Delay 105_Mated by contract to the alpha

Chapter 105 

 Reba’s POV

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 42

 My fingers trembled slightly as I reached for my water ss, trying to appearposed.

 Elizabeth’s words had struck a nerve because they echoed my own unspoken fears. The contract Dominic and I had signed shed through my mind–mymitment 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 ything 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 otherwisemanding 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?

 “Reba.”

 Dominic’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. His brow was furrowed, blue eyes studying me with that prating 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 tes 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 thedy, 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 te. “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 reying Elizabeth’s words and the calcted confidence with which she’d delivered them. I chewed slowly, mechanically, swallowing past the lump in my throat.

 20:37 Wed, Sep 24 

 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 te, asionally ncing 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 hisck 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 car 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. ncing up at Dominic, I caught the sh 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.

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Delay 105