Chosen by the Beast Alpha

Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Lena’s POV

After that night, everything settled into this weird, quiet calm.

Whatever Dominic and I had almost finished in that VIP lounge... yeah, it never picked back up. That sudden attack basically nuked the whole vibe, and neither of us brought it up again.

But something between us shifted anyway. He was still the same man of few words, still keeping that cool, untouchable wall between us—but the edges of that wall didn’t feel razor-sharp anymore. And he’d stopped trying to push me out the door every chance he got.

Luna Celeste noticed, of course. That woman picks up emotional changes like she’s got some sixth sense.

At breakfast, she casually poured me a cup of herbal tea, then shot me a warm smile. "You’re doing well, Lena. You’re really becoming part of this pack."

My chest tightened in this soft, glowing way. I reached across the table and held her hand. "Thank you, Luna. For everything. You’ve given me something I never thought I’d have."

She smiled—that wise, gentle kind of smile that always hits me right in the throat. "This is your home now, Lena. You don’t need to thank me for giving you what you always deserved."

After we said goodbye in the dining hall, I headed toward the garden courtyard. Winter sunlight was thin but still there, stretching long shadows across the stone path. I was halfway down the walkway when my phone buzzed.

Dad.

My stomach clenched hard. Lily must’ve run to him complaining, and now he was calling to demand an explanation. I stared at the screen, let it ring three times, then answered.

"What did you tell him?" my father snapped—no greeting, just raw fury. "What did you say to Dominic Voss?"

"I have no idea what you’re talking about."

"Don’t play dumb, Lena." His breath came fast, panic leaking through the anger. "Dominic cut all business ties with our pack! And he didn’t stop there—he contacted every allied pack and threatened them! If anyone keeps dealing with the Blueridge Pack, they lose Bloodmoon protection. Do you get what that means? He’s choking us out! We’re finished! Completely finished!"

Wow. That was... honestly amazing.

I didn’t say it out loud. But the thought tasted almost sweet.

Dominic knew what they’d done to me. And he stood up for me and settled the score, yet he never uttered a single word about it.

My father, still raving, snapped again, "So what did you say to him?!"

"I’m just a womb on legs, remember? That’s what you sold me as. A breeding tool doesn’t sit down with an Alpha to chat pack politics. Whatever Dominic did, he did on his own."

My father clearly didn’t buy it. "Bullshit! You lying little—"

"Have a nice day."

Before he could start yelling again, I hung up, blocked the number, and slipped my phone back into my pocket like nothing had happened.

I was meeting Anna for coffee. When I got to the café, she was already there. She sat in a corner booth, chin propped on her hand, staring out the window with this dreamy, floaty look I’d never seen on her before.

Her skin practically glowed, her cheeks were pink, and her eyes sparkled. Even the curve of her mouth looked softer—something that definitely hadn’t been there last week.

I slid into the seat across from her, studying her face. "You slept with Daniel. You look like you just walked out of a vitamin commercial. So? How was it?"

Anna slapped her hands over her burning cheeks. "I’m not talking about that here. Not in a café."

"Oh, you absolutely are. Spill."

She glanced around, making sure no one was listening, then leaned in. "It felt... Lena, I honestly don’t have the words. The way he touched me, the way he looked at me—my whole body knew he was mine before my brain even caught up."

She exhaled a shaky, excited breath. "But I haven’t accepted his mark."

"Why not?" I asked.

Some of the light in her eyes dimmed, replaced by worry. "Because of my parents. You know how they are. They’ve always pushed for me to end up with an Alpha. My dad keeps dropping hints. And Daniel is a beta wolf."

"He’s the beta of the Bloodmoon Pack," I said. "Honestly? He’s more solid than half the Alphas running tiny territories."

"I know. And part of me hopes that’ll change their minds, but... I still need to talk to them." She cupped her warm coffee between her hands. "I can’t just show up with Daniel and be like, surprise!"

I reached across the table and steadied her fidgeting hands. "He’s your mate. The Moon Goddess picked him for you. Your parents will come around."

"I hope so." She nodded, though the worry didn’t leave her eyes.

"Anna." I squeezed her fingers. "Tell me... what does having a mate feel like? A real one."

Her expression shifted instantly. The anxiety faded, replaced by this glowing, light-up-the-room warmth. "It feels like coming home to a place you never even knew existed. Every part of me recognizes him. And when he touches me..." Her voice trailed off as her cheeks reddened again. "Lena, I’ve never felt anything like it. Not once in my entire life."

I smiled for her—truly happy. My best friend had found what everyone dreams about. She deserved that and more.

But underneath that joy, something tight and uneasy twisted in my chest.

What if, sometime within the next year, Dominic found his true mate? A she-wolf with the perfect scent, the perfect lineage, the bond that was supposed to be his?

If that really happened, then our whole deal would be pointless—and I’d be pointless right along with it. I’d disappear as easily as deleting a typo off a screen.

I was supposed to want that, right? My big dream had always been freedom. The plan had been simple: have the baby, take the money, and finally build a life on my own terms.

If Dominic found his true mate... honestly, that would break his curse and tear up our contract all at once. A win-win for everyone.

So why did the thought of it make my stomach feel like it had dropped off a cliff? I stared at my coffee, and the answer hit me—too clear, too scary.

I actually cared about Dominic. That cold, ruthless, messed-up Alpha.

He had once shoved me against a wall and wrapped his hand around my throat, then later kissed the tears off my face after I’d fallen asleep. He had drafted a deal designed to push me out of his life, then turned around and crushed my father’s empire because he couldn’t stand the idea of me being hurt.

What I felt for him had nothing to do with the contract. It wasn’t survival. It wasn’t money. And it definitely wasn’t the promise of freedom. It was something far more dangerous.

"Lena?" Anna was watching me. "What are you thinking about?"

"I think I’m in trouble, Anna." I let out a long breath.

"What kind of trouble?"

"I’m starting to care about Dominic. Like... actually care. More than the deal. Way more."

Anna’s eyebrows shot up, and then a slow, knowing smile spread across her face. "Lena, that’s good. That’s actually amazing."

"How is that good? I’m supposed to have his kid, take the cash, and bounce. I’m supposed to want out. I used to dream about meeting my fated mate someday and living my own life!"

"Okay, listen to me." Anna leaned forward and wrapped both my hands in hers. "A curse breaks when a she-wolf accepts him for real—for real, Lena. With her whole heart. If you’re starting to genuinely care about him, it means you might be the one who can actually save him. Your feelings might be the key."

I opened my mouth to argue, but my phone started ringing.

"Who is it?" Anna asked.

I pulled out my phone and glanced at the screen. "Ethan."

Anna’s eyes went huge. "Ethan? Oh my god." She leaned back in her chair, studying me, then said, way too excited, "Lena, if you’re this torn up, maybe seeing him would help you sort things out."

I stared at the phone as it kept ringing. I let it go to voicemail.

"Not right now," I muttered, flipping it face-down on the table.

We finished our coffees, and I hugged Anna at the door before stepping out onto the sidewalk. The winter air cut straight through me. I tightened my coat and kept walking.

That’s when the phone rang again.

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