Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 26

Rebecca's POV

I nodded, my throat constricting as I tried to swallow. "I need to collect some personal items," I explained, the words barely audible even to my own ears.

"I'll accompany you inside," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"That's not necessary. I'm just grabbing a few things." I fought to keep my voice steady, though I could feel a slight tremor in my hands.

"Mr. Sterling wouldn't want you facing potential trouble alone," Raymond insisted, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror again. "I can help carry your belongings."

A warmth spread through my chest, unexpected and welcome. Though I knew this was Dominic's command, Raymond's concern seemed genuine, his eyes kind despite his formal demeanor. The sensation of being protected was foreign after years of facing everything alone, even while with William.

"Thank you, Raymond," I whispered, feeling some of the tension drain from my shoulders, the tightness in my chest easing slightly.

He nodded, reaching into his pocket to hand me a business card. "If you ever need assistance, you can contact me directly."

The Bentley pulled up outside William's luxury apartment building. Standing at his door, my finger hovered over the doorbell as anxiety crawled up my throat and settled there like a weight. I inhaled deeply, held the breath until my lungs burned, then released it slowly as I clenched my jaw and pressed the button, my fingernail turning white from the pressure.

Seconds later, the door swung open. William stood there, and the sight of him made my skin prickle with revulsion. Every muscle in my body tensed, preparing for the verbal assault I knew was coming. A sardonic smile spread across his face when he saw me, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"Well, look who's come crawling back," he drawled, his voice slithering into my ears and freezing me from within. "Having regrets? Ready to get on your knees and beg me to take you back?" He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze traveling over me contemptuously. I crossed my arms over my chest, feeling exposed, violated by his stare alone.

"I'm only here for my belongings," I said, forcing each word through the tightness in my throat.

"Your belongings?" He scoffed, nostrils flaring in contempt. "You left me. Did you really think you could survive without me?"

He reached out to touch my face, and I jerked backward instinctively, my body remembering the way his gentle touches would often turn controlling. The smell of Olivia's perfume clung to him, invading my senses and churning my stomach.

William's eyes shifted to Raymond standing behind me, his expression faltering, uncertainty creeping into the edges of his smirk. "Who's this?"

"I'm Miss Brown's security," Raymond stated calmly, though I could sense the shift in his posture behind me. The air around us seemed to change, charged with unspoken tension.

William's eyes flashed dangerously amber—his wolf near the surface. I watched his fingers twitch at his sides, a movement I recognized from our arguments, when he'd struggle to contain his anger. His throat worked as he swallowed, restraint evident in every line of his body.

"I just want my design sketches and personal items," I repeated, drawing strength from Raymond's solid presence.

William's jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in his cheek before he finally stepped aside. The movement was stiff, reluctant. "Look around, but don't steal anything that isn't yours."

---

I entered the apartment, feeling like an intruder. Every familiar sight now felt wrong, tainted. The throw pillows I'd selected were gone, replaced with ones in colors I hated. Even the air felt different—heavier, hostile. My chest tightened as I moved through the space, memories assaulting me with each step. I headed straight for the master bedroom and opened the closet, a small gasp escaping me as I found it filled with Olivia's expensive clothing.

"I threw out your cheap wardrobe," William said coldly from the doorway. Each word landed like tiny needles under my skin. "Olivia needed the space. Those clothes weren't befitting the Moretti name anyway."

Heat rushed to my face, humiliation burning my ears and neck. I kept my back to him, unwilling to let him see how his words still had power to hurt me. Turning away from the closet, I continued searching for my design tools and sketches, focusing on steady breaths to calm my racing heart.

In the study, I found some of my design supplies and a few sketches. Relief washed over me, momentarily easing the knot in my stomach. But as I searched further, dread began pooling inside me. My main portfolio—years of work, hundreds of hours of creativity—was missing.

"Where's my portfolio?" I turned to William, unable to keep my voice from wavering.

"Oh, that." He pretended to consider for a moment, tapping his finger against his chin. His eyes gleamed with pleasure at my distress. "I burned it."

"What?" The word escaped as barely a whisper, my lungs seeming to collapse. A cold numbness spread from my chest outward, my vision darkening at the edges.

"That was my response to your betrayal," he shrugged, watching my face intently, drinking in my reaction. "You deserved it."

Something snapped inside me. "You evil bastard!" The scream felt torn from someplace deep and primal. My vision blurred, hot tears spilling down my cheeks. My hands shook violently as the full impact hit me. "Those were my only copies of years of work!"

"You disrespected our mate bond. Consider it justified punishment," William said, his lips curling upward as he watched my pain, savoring it. "I'll make sure you can't establish yourself in this city, Rebecca. No one will hire you, no one will help you."

What happened next occurred so fast I barely processed it. Raymond moved with lightning speed, his fist connecting with William's jaw. The sound was sickening—wet and solid. William stumbled backward, eyes wide with shock as he crashed into the wall and slid to the floor.

"You dare—" William sputtered, blood trickling from his split lip. His eyes shifted color, amber replacing brown as his teeth elongated. His fingers transformed partially into claws, scraping against the hardwood floor as he pushed himself up. A low growl built in his throat, the sound raising the hair on my arms.

Raymond didn't flinch, positioning himself between William and me. I pressed myself against the wall, heart hammering so hard I felt dizzy.

"Think carefully before your next move, Moretti," Raymond's voice was cold, lethal. "I stand here representing Dominic Sterling. Are you certain you want to challenge that?"

The name struck William visibly. He froze mid-movement, uncertainty flickering in his amber eyes. His gaze darted between Raymond and me, calculation replacing rage.

"Sterling?" William's voice had lost its arrogance, the wolf features slowly receding. "What does Sterling have to do with her?"

Raymond nodded curtly. "Miss Brown is now Mr. Sterling's personal assistant. She is under his protection."

William stared at me, then suddenly erupted into mocking laughter. The sound cut through me, familiar in its cruelty. Blood still trickled from his lip as he wiped it with the back of his hand, staining his expensive shirt cuff.

"A 'personal assistant'? Is that what they're calling it now?" His eyes narrowed, gleaming with vicious satisfaction. "You're nothing but a whore, Rebecca. You cheated on me the night before our wedding, and now you've crawled into the future Alpha's bed."

The accusation struck me hard, stealing my breath. My face burned with shame despite knowing the falseness of his words.

William stepped forward, his voice dropping to a malicious whisper. "If I had been more powerful, you would have stripped naked and climbed into my bed too, wouldn't you? It's all about status and money with you. Tell me I'm wrong."