Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 16

Dominic's POV

"You're the first woman who has ever dared to strike me," I said, barely recognizing my own voice as it dropped to a dangerous register. "Do you have any idea what the consequences are for that?"

My wolf was demanding retribution, furious at being denied, at being struck. But then I saw her face—tears streaming down her cheeks, her expression a mixture of fear and something deeper. Pain.

The sight of those tears cut through my rage like nothing else could have. The predatory instinct receded, leaving me suddenly aware of how tightly I was holding her, of the red marks forming on her delicate skin. I released her wrist immediately, drawing back.

"Get dressed," I managed, fighting to keep my voice controlled despite the turmoil inside me. "I'll take you home."

She scrambled away, gathering her scattered clothing with trembling hands. I watched her, conflicted emotions warring within me. My wolf still wanted to claim her, to make her submit, but the human part of me recognized the vulnerability in her movements, the shame coloring her cheeks.

The silence in the car was oppressive as we sat there. When she reached for the door handle, I tensed.

"I said I'll drive you," I stated firmly, unwilling to let her wander the streets alone at this hour.

"No," she replied, her voice unsteady but determined. "I'd rather take the bus."

The door slammed with finality, and I watched her walk away, her spine straight despite everything. Something in me admired her courage even as it infuriated me. No woman had ever walked away from me before.

I followed her at a distance as she walked to the bus stop, my Maybach crawling silently along the curb. Pride had made her storm off, but instinct wouldn't let me leave her unprotected at this hour. I watched her board the late-night bus, then trailed it through the city streets, staying far enough back that she wouldn't notice.

When she finally reached Sofia Rodriguez's apartment building, I parked across the street, hidden in shadows. The dashboard clock read 2:17 AM. Twenty minutes I'd been sitting here, watching her silhouette move behind the second-floor curtains, ensuring she made it safely inside after our encounter in my car.

My wolf paced restlessly beneath my skin, sensing her even at this distance. The mate bond was undeniable now. Each encounter had only confirmed what I'd sensed from our first meeting at that bar—the electric awareness when our eyes met, the overwhelming need that drove me to take her to my hotel, the territorial rage that surged through me seeing her injured at the parking lot.

She was mine. My mate. There was no question anymore.

I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles whitened. The certainty terrified me more than the doubt ever had. After Caroline's betrayal had nearly destroyed me, I'd sworn never to be vulnerable again. Now fate had thrown Rebecca in my path—a human with ties to my future Delta.

What was I supposed to do with her now? How could I approach her after the way we'd parted tonight? The mate bond pulsed between us like a living thing, demanding recognition, but I had no roadmap for this situation.

"I've only met this woman a handful of times," I muttered to myself. "I can't just choose her as a mate immediately."

As Rebecca's shadow disappeared from view, I started the engine. Women ultimately betray you. That was the one truth I'd learned the hard way. This pull toward Rebecca was just biology, just instinct. And I'd spent my entire life mastering my instincts.

But even as I drove home, her scent lingered in my car, on my skin, in my mind.

---

Rebecca's POV

"Where did you disappear to?" Sofia asked as I quietly closed her apartment door behind me. She was curled up on the couch in a fluffy robe, a glass of red wine in her hand, some reality show playing on mute on the TV.

"Nowhere special," I replied, avoiding her eyes as I kicked off my shoes. My body still hummed from Dominic's touch, and I felt both exhilarated and ashamed.

"Your cheeks are flushed, and you look... different." Sofia raised an eyebrow. "What happened, Becca?"

I sank into the armchair across from her, suddenly exhausted. "I don't want to talk about it."

I was about to respond when my phone rang. My mother's number flashed on the screen. At this hour? My stomach tightened with dread as I answered.

"Mom? What's wrong?"

Her voice came through broken by sobs. I could barely make out her words. Then my brother Brian took the phone.

"Becca, it's Dad. The tumor's grown. The doctors say it's pressing on his brainstem now."

The room seemed to tilt around me. My father had been diagnosed with a brainstem glioma six months ago, but the doctors had been optimistic about managing it with medication.

"How bad is it?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

"He needs surgery. High-precision neurosurgery." Brian's voice was strained. "The local hospital doesn't have the specialized equipment or experienced neurosurgical team. They're trying to get him a referral to a specialized center, but the waiting list is months long."

After I hung up, Sofia handed me a tissue. I hadn't even realized I was crying.

She asked, "What are you going to do?"

My mind raced. "I spent almost all my savings on the wedding preparations. And that night at the bar..." I trailed off, thinking of the expensive cocktails I'd ordered to drown my sorrows after discovering William's betrayal. "I need to find a job. Fast. Dad can't wait months for a referral. His symptoms are getting worse every day."

---

I barely slept that night. As dawn broke, I scrolled through job listings on my phone, calculating how long it would take to save enough for even a fraction of the surgery costs. Months. Maybe years.

Then it hit me. There was one person I knew who had the financial resources to help me.

Dominic Sterling.

The thought made my stomach clench with anxiety, but desperation pushed away my pride. I got up and rummaged through Sofia's closet, borrowing a navy pencil skirt and a cream blouse that looked professional but still accentuated my figure.

"Where are you going so early?" Sofia asked sleepily from her bedroom doorway

"To find a job," I replied, applying a touch of makeup to hide my sleepless night. "The only person I can think of with the financial resources to help me right now is him."

An hour later, I stood in the gleaming lobby of Sterling Enterprises, Dominic's business card clutched in my hand. I took a deep breath and approached the reception desk, pulling out the card.

"I need to see Mr. Sterling," I said, trying to project confidence. "He gave me his card."

The receptionist gave me a cool once-over. "Do you have an appointment? Mr. Sterling's schedule is fully booked today."

My heart sank, but I thought quickly. "Please tell him Rebecca Brown has important information about William Moretti violating Silver Moon rules."

The receptionist's eyes widened. She quickly picked up her phone and spoke in hushed tones.

"Please wait a moment, Miss Brown," she said, her attitude suddenly more deferential.

I waited, already regretting using such a heavy card to get in, but knowing it was my only chance to see Dominic. When I was finally ushered into his office, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine immediately.

"So," he said, leaning back in his chair, "what's this important information about William breaking rules? Or is this just another one of your little tricks?"

I flushed with embarrassment. "I'm sorry for disturbing you like this, but I needed to see you, and they wouldn't let me up otherwise."

"You could have called," he said, raising an eyebrow. "My direct line is on my card."

I explained my father's situation, my voice steady despite my nerves. "I'm looking for any job opportunity you might have. Receptionist, assistant, anything."

"Why would I give a limited position to you, a human, rather than someone from our pack who needs work?" he challenged, his expression unreadable.

I felt tears threatening but refused to let them fall. "If I had other options, I wouldn't be asking you, Mr. Sterling," I said, my voice catching. "My father's tumor is growing daily. He needs specialized surgery that costs more than my family will ever have. I'm not here because I want to be. I'm here because I'm desperate."

Dominic leaned forward in his chair, studying me intensely. His blue eyes seemed to look straight through me, assessing every micro-expression, every hint of vulnerability.

"Desperate," he repeated, rolling the word on his tongue as if tasting it. "And what makes you think I care about your desperation, Miss Brown? What makes you think I would help you, after you refused me and walked away last night?"