rivera - be ready."

"Now?" I asked through our bond, muscles tensed and ready to move.

"Not yet. Let's get our bearings first."

We were escorted from the vehicle by two guards who seemed to accept our driver's explanation without question. The wolfsbane was working - they saw what they expected to see. I stayed low and out of sight until we were safely inside, then emerged to walk beside Dominic. Johnson and Rivera flanked us protectively as we moved through the halls.

We encountered two more guards inside, and I moved instinctively, using the techniques Emily had drilled into me during training sessions. A quick strike to pressure points, and the guards were unconscious before they could raise an alarm.

"You've been practicing," Dominic commented quietly, his tone impressed.

I gave him a tight smile. "Emily's a demanding teacher."

We moved through dimly lit corridors, following Dominic's lead. He had mentally mapped the building based on information from our captive. The control room would be downstairs, but our primary targets would likely be in the main office on the upper level.

As we climbed the stairs, I could feel the shift in Dominic's posture - more alert, more predatory. Through our bond, I sensed he had detected another Alpha presence, though weaker than his own. Ronald Collins hadn't achieved full Alpha status, but his bloodline gave him certain advantages.

We reached a heavy oak door, behind which I could hear voices - one male, one female, engaged in what sounded like a tense discussion.

Dominic and I exchanged a glance. His eyes asked a silent question, and I nodded, ready for whatever came next.

With a swift kick, Dominic broke the door open, and we entered their office.

The door splintered under Dominic's kick, wood fragments scattering across the polished floor. The office was opulent - all mahogany furniture and leather upholstery, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the estate grounds. Caroline Collins sat behind an imposing desk, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair and tailored suit making her look more like a Fortune 500 CEO than the mate of a werewolf faction leader.

Her eyes widened in shock as we entered, her composure momentarily shattered. "Sterling, how did you get in here?" she demanded, her voice high with surprise.

Ronald was standing near a bookshelf, a tablet computer in his hands. Unlike his wife, he barely reacted to our entrance, his attention seemingly fixed on whatever he was reading. The casualness of his posture sent a chill down my spine - it felt deliberately performed rather than genuine.

"Your security needs work," Dominic replied coolly, moving further into the room with predatory grace. Johnson and Rivera positioned themselves on either side of the door, blocking the only exit.

Caroline's shocked expression quickly morphed into something more controlled. "I had no intention of killing you," she said, her voice steadier now. "This was merely a negotiation tactic."

Dominic's laugh was cold and humorless. "Attacking me with silver blades is your idea of negotiation? Creative. Elizabeth would be proud of her mother's methods."