The Alpha Reluctant Mate

Dominic stepped closer to me, close enough that I had to tilt my head up to hold his stare. The anger in his eyes wasn't wild, it was cold and controlled. 

That was the part that made my stomach twist. He wasn't reacting out of panic, he was thinking and planning something that didn't feel safe for me at all.

"Tell me the truth," he said. "When you saw Jax last night, did he say anything strange to you?"

My mouth opened but nothing came out. Not because I was hiding something but because the question hit me sideways. "Strange how."

"Answer it," he said.

Rafe shifted beside us like he wanted to interrupt but didn't dare. Selene froze a few steps behind him, watching us with that quiet fear she tried to hide.

"He didn't say anything, he  just stared at me like he wanted me to speak first." I swallowed. " And besides, I was with you the whole time. You wouldn't let go of my hands."

Dominic's jaw tightened. "And you didn't?"

"No, why would I? He looked like he wanted to fight you right there."

Rafe scratched the back of his neck. "He actually did. If you weren't with him, they would have torn into each other."

Selene glanced at me. "That man doesn't look at people, but he looked at you like he knew you."

I felt a shiver crawl up my arms. "Well, I don't know him."

Dominic watched my face carefully, like he was searching for lies I didn't even have. Something in his expression softened for a second before hardening again. "We are moving you," he said. "You won't stay in that room anymore."

My heart sank. "To where?"

"You will stay in the main house, on the second floor which is near my room."

My brain short-circuited. "Why near yours?"

"Because you are not safe anywhere else."

Rafe lifted his eyebrows. "She can stay in my room, that's closer to the stairs."

Dominic didn't bother looking at him. "No."

Selene folded her arms. "You could at least pretend you're not being controlling." Dominic ignored that too. His eyes stayed on me. 

"Are you serious," I asked him. "You barely tolerate me, now you want me near you like I'm some kind of bag you need to keep locked up."

"Not locked up," he said. "Protected."

"I am not helpless."

"Right now you are."

The words hit like a slap. I stepped back as hurt was flushing through my chest. Rafe grimaced like he wanted to defend me but held himself back.

Dominic exhaled, the sound frustrated. "I didn't mean it like that."

Selene shot him a glare. "You always mean it like that."

He closed his eyes for a moment then looked at me again, calmer. "Something is happening, something we didn't expect. And it revolves around you whether you like it or not. Until we understand why, you stay where I can reach you first."

My pulse sped up. "Reach me for what?"

"To stop anyone else from reaching you first."

He stepped aside and nodded toward the house. "Get your things, now."

I didn't move. A part of me wanted to argue, but another part of me knew he wasn't making this up, something was wrong and I had to follow his instructions.

Rafe touched my arm gently. "I'll come with you, just breathe, everything will be fine."

I let him guide me toward the small building where my things were. As soon as we entered, I dropped onto the bed. Rafe stood near the door, rubbing his hands together like he was trying to decide if he should speak.

"Say it," I muttered.

He sat beside me. "Jax came back different, he was more focused on you as he kept staring like he had a reason to. And Dominic hates that he can't explain it."

"I don't know Jax," I said again, quieter this time. "Why would he look at me like that?"

Rafe tilted his head. "Sometimes wolves sense things before we do, maybe he smelled or recognized something."

"Recognized what?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, but Dominic does not get this protective unless the threat is real."

I looked at the floor. "It feels like everything is turning upside down."

Rafe bumped his shoulder softly against mine. "Then hold onto something."

I let out a shaky breath and started packing only a few clothes, my notebook, and a bottle of lotion. 

I glanced across the yard as we left the room and Dominic was standing near the house entrance talking to two wolves in their human form. His eyes kept flicking towards the trees like he expected someone to come out of there any moment.

When he saw me walking toward him, his whole body sharpened like he was preparing for a fight even though I was the one approaching.

He took my bag without asking and walked inside. I followed him up the stairs, Rafe behind me. The hallway felt warm in a suffocating way, the air heavy with the scent of pine and smoke.

Dominic stopped in front of a door on the right. "This is yours now," he said.

The room was bigger than the old one, cleaner and brighter, and was close to his room as well. I could feel his presence even without turning around.

Rafe stood in the doorway. "If anything happens, call, shout, or even throw something that would make a sound for us to hear."

Dominic shot him a look....,  a dangerous one that signaled he didn't like what Rafe said. Rafe had to raise his hands like he was innocent.

I placed my bag on the bed. "So what now?"

"Now I will explain what I didn't want to say outside," Dominic said as he leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

"What is it?"

He stood there for a few seconds without saying a word. This was strange as Dominic never hesitates in saying anything. 

"There is a mark," he said finally. "Not on you, not yet, but someone out there is trying to force a bond with you. A bond that would tie you to them against your will."

My mouth went dry. "A bond?, Like claiming me?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"We think it is Jax, or someone connected to him. But the way he looked at you last night... it wasn't normal."

I grabbed the edge of the bed to steady myself as my heartbeat felt too loud in my ears.

"So what does that mean for me?"

Dominic pushed off the wall and stepped closer to me. In a low voice he said, "It means you are the center of a fight you didn't start, and if someone is trying to bind you, they will come again. They always do."

I swallowed hard. "And you think keeping me here will stop them."

"No," he said. "But it means I will get to them before they get to you."

The words made my skin prickle. I didn't know if he meant them to comfort me or scare me into obeying. Rafe cleared his throat softly. "Dominic, she needs some rest, this is a lot."

Dominic didn't take his eyes off me. "You can rest but do not leave this floor." I nodded. My voice wasn't strong enough to reply.

They both stepped out and closed the door behind them.

I sat on the bed, my hands were trembling in fear and my heart was beating so fast as I was scared of what was coming. " Why me, why is this all happening at once?" I kept asking myself questions I had no answer to.

As the silence settled around me, I realized something sharp and cold. The kind that crawls under your skin and refuses to leave. If someone truly wanted to claim me, then they weren't going to stop. They would push hard and keep trying till they succeed.