Chosen by the Beast Alpha

Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Lena’s POV

I lay there for a good while, tangled in the soft sheets, before I finally managed to pry my eyelids open. Sunlight was already sneaking in through the gaps in the curtains, cutting bright stripes across the floor. My head was pounding. Really pounding.

I stared blankly at the ceiling for a few minutes as the fog of the hangover slowly thinned. Then little pieces of last night started surfacing.

I shot upright and yanked the covers off myself. I was wearing a set of unfamiliar, high-quality silk pajamas—obviously men’s, the sleeves and pant legs hanging past my wrists and ankles. My own clothes had completely vanished.

I shook my head hard, swung my legs off the bed, and stepped barefoot onto the plush carpet before pushing open the bedroom door. The living room was drenched in sunlight, golden beams pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, tiny motes drifting lazily in the air.

He was sitting on the single armchair by the window, a file open on the small table in front of him. The light traced the sharp, cold lines of his profile. His posture was as composed and rigid as ever, but under that warm glow, there was something... inexplicably lonely about him.

I froze there for a second, fingers tightening around the glass of water I’d grabbed. But what really threw me off wasn’t his chilliness—I’d gotten used to that—it was the fact that he hadn’t tossed me out of the Bloodmoon Pack’s territory.

By his standards, me sneaking out to see Ethan in the middle of the night should’ve been enough to end our contract on the spot. But he didn’t. He’d even taken care of my drunk mess and changed me into clean clothes.

"Dominic." I called out as he was about to leave the room. "You... you’re not kicking me out?"

He stopped in the doorway of his study. He didn’t turn around, but I could feel the tension stiffening his shoulders.

"If you want to leave now, I won’t stop you." His voice was steady, almost too steady, giving nothing away. "Our contract can end whenever you choose."

"No!" I shook my head so fast it almost made my headache worse. My voice came out rushed. "I’m not trying to leave. Not at all. I just..."

I sucked in a slow breath. I didn’t want this pointless misunderstanding to cloud everything, but I also wasn’t going to erase my own boundaries. "Dominic, before I ever met you, these were the people who helped me. No matter what, if they’re in danger, I’m going to make the same choice I made last night. If you can’t accept that, then... I can leave right now."

"And about the money you gave my father—I’ll pay it back. Somehow."

I braced myself for him to kick me out again. My hands balled into fists, and I met his gaze head-on. I could feel the tiny drops of sweat forming along my hairline.

I swallowed hard. What was Dominic thinking? He just stared back at me with that intense Alpha look, like he could swallow me whole without blinking. A shiver shot right down my spine.

Just when I was sure he was about to tell me to get lost, his phone rang.

Dominic glanced at the caller ID, his brows pulling together before he picked up. "Mom."

I couldn’t hear what Mrs. Celeste was saying on the other end, but her voice was sharp with worry. Dominic’s expression tightened even more.

"Everything’s fine," he said, though his eyes slid back toward me—full of unmistakable warning.

Phone in hand, Dominic covered the receiver and shot me a look, crooking a finger for me to come over. My pulse jumped as I stepped to his side.

"She wants to talk to you," he murmured, then added with a sharper edge, "You know what to say."

I gave a tiny nod and took the phone. "Hello, Mrs. Celeste."

"Lena, sweetheart!" Her warm voice filled my ear. "Tell me, how are things between you and Dominic? Are you two... making progress?"

I felt Dominic’s stare burning into my cheek. I swallowed hard. "We’re getting along very well, ma’am. Dominic’s been taking great care of me, and..." I hesitated, glancing at him, "our relationship is getting deeper every day. I’m sure it won’t be long before I give the Bloodmoon Pack an heir."

Mrs. Celeste let out a delighted chuckle. "That’s wonderful, just wonderful! Lena, you’re such a good girl. And listen—if Dominic ever bullies you, you tell me right away."

