Alpha Daddy Make Me Yours

THE WHISPERS OF BETRAYAL

Selene’s breath hitched as Dominic’s fingers trailed down her jawline, his thumb pressing firmly against the pulse point on her neck. Her heart was hammering violently against her ribs, a frantic, telltale rhythm that he could undoubtedly hear with his heightened Lycan senses.

"I asked you a question, little wolf," Dominic murmured, his voice a dark rumble that vibrated right through her chest. He leaned closer, his chest pressing slightly against hers, pinning her against the mahogany desk. "Why are you in my study?"

Selene swallowed hard, forcing her trembling mind to find a lie. She couldn't let him know she was looking for an escape route, nor could she let him see how much his touch was affecting her inner wolf.

"I... I couldn't sleep," she stammered, forcing a wave of fake innocence into her eyes as she looked up into his piercing silver gaze. "The room was suffocating. I was looking for water, or a way out to the gardens. I got lost."

Dominic’s dark eyes narrowed, analyzing every micro-expression on her face. For a long, agonizing second, the silence in the room was deafening. Then, a low, mocking chuckle escaped his throat.

"Lost," he repeated smoothly, his fingers shifting to tangle into her hair, gently pulling her head back so she had no choice but to face his intense scrutiny. "You picked a heavy antique lock with a hairpin, navigated three corridors in absolute darkness, and ended up behind my private desk... all just to find a glass of water?"

Selene bit her lip, her defiance flaring through her fear. "If you know I’m lying, why don't you just punish me and get it over with, Alpha?" She spat the title out like dirt, though the word sent an unwanted thrill straight down her spine.

Dominic’s silver eyes flared with a sudden, dangerous hunger. His grip tightened in her hair, pulling her just a fraction closer until their lips were barely inches apart. "Don't tempt me, little one. I have very specific ways of punishing disobedient captives. But tonight, you get a pass."

He abruptly let go of her, stepping back into the shadows. The sudden loss of his heat left Selene feeling strangely cold and exposed. Dominic picked up his crystal tumbler from the desk, taking a slow sip of the amber liquid.

"Go back to your room, Selene," he commanded, his back now turned to her as he stared out the grand window into the foggy night. "And remember this: my patience has limits. If I catch you wandering again, the gates of the western wing won't be the only things locked to you."

Selene didn't wait for him to change his mind. She turned and sprinted out of the study, her bare feet flying across the cold stone floors until she reached the safety of her bedroom, slamming the heavy door behind her. Her heart didn't stop racing until the early morning light began to bleed through the curtains.

By midday, the mansion was bustling with activity. Selene had been let out of her room under the strict supervision of two burly Beta guards. She was allowed to walk the grand courtyard, a vast expanse of manicured lawns surrounded by high stone walls topped with iron spikes.

As she walked, she kept her ears open, filtering through the casual chatter of the guards and servants. As an Omega, people often assumed she was simple-minded or too frightened to notice anything, which made her the perfect ghost.

She paused near the entrance of the eastern rose garden, hiding behind a massive stone pillar as she overheard a hushed, intense conversation between two high-ranking warriors.

"The border patrols found another dead scout from the Crescent Pack this morning," one warrior whispered, his voice laced with anxiety. "That’s the third one this week. The High Council is getting suspicious. If they find out what Alpha Dominic is actually doing with the conquered territories—"

"Shut your mouth!" the second warrior hissed, scanning the area frantically. "If the Alpha hears you uttering a word about the hidden vaults or the rebellion, he’ll have your head on a spike before sunset. We just do what we're told. The Alpha has his reasons for annihilating Selene’s pack, and it wasn't just for land."

Selene’s blood ran cold.It wasn't just for land?

Before she could process the information, the warriors hurried away, their heavy footsteps fading into the corridor.

Selene stood frozen in the shadows, her mind spinning. Her pack had always been peaceful, small, and entirely isolated. They had no wealth, no massive army, and no strategic value. Why would a monstrous, all-powerful Lycan like Dominic personally lead an assault to wipe them out? What was hidden in the vaults that connected to her people?

"Seeking secrets in the dark again, little wolf?"

A sharp, smooth voice cut through her thoughts. Selene whirled around, her breath catching. Standing a few feet away wasn't Dominic, but a younger man who shared his striking facial features, though his eyes lacked Dominic’s absolute dominance. He wore an expensive silk suit, a malicious, calculating smirk playing on his lips.

It was Julian, Dominic’s younger half-brother and the pack’s second-in-command.

"I was just walking," Selene said defensively, stepping backward.

Julian stepped forward, closing the distance, his eyes scanning her up and down with a sickening, possessive look that made her inner wolf growl in disgust. "You don't have to lie to me, sweetheart. I know exactly what you are. A pretty little orphan waiting for my brother to get bored of you."

He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "But let me give you a piece of advice. Dominic isn't keeping you alive because he fancies your pretty face. He’s keeping you alive because of what your bloodline carries. He destroyed your pack to find theCrescent Key, and he thinks you know where it is."

Selene stared at him, her mind screaming with questions.TheCrescent Key? What bloodline?

Before Julian could say another word, a deafening, thunderous growl echoed from the top of the courtyard stairs.

Dominic stood there, his towering frame silhouetted against the sun, his Alpha aura exploding outward with such raw, violent force that Julian instantly dropped to one knee, his arrogant smirk melting into pure terror.

Dominic’s silver eyes locked onto his brother, burning with a lethal promise. "Get away from my woman, Julian. Before I tear your throat out."