Marked by the monster alpha

Chapter:3

Dominic slowly pulled back and looked at her, something unreadable flashing across his expression. With unexpected gentleness, he raised his hand and wiped her tears away.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered. “I won’t hurt you.”

“Then don’t mark me,” Bella pleaded, her voice cracking.

His eyes darkened with conflict, then softened. “Okay… I won’t mark you now. But one day,” his tone dropped lower, filled with promise, “you’ll ask me to.”

Bella shoved him away with all the strength she had. “In your dreams!” she spat, before turning and bolting from the room.

“Dominic!” a sharp voice echoed from behind him.

He turned to see Jessica, her eyes blazing with fury.

“How dare you break off our engagement?” she shouted, striding toward him. “I deserve to be your Luna! No one else can give you a stronger heir than me, and you know it.”

Dominic’s jaw tightened. “I found my mate, and she will be my Luna.”

Jessica’s face twisted with frustration. “You’re seriously willing to throw away our alliance over some worthless b***h?”

His eyes flashed dangerously as he stepped closer to her. “Bella Walker is my mate and my future Luna. Disrespect her again, and your pack will be in very big danger.”

Jessica glared at him, hatred burning in her eyes, but he brushed past her without another word.

Just as he reached the hallway, a low voice spoke from behind. His uncle, Mateo, had been watching silently.

“Dominic,” Mateo said calmly, though there was weight in his tone. “You shouldn’t have spoken to Jessica like that. You’re just getting started as Alpha, and you’re going to need her pack’s support.”

Dominic turned sharply, his eyes cold. “All I need is Bella.”

Mateo cut him off with a harsh glare. “No. Your pack comes first. Besides…” He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper. “Did you know that she is a wolfless omega?

Mateo said firmly, “Forget about her being your Luna. A she-wolf like her? She can’t give you a strong heir.”

Dominic went silent, his jaw tight as the words sank in.

“Bella doesn’t have a wolf?” he whispered at last. “That explains why she can’t feel our mate bond.”

Looking his uncle straight in the eyes, Dominic spoke with determination. “Wolfless or not, Bella is my mate. And she will make an excellent Luna. She doesn’t need a wolf, she’s powerful herself.”

Mateo opened his mouth to argue, but Dominic cut him off. “Look, Mateo, I respect you as my uncle, but I’m the Alpha.”

With that, Dominic turned and walked away, leaving his uncle staring after him in frustration.

Meanwhile, Harrison was at home with his mother.

His mother’s face was pale, her hands trembling as she confronted her son. “Are you nuts? Marry Alpha Dominic’s mate? You’re asking to be killed, you moron!”

“I don’t care, Mom,” Harrison shot back, his tone stubborn. “Bella chose me. We’re in love.”

His mother stepped closer, her voice lowering with sharp warning. “You really think she’ll still love you when she finds out what you’ve done?”

Harrison’s eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step back. “Mom, please… you can’t tell her.” but his mother didn't answer him as she left the room.

In Bella's house, she was asleep in her room.

In her dream, she saw a white wolf standing at the foot of her bed. The wolf glowing eyes bore into her soul. She turned abruptly and jolted awake, only to realize it had been a dream. But as she blinked into the dim light, she saw someone standing there. It was Dominic.

Her breath hitched. “Dreaming about me?” he asked softly, his silhouette framed by the moonlight through her window.

“What the hell are you doing here? And how the hell did you get in here?” Bella demanded, scrambling out of bed. She moved toward the door, but he rushed forward and grabbed her before she could escape.

“Let me go or I’ll scream!”

He smiled darkly. “Please, go ahead. Scream. Let everybody know I’m in your bedroom. I’m okay with that.”

Bella struggled against his hold, fury and panic rising in her chest. “How many times do I need to remind you? I’m already engaged. I have a mate!”

Dominic’s eyes flared, his voice booming. “How many times do I have to remind you that Harrison is not your mate? He doesn’t stand a chance before me!”

“Harrison respects me,” she shot back, glaring into his eyes. “That’s something you’ll never understand.”

Dominic’s grip tightened slightly. “Don’t push it, Bella. I do not tolerate disobedience.”

