Mated by Contract to the Alpha Chapter 94

Rebecca's POV

That was last night—my tearful confession to Sofia under the stars, my decision to eventually leave everything behind. Now, as evening approached again, I sat alone on the private terrace of my suite, watching the sunset paint the mountains with hues of amber and purple. The lake below stretched like a mirror, reflecting the dying light of day.

Twenty-four hours had passed since I'd declared my intention to walk away from the Silver Moon Shadow Pack, from Dominic, once I'd fulfilled my obligations. The words had felt so firm, so final when they left my lips. Yet here I was, still aching, still wondering if I was making the right choice.

Sofia had tried to engage me throughout the day, suggesting activities and excursions, but my heart wasn't in it. Eventually, she'd given up and gone to explore the resort on her own.

I traced my fingers along the wooden railing, wondering if this was truly the beginning of the end. Had I become too much trouble? Was he tired of constantly having to rescue me? Or maybe he'd simply grown bored with me, his initial fascination wearing off like morning dew under the harsh sun of reality.

A soft knock interrupted my spiraling thoughts. The door opened, and Sofia poked her head out.

"Want to check out the hot springs area?" she asked, her voice cheerful but careful, as if she was walking on eggshells around me. "Raymond says you can see the stars from there. It's supposed to be incredible."

I forced a smile, though I knew it didn't reach my eyes. "You go ahead. I think I want to be alone for a while."

Sofia hesitated, concern evident in her dark eyes. "Are you sure? It might help take your mind off things."

"I'm sure. Have fun."

After a moment, she nodded. "Okay. Text me if you change your mind."

Once she left, I turned back to the darkening landscape. The first stars had begun to appear, twinkling faintly against the deepening blue. I wondered if Dominic was looking at the same sky, if he was thinking of me at all, or if he was relieved to have some space. The thought made my throat tighten with unshed tears.

As darkness settled fully over the mountains, the terrace lights automatically dimmed to a soft glow that wouldn't compete with the starlight. I remained motionless, letting the cool night air wash over my face, listening to the distant sounds of the forest beyond the resort's manicured grounds.

A rustling from the tree line caught my attention. I tensed, suddenly alert, memories of Dylan's threats flashing through my mind. Standing slowly, I peered into the darkness, my heart hammering against my ribs.

The moon emerged from behind a cloud, bathing the landscape in silver light, and that's when I saw it—a massive wolf at the edge of the forest, its silver-gray coat almost luminescent under the moonbeams. It stood perfectly still, watching me with startling blue eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness.

I gasped, taking an involuntary step back. The wolf took another step forward, now fully visible at the forest's edge, its gaze never leaving mine.

There was something hauntingly familiar about those eyes—their intensity, their intelligence. My skin prickled with awareness, a strange heat spreading through my limbs despite the cool night air. Recognition dawned on me slowly.

"Dom... Dominic?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The wolf dipped its head once in what could only be a nod. My legs weakened, and I gripped the railing for support. Before I could say anything else, the wolf turned and disappeared back into the shadows of the forest.

I stood frozen for several seconds, my mind racing to process what I'd just witnessed. Dominic was here. He'd come for me. My heart pounded against my ribs, my breathing shallow and quick. Without thinking, I rushed back inside, grabbed a light jacket, and headed out.

The resort paths were well-lit, but they quickly gave way to darker forest trails as I followed in the direction the wolf had gone. The moon provided enough light to see by, illuminating a narrow path that wound between the pines.

My pulse quickened with each step. The night air felt charged against my skin as I moved deeper into the forest. I had never followed a werewolf into the darkness before—it should have terrified me, yet I felt drawn forward by something beyond rational thought. My body knew what my mind didn't fully comprehend yet.

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After walking for what felt like eternity but was probably only five minutes, I reached a small clearing bathed in moonlight. In the center stood Dominic, now in human form, his back to me. He was fully dressed in dark jeans and a button-down shirt, his shoulders rigid with tension.

"You came," he said without turning around, his voice low and rough, sending a tremor through me.

I stopped at the edge of the clearing, suddenly uncertain. "Why are you here?" My voice trembled slightly despite my effort to keep it steady.

Dominic turned slowly to face me. The moonlight cast half his face in shadow, but I could see the intensity in his eyes, the tight set of his jaw. My body responded to his presence with immediate awareness—heightened breathing, quickened pulse, a warmth spreading through my core.

"I couldn't continue like this," he said finally.

My heart sank. Here it was—the end I'd been dreading. He'd come to break things off in person, to end our arrangement. I twisted my fingers together nervously, trying to prepare myself for the blow.

"I understand," I said quietly, struggling to keep my voice level. "The contract is complicated. If you want to dissolve it... I understand."

Dominic's brow furrowed, a flash of something like pain crossing his features. "You keep mentioning that damn contract. Is that all this is to you, Rebecca? A piece of paper?"

My chest tightened with emotion. "But... you're the one who sent me away. I thought you were tired of me, wanted distance from me..."

Dominic took a step closer, his movements careful, controlled. I could smell his scent now—cedar and something wilder, untamed. It made my head swim.

"I sent you here to protect you, to give you a safe place to recover."

"Protect me?" The confusion in my voice was genuine.

"I smelled your fear," he said, his voice dropping lower, more primal. "Dylan threatened you at the hospital, and you didn't even tell me." His hands clenched into fists at his sides, the veins in his forearms standing out. "Hurst put his hands on you, and you kept it from me."

I looked down, guilt washing over me. "I didn't want to be a burden to you. You have the whole pack to manage, Sterling Group, everything..."

"A burden?" Dominic's voice held a note of disbelief. He moved closer, and I could feel the heat radiating from his body. "Rebecca, when you're in danger, I can't think. I can't breathe." He ran a hand through his hair, a rare gesture of frustration. "I feel torn in two—half of me wants to wrap you in bubble wrap and lock you away somewhere safe, and the other half is terrified that if I hold on too tight, you'll run."

His honesty stunned me into silence. I'd been so certain he was pulling away, when in reality, he'd been trying to protect me in the only way he knew how.

Hesitantly, I stepped closer to him. The moonlight caught in his hair, highlighting the tension in his features. Without thinking, I reached up to touch his neck, my fingers brushing against the mark I'd left there nights before. To my surprise, it hadn't healed.

Dominic's breath hitched at my touch. His eyes darkened, pupils dilating. The muscle in his jaw twitched as he fought for control.

"I'm sorry I bit you," I whispered, my finger tracing the outline of the mark. My own body responded to the contact, a deep pulse of desire awakening low in my belly.

Dominic went completely still under my touch, his breathing deepening. He closed his eyes briefly, his nostrils flaring as if catching my scent. When he looked at me again, there was something primal in his gaze that made my knees weak.

"That night," he began, his voice careful, measured, though I could hear the strain beneath, "you marked me, Rebecca. In werewolf culture, that has... significance."