Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 49

Rebecca's POV

I awoke slowly, consciousness returning bit by bit. My body felt heavy, muscles aching in places I didn't know could ache. The soreness was different from my injuries though—this was a reminder of what Dominic and I had done last night. My skin still tingled where his hands had gripped me.

My hand automatically reached for his side of the bed, expecting to find his warm body. Instead, my fingers met cold sheets. I opened my eyes, disappointed. The space beside me was empty, only the faint indent on his pillow showing he'd been there at all.

A folded piece of paper on the nightstand caught my eye. I reached for it, wincing as my shoulder wound pulled. The note was written in a strong, decisive hand:

[Urgent matters at the company. Rest today. I'll take you to the office in a few days. -D]

I pressed the note against my chest, heat rising to my face as memories of last night flooded back. Our heated argument. My fears laid bare. And then—Dominic's response. The way he'd pinned me against the wall. How his eyes had glowed in the darkness. The feel of his teeth grazing my skin. He had shown me his true nature, let me see the wolf beneath the businessman's exterior.

Despite how frightening it should have been, my body responded now just remembering it. My heart beat faster. My breathing quickened. I hadn't felt afraid of him, not really. I had felt claimed. Possessed. Protected.

I ran my fingers over my neck where he had kissed me, my collarbone where he had marked me. His scent was everywhere—on the sheets, on my skin, inside my clothes. That mixture of expensive cologne and something wilder, something that made my stomach tighten when I breathed it in. I could even detect traces of his Alpha pheromones lingering around me, marking me as his.

Sitting up carefully, I looked around the room. My clothes from last night lay scattered where he had thrown them. The sheets were tangled from our movements. Everything reminded me of what we had done, of how I had surrendered to him completely.

My new reality was starting to sink in. Yesterday, I had been terrified by the brutal justice of the werewolf world. Today... I still found it disturbing, but something had changed. I was beginning to understand this world with different rules and powers. And somehow, I had become intimately connected to one of its most powerful figures.

The thought made me shiver, not with fear, but with something closer to excitement.

"Good morning, Miss Brown," Diana greeted me as I entered the dining room, still moving stiffly. She immediately set down a steaming cup of coffee, followed by a plate piled high with eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and toast. "You need to replenish your strength. Last night was..." she paused, her cheeks flushing slightly, "...quite energetic."

My face burned hot. I stared at my plate, mortified. Of course the entire household had heard us. Werewolf hearing would have picked up every sound, every moan, every word Dominic had made me say. I remembered how loud I'd been at the end, unable to control myself under his touch.

"Thank you, Diana," I mumbled, not daring to meet her eyes.

My phone rang, saving me from further embarrassment. Emma's name flashed on the screen.

"Emma? Is everything okay?" I asked, concerned. The last time I'd seen her was after Steve's attack.

"Everything's great, actually!" Her voice was brighter than I'd ever heard it. "I'm calling about your final paycheck and commission. Mr. Sterling instructed me to process everything immediately."

"My final paycheck?" I repeated, confused.

"Yes," Emma confirmed. "Your regular salary, plus the commission from the Collins sale—even though it ended badly, you did make the sale—and..." her voice dropped lower, "a very generous compensation package for what happened with Steve. Mr. Sterling was quite clear that you deserved substantial compensation for your 'trauma and distress.'"

My hand tightened around the phone. "How... how much are we talking about?"

Emma told me the figure, and I gripped the edge of the table, my knuckles turning white. It was far more than I had expected—enough to cover part of Jason's gambling debts and my father's medical bills.

"It's already been transferred to your account," Emma added. "You should see it now."

My hands trembled as I opened my banking app. The amount was there, just as Emma had said. My throat closed up, making it hard to swallow.

"Emma, I... thank you. How are you doing, by the way? After everything with Steve..."

"I'm okay," she said, her voice stronger than before. "Actually, more than okay. I've been promoted to store manager. Can you believe it? Mr. Sterling himself signed the paperwork."

"I knew it. That's wonderful!" I said, genuinely happy for her.

"I just have a small bruise on my arm from when Steve shoved me," Emma continued. "Nothing serious. And now... well, now things will be different at Silver Collections."

After we hung up, I stared at my phone, emotions churning inside me. Relief about the money. Gratitude toward Dominic. But also discomfort—was this his way of paying me after last night? After all, I was still essentially being paid to be his companion, wasn't I?

I pushed the thought away, my stomach knotting. The money was for what happened with Steve, not for what happened between Dominic and me. I needed to focus on the positive—I could finally help my family.

---

With the financial pressure temporarily eased, I found myself drawn to Dominic's study. I settled into the window seat, pulling out my design notebook.

I wanted to do something for the people who had helped me. Diana, Raymond, Sophia... I began listing ideas, my hand moving quickly across the page.

As I sketched, my mind kept returning to Dominic. What could I give to a man who could buy anything? Last night when he'd returned home, I noticed he wasn't wearing his suit jacket. Given how he'd described killing Steve—ripping open his throat—I suspected the jacket had been ruined.

I flipped to a clean page and began sketching a men's suit jacket. One with subtle details that would suit Dominic perfectly. The cut would emphasize his broad shoulders and narrow waist. The fabric would be the finest wool. And there, on the inner cuff where only he would see it, I added a small embroidered design of a brown doe—his nickname for me.

My fingers trembled as I added more detail. The man who would wear this jacket had killed someone for me. Had shown me his true nature. Had taken me so completely that I could still feel him on my skin.

I should be disturbed by it all. But the truth was, I felt safer knowing Dominic would go to such lengths to protect me. And after last night, there was no denying the power of whatever bond existed between us, whatever this "mate" thing truly meant.

---

After purchasing gifts for Diana, Raymond, and Sophia, I headed to an exclusive tailor Emma had once mentioned. The kind of place that made suits for CEOs and, I presumed, Alpha werewolves.

The shop was intimidating—all dark wood and hushed voices—but I approached the counter with my head high. The consultant raised an eyebrow at my design, but when I mentioned it was for Dominic Sterling, his demeanor changed instantly.

"Mr. Sterling is one of our most valued clients," he assured me, examining my sketch with newfound respect. "This is quite good, actually. You have an eye for design."

I was discussing fabric options when a familiar voice cut through the quiet atmosphere.

"Well, well. Look who's shopping in the big leagues now."