"He won’t, ma’am. He treats me really well." I forced my voice to sound sweet, even though something inside me twisted hard.

When the call ended, Dominic took the phone back and gave me a sideways look. "Not bad. You can act."

I said nothing. He still hadn’t given me any real answer.

Finally he spoke. "Stay."

"What are you doing today?" he asked as he walked toward the door, grabbing the coat hanging on the rack. "I’m heading to the border for patrol. Might be back late."

"I’m going to the office to report in," I said at last, afraid he’d connect it to Ethan again. But he only nodded. "Got it. Come back early."

"Dominic." I called after him. "Be careful."

He paused for half a second—didn’t turn, didn’t respond. Then he walked out.

I stayed where I was, my fingers cold around the glass in my hand. His words pricked like a tiny needle—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me that somewhere in his heart, he was still holding onto the one who’d left because of the curse. That space was full, leaving no room for anyone else to step in.

My head throbbed like crazy—probably the hangover—so I slept most of the day.

In the evening, Dominic returned right on time. We headed to the main house together to have dinner with Mrs. Celeste and Alpha Theodore. Warm candlelight glowed through the dining room, and the long table was lined with beautiful dishes.

"Dominic, how’s the border looking?" Theodore asked while slicing into his steak.

"All clear. But we should tighten security in the southeast. The patrols there picked up something suspicious," Dominic replied, calm and to the point.

Mrs. Celeste nodded thoughtfully. "I’ll see to it. Also..." Her expression hardened. "The full moon is only a month away."

The air in the dining room went stiff in a heartbeat. I caught how Dominic’s fingers clamped around his knife and fork, his knuckles turning pale from the pressure.

"Dominic," Mrs. Celeste said gently, "this year, Lena will be with you. Maybe her being there could..."

"I don’t need pity." Dominic cut her off, his tone like ice. "I’ve gotten through plenty of full moons alone. This one won’t be any different."

A wave of anger shot straight up my spine. I snapped my head up and locked eyes with him. "This isn’t pity!"

Everyone jolted at my sudden outburst. Even Dominic turned toward me, a flicker of surprise breaking through his usual mask.

"This is completely my choice." My voice shook a little, but I didn’t back down. "I’m your mate. I should be there when things get rough. It’s not charity, it’s not sympathy—this is what I decide."

Silence swallowed the table. Mrs. Celeste looked between us, her eyes warm with relief. Theodore glanced at Dominic, something unreadable crossing his face.

Dominic stared at me for a long second, then rose from his seat. "I’m done. Lena, back to the room."

Once we were in the bedroom, he shut the door behind us and turned to face me. His expression was even more serious than usual.

"You have no idea what that night is like." His voice was low, worn down in a way I’d never heard before. "The full moon curse isn’t some controlled shift you’ve seen before. That night, I lose everything—mind, sense, reason. I become something built only to kill."

"I know it’s dangerous," I said quietly, steadying myself. "But I still have to be there."

"Why?" He stepped closer, eyes locked onto mine, sharp and searching. "Give me one real reason, Lena. Why risk it?"

My heart was pounding, but my words stayed firm. "Because no one should have to go through that alone. Whether you acknowledge it or not, I’m your mate. During this contract, standing by you is part of what I’m supposed to do."

"Part of it?" He let out a cold laugh. "Or is this just your way of trying to earn my gratitude?"

His words cut deep, but I didn’t flinch. "If that’s how you want to twist it, fine. But I’m not changing my mind."

Dominic stared at me for a long, heavy moment, something complicated flickering in his eyes. Then he turned away, shoulders tense.

"Should we even bother trying to know each other anymore?" His voice sounded exhausted. "Or have you already figured out what I am? A cursed beast, a cold Alpha who’ll never trust anyone?"

I stepped closer, stopping just behind him. I didn’t touch him, but my voice softened, firm and warm. "Then we’ll keep getting to know each other... until the day you finally believe me."

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