Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 72

Rebecca's POV

My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for my water glass, trying to appear composed.

Elizabeth's words had struck a nerve because they echoed my own unspoken fears. The contract Dominic and I had signed flashed through my mind—my commitment to stay with him until he assumed the Alpha position. My stomach knotted painfully. Was that all I was to him? A temporary distraction, a human plaything to pass time with until duty called him to choose a proper werewolf mate?

I thought about our journey from employer and employee to whatever we were now. The way his eyes softened when we were alone. The gentle touches that contradicted his otherwise commanding presence. The nights spent in each other's arms. My breathing quickened as doubt crept in. Had I misread everything? Was I just naive, seeing depth where there was only convenience?

"Rebecca."

Dominic's voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. His brow was furrowed, blue eyes studying me with that penetrating gaze that always made me feel transparent. I shifted in my seat, avoiding direct eye contact.

"Are you alright?" His hand moved across the table, covering mine. The warmth of his skin against mine sent familiar tingles up my arm, and I hated how my body responded to him even as my mind churned with doubt.

"I'm fine," I said, forcing a smile that didn't reach my eyes. My voice sounded hollow even to my own ears. "Just surprised by her... boldness."

Dominic's expression darkened. "Elizabeth was out of line. What she said isn't—"

He was interrupted by a server arriving with our main course, setting down two plates of perfectly seared Wagyu steak, the meat marbled with fat and glistening under the restaurant's soft lighting.

"Your A5 Wagyu, medium-rare," the server announced with practiced elegance. "And for the lady, the petit filet, also medium-rare. Chef has paired these with a truffle potato puree and seasonal vegetables."

I seized the opportunity to redirect the conversation, sitting up straighter and widening my eyes in exaggerated interest. "This looks amazing," I said with forced enthusiasm, studying the artfully arranged plate. "I've never had Wagyu before." My hands were still shaking slightly as I reached for my cutlery.

Dominic hesitated, his jaw clenching momentarily. He clearly wanted to finish what he'd been about to say, but nodded at the server.

As the server departed, I carefully cut into my steak, deliberately avoiding Dominic's gaze. The meat was butter-soft, practically melting on my tongue, but I barely tasted it. My mind kept replaying Elizabeth's words and the calculated confidence with which she'd delivered them. I chewed slowly, mechanically, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

Dominic watched me closely throughout dinner, his jaw tight. Several times he seemed about to speak, but the words never came. The silence between us stretched, punctuated only by the clink of silverware against fine china and the subdued conversations of nearby diners. I kept my eyes on my plate, occasionally glancing around the room—anywhere but at him.

When we finished, he signaled for the check, signing it without looking at the total. As we stood to leave, his hand found the small of my back, a possessive gesture that guided me through the dining room. His touch burned through the thin fabric of my dress, making me acutely aware of his proximity.

Just as we reached the entrance, a young male server—human, I noted by his lack of the distinctive scent werewolves carried—hurried toward us.

"Excuse me, miss?" he called, slightly out of breath. "You left your phone at the table."

He held out my smartphone, a slight blush coloring his cheeks as our fingers brushed during the exchange. His eyes lingered on mine a moment longer than necessary, his smile warm and friendly.

"Thank you so much," I said gratefully. I smiled at him, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear automatically.

"No problem at all," he replied, his gaze finally breaking from mine to acknowledge Dominic with a respectful nod.

I felt a shift in the air, a subtle change in the atmosphere that raised the hair on my arms. Glancing up at Dominic, I caught the flash of blue in his eyes—not their normal shade, but the electric blue that signaled his wolf stirring close to the surface. His posture had stiffened, shoulders squared, as he stared down at the server with undisguised territorial aggression. His fingers pressed more firmly into my back.

The young man seemed to sense the danger on some instinctive level. His smile faltered, and he backed away with a hasty, "Enjoy your evening," before disappearing into the restaurant.

Dominic said nothing as we exited Golden Sands Bay and waited for the valet to bring his Maybach around. The tension radiating from him was palpable.

---

"It was nice of him to notice my phone," I said conversationally as Dominic pulled the Maybach onto the street. "I wouldn't have realized it was missing until we got home." I glanced sideways at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

His only response was a noncommittal grunt, his knuckles white against the steering wheel. I noticed the muscle twitching in his jaw, but couldn't understand his sudden coldness.

"The food was incredible," I continued, fidgeting with the hem of my dress. "That steak was probably the best thing I've ever tasted. And the wine pairing was perfect."

Dominic nodded stiffly, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. The silence felt heavy, oppressive.

My phone buzzed with a text notification, and I smiled when I saw it was from Sophia.

[Hey girl! How's the fancy dinner going? Did you wear that midnight blue dress? Send pics!]

I typed a quick reply, grinning at her enthusiasm. The screen illuminated my face in the darkened car. When I looked up, I noticed Dominic watching me from the corner of his eye, his expression darkening further.

---

When we reached the villa, Dominic parked but made no move to exit the car immediately. Instead, he sat still, staring straight ahead for several long seconds before finally turning off the engine. The abrupt silence felt deafening.

Inside the villa, the only light came from the moon, casting long shadows across the hardwood floors. Dominic closed the door behind us with deliberate slowness, the sound of the lock clicking into place unnervingly loud in the quiet space.

As I hung my coat in the closet, I finally noticed the change in his scent—a sharp, musky undertone that I'd come to recognize as anger. My skin prickled with awareness. Turning to face him, I found him watching me with an intensity that made my breath catch in my throat.

"What's wrong?" I asked, crossing my arms defensively. "You've been acting strange since we left the restaurant."

"That server," he said, his voice low and controlled, "liked you." The words came out clipped, precise.

I blinked in surprise, my arms dropping to my sides. "The one who returned my phone? He was just being polite." I let out a nervous laugh, tucking my hair behind my ear again.

"No." Dominic stepped closer, his presence suddenly filling the room. My back instinctively pressed against the wall. "His scent changed when he looked at you. His pupils dilated. His heart rate increased." Another step. His body radiated heat that I could feel even from this distance. "He wanted you."

Realization dawned, and despite the seriousness of his expression, I couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. "Are you... jealous? Of a random server I spoke to for all of ten seconds?" My voice came out breathier than intended.

"I'm not jealous," he growled, closing the distance between us. "I'm territorial. There's a difference."

Before I could respond, he had backed me against the wall, his hands planting on either side of my head, effectively caging me in. My heart hammered against my ribs. His eyes flickered that electric blue again, his voice dropping to a register that sent shivers racing down my spine.

"You are mine," he said, each word deliberate and heavy with meaning. I could feel the heat of his body just inches from mine, not touching but close enough that every nerve ending in my body seemed to strain toward him.