“And I don’t tolerate being ambushed,” she retorted, her voice trembling with anger. “I want you out of my life.”

His wolf reacted, a growl rumbling low in his chest as his tone softened, almost pleading. “But I love you. You’re my mate.”

Bella stared at him coldly. “Oh, so it’s all about the mate bond then, is it? Well, then, I have an easy solution for you.”

Lifting her chin, she declared, “I, Bella Walker of the Silver Moon Pack, reject you, Dominic Crawford of the Blue Moon Pack.”

Dominic’s body stiffened instantly. Pain slammed into him like a wave. He fell to his knees, clutching his chest, his face contorting in agony as the bond tore at him.

“Accept the rejection,” Bella said coldly. “The pain will be gone.”

But Dominic gritted his teeth and struggled through the searing pain. His hand shot out, grasping hers. “I refuse your rejection.”

He drew closer, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. His eyes, though filled with pain, burned with an intense promise. “I’ll help you find your wolf,” he whispered hoarsely. “Even if it kills me. This is the only way I can prove that we’re meant to be together.”

Bella remained silent, torn between fury and confusion. I don’t have a wolf, she thought, but why does my heart ache for him?

The moment Dominic left, Bella’s phone buzzed. It was a text message from Harrison.

Let’s get married tomorrow.

Bella’s hands trembled as she read it. She got up, walked to the kitchen, and poured herself a glass of water. Her throat felt dry. Tomorrow I’ll get married to Harrison, she told herself. And all of this will end. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her shaking hands.

Just as she was stepping out of the kitchen, she bumped straight into her father. Her heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat.

“Bella,” her father said softly, “I heard some sounds coming from your room.”

Quickly, Bella covered it up. “I’m fine, Dad. It’s not from my room. You can go and sleep now. We both need enough rest for tomorrow, my wedding with Harrison.”

Her father hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Get some sleep, Bella.”

As he walked back to his room, Bella quietly went back to hers, her pulse still racing. She shut the door and leaned against it, afraid Dominic might still be lurking nearby.

The next day, the sun poured through the windows as Bella walked down the aisle. Her dress shimmered under the soft glow of the church lights. Her father held her hand tightly, his face proud but worried.

When they reached the altar, her father placed Bella’s hand in Harrison’s. “Take care of my daughter, Harrison,” he said with quiet authority.

“I will,” Harrison replied, gripping Bella’s hand firmly.

The ceremony began. When it was Bella’s turn to take her vow, she opened her mouth, ready to say the words.

“Yes, I…”

A piercing wolf howl shattered the moment.

Everyone turned toward the entrance as the doors swung open with force. Dominic stood there, his eyes blazing with anger, his presence filling the room like a storm.

Bella’s flower slipped from her trembling hands and fell to the floor. Harrison’s face went pale with shock.

Bella’s heart raced. Panic clawed at her chest. The guests began to back away slowly, fear spreading like wildfire until they all bolted, leaving the church eerily silent except for the heavy sound of Dominic’s breathing.

In a flash, Dominic lunged forward and grabbed Harrison by the neck.

“No!” Bella screamed, rushing to them. “Stop, please!”

Dominic’s grip tightened, his voice a growl. “I warned you. Bella Walker is mine.”

Bella pleaded with him, tears stinging her eyes. “Please, don’t kill him.”

Her gaze darted around desperately and landed on a gun lying on a nearby table. Without thinking, she grabbed it, turning it on Dominic. “Let him go!” she shouted, her hands shaking.

Dominic’s eyes flicked from her to the gun, then back to her again. “Are you going to shoot me?” he asked quietly.

He used his free hand to yank her closer, pressing her against his chest even as she kept the gun trained on him. The barrel pressed against his heart.

“Go ahead,” Dominic said darkly. “Do it.”

Harrison gasped under Dominic’s tightening grip, his face reddening as Dominic pressed harder on his neck.

“Do it or I’ll kill him!” Dominic barked.

His voice softened slightly, almost like a whisper. “I know you better than anybody, Bella.”

Bella’s eyes burned with tears as she stared at him. Slowly, she turned the gun, pointing it at herself instead.

“Then you know,” she said hoarsely, “I’d do this.”

She closed her eyes, finger trembling on the trigger, ready to pull it…