Bound By Contract, Claimed By Fate

POSSESSION

DOMINIC

The sound of the door closing after Adrian’s exit echoed through the hall long after he was gone.

I didn’t move.

Didn’t breathe.

Because if I did, I’d lose control.

Katherine’s scent still lingered in the air—faint perfume and something else… something only she carried. It mixed with the anger burning under my skin, a volatile blend that made my wolf restless. I could still see the look on her face, torn between guilt and defiance, like she didn’t know who to trust anymore.

And maybe she didn’t.

That was exactly Adrian’s game—make her question me, make her doubt what we have, make her forget who I am.

He was always the emotional manipulator, always pretending he cared more, smiled softer, touched slower. But I know Adrian. I know what he’s capable of. And I know he’s not back for love—he’s back for revenge.

I ran my fingers through my hair, jaw tightening.

“Breathe,” I muttered to myself. “Control.”

But control was never easy when it came to her, and that was something I found strange.

I went to my office, poured myself a glass of whiskey, and downed it in one gulp. The burn steadied me for a moment. The silence pressed around me, thick and mocking.

That’s when I heard her footsteps upstairs—soft, hesitant, like she was pacing her room. She hadn’t gone after him yet, but part of me knew she wanted to. The thought alone made something primal twist inside my chest.

Damn it, Katherine.

I hated that she could do this to me—make me feel like a man instead of the unshakable machine I am. Even my wolf faltered when it comes to her.

I picked up my phone. “Ethan,” I said when my driver answered. “Follow Adrian. I want to know where he goes, who he meets, everything.”

“Yes, sir,” he replied without question.

I ended the call and stared at my reflection in the dark window. My jaw was still tight, my eyes sharp with fury. But beneath the rage, there was something else—a flicker of fear. Not of losing her body… I could win that battle anytime. But losing her heart? That terrified me more than I’d ever admit.

Because the truth was simple. Katherine wasn’t just my wife by contract anymore. She was slowly becoming weakness.

I wasn’t supposed to fall for her. She was supposed to be leverage—a strategic move to strengthen the Beaufort name. But somewhere between her stubborn silences and the way she met my temper with fire, I’d found myself wanting more.

I wanted her laughter. Her trust. Her softness that she hides from everyone else.

And now Adrian wanted to take that away.

The wolf in me growled, low and deep. I could feel the beast pacing inside, furious, demanding retribution.

I clenched my fists until my knuckles cracked.

No one takes what’s mine.

There was a knock on the door. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. Katherine’s scent was unmistakable.

“Come in,” I said quietly.

She stepped inside slowly, arms crossed, still wearing that guarded expression that both infuriated and fascinated me.

“Dominic,” she started carefully. “We need to talk.”

I leaned back in my chair, studying her. “About what? Adrian?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “You can’t just order people around. You can’t decide who I talk to or where I go.”

I let out a quiet laugh, though it came out darker than I intended. “I can when your choices put you in danger.”

“In danger?” she scoffed. “You mean from him? Or from you?”

That one stung, but I didn’t flinch. “You think Adrian cares about you, Katherine? He’s using you.”

“Maybe he’s not the only one,” she shot back, her voice trembling slightly. “Maybe you both are.”

I stood slowly, the space between us shrinking until I could feel her breath. “You think I’m playing games with you?”

“Aren’t you?” she whispered.

For a second, I just stared at her. Then I reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face. She froze.

“I wish you could see what you do to me,” I said softly, barely above a whisper.

Her breath hitched, and I saw the conflict in her eyes—fear, attraction, longing. The same mix that haunted my dreams every night.

“Dominic,” she breathed, “you can’t control everything.”

“Maybe not,” I murmured. “But I can control who touches what’s mine.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “I’m not yours.”

The words hit harder than they should have.

Maybe because I knew she was lying—to me, to herself.

I took a step back, forcing a bitter smile. “Then why did you come here?”

Silence. She looked away, chewing her lip, searching for an answer she couldn’t find. I could feel her pulse racing. She wanted to argue, to deny me, but her body betrayed her.

That was the dangerous thing about Katherine—her honesty wasn’t in her words; it was in the tremor of her breath and the flicker in her eyes.

I exhaled sharply. “Go to bed, Katherine. Before you say something you’ll regret.”

She hesitated, then turned toward the door. But just as she reached for the handle, I said, “Stay away from him.”

She froze. “You don’t own me, Dominic.”

I smiled coldly. “No. But I do protect what’s mine.”

She left without another word, the door closing softly behind her. I stared at the empty doorway for a long time, my heart pounding with anger and something else—something I didn’t have a name for.

By the time I sat down again, my phone buzzed. A message from Ethan.

She got into his car.

My grip tightened on the glass in my hand until it cracked, amber whiskey spilling across my desk.

So she went to him after all.

For a moment, everything inside me went silent. Then the rage came, hot and sharp. Not because she’d disobeyed me—but because I’d let her get close enough to matter.

I wanted to go after her, to drag her back and demand answers, but I didn’t. Not yet. Control. Always control.

Instead, I poured another drink, ignoring the cut on my hand. The pain grounded me.

I looked out the window again, at the dark city lights blinking in the distance. Adrian thought he could steal her with sweet words and emotional games. But he forgot something—he’s not the only one who knows how to play.

I picked up my phone again and made another call.

“Ethan,” I said, my voice low. “Keep following them. And make sure he doesn’t lay a hand on her.”

“Yes, sir.”

I hung up and leaned back, the fury in my chest cooling into something colder—resolve.

If Adrian wanted a war, he’d get one. But I wouldn’t fight it the way he expects.

He thinks I’ll break, that I’ll lose control.

But I’ve learned something about control—it’s not about being calm. It’s about knowing exactly when to strike.

And when I do, neither of them will see it coming.