After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Elle’s POV

The money you sent me the other day,” she said quietly. You promised me it was legitimate, but seeing all this…”

My throat tightened. Even now, even here, she was worried about being a burden.

“Mom. Brad is… generous. More generous than I expected.”

She studied my face for a long moment. “He cares about you.”

It wasn’t a question.

“I think so, I admitted.

“Good.” She reached over and squeezed my hand. “You know, I’ve spent years worrying about you, wondering if you’d ever find someone who’d appreciate what a special person you are. Seeing you two together tonight…”

“Mom.”

“I’m serious, Elle. Do you know how he looks at you? Like you’re the most precious thing in his world.” Her voice got softer. And that man moved heaven and earth to save us today. Without asking for anything in return.”

I felt tears prick at my eyes. “He did, didn’t he?”

“So my advice to you, baby girl, is this: be grateful. Be kind. And don’t take what you have for granted. She cupped my face in her hands. “Good partners are rare, Elle. Especially ones who’d burn the world down to keep you safe.”

I found Brad in our bedroom, sitting against the headboard with a book in his hands. My stomach did a little tip when I realized what he was reading – the book Dakota had written, the one Abigail had given me.

‘Finding anything interesting? I asked, climbing onto the bed beside him.

“She was a good writer,” he said simply, but there was something in his voice that made me look at him more closely.

“Yeah, she was.” I settled against his shoulder, looking down at the open page. You know what’s weird? Sometimes when I read her words,

it feels like she’s talking directly to me.”

Brad’s arm tightened around me. “Maybe she is.”

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Chapter 108

We sat in comfortable silence for a while, just reading together. Then Bred closed the book and side

‘Ready to say goodnight to our troublemaker?” he asked, his hand moving to rest on my belly.

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I grinned. “I think they’re waiting for you.”

Brad shifted down so he was level with my stomach, his voice dropping to that soft tone he only used when talking to the baby

“Hey there, little one. Did you have an exciting day? Your mama was very brave today, and I’m proud of both of you

As if on cue, there was a definite kick right against Brad’s hand. His face lit up with pure joy.

“Did you feel that?” he asked, looking up at me with wonder in his eyes.

“Hard to miss,” I laughed. “I think they like your voice.”

Another kick, this one strong enough to actually move Brad’s hand.

“Show off,” he murmured affectionately, pressing a gentle kiss to my belly. “Just like your mama”

The next morning, I woke to an empty bed and the smell of coffee drifting up from downstairs. A quick glance at the clock showed it was past eight – Brad had already left for the office.

Alex appeared as I was getting dressed, arms full of outfit options.

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Downstairs, I found the breakfast table set for one. Martha appeared immediately.

“Good morning, Miss Elle. Mrs. West is in the garden, absolutely enchanted by the roses.”

Through the dining room window, I could see Mom moving among the flower beds, her face bright with pleasure as she examined the

blooms.

“She looks happy,’ I said softly.

“She is. She’s been out there since dawn.’ Martha poured my orange juice. Alpha Brad left instructions that you and Mrs. West should enjoy yourselves today. He’s had Alex prepare everything you might need.”

‘What about lunch?’

“He suggested you dine out, experience some of the city’s finest restaurants. Alex has the details if Alpha Brad returns early.”

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“This place is gorgeous, Mom breathed as we walked through the main shopping district.

The Lunaris shopping center was the crown jewel of Moonshade Bay’s retail scene, all gleaming marble and designer storefronts. Mom kept stopping to stare at the window displays, her eyes wide with wonder.

“Elle, honey, this must cost a fortune.”

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I laughed, pulling out the credit card Brad had given me. “He told me to have fun. Besides, didn’t you hear? The car’s worth enough to buy half this place if we need collateral.”

Mom’s shocked expression made me giggle.

“Brad has more cars than he knows what to do with,” I added.

The Lunaris Beauty Salon was everything I’d expected from Moonshade Bay’s premier shopping district – gleaming marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and an air of exclusivity that seemed to whisper “you don’t belong here” to anyone who wasn’t wearing designer labels.

Mom walked beside me, her simple cardigan and worn jeans standing out starkly against the backdrop of luxury. I’d chosen comfortable clothes too – a cream sweater and dark pants that were clean and well-fitted, but nothing that screamed money. We looked exactly like what we were: people from the edge district who’d wandered into the wrong neighborhood.

The whispers started before we even reached the entrance.

“Lunaris? Really? How did edge district people get in here?” The voice was sharp, cutting through the ambient noise of the shopping center. “Doesn’t this lower our whole establishment’s standards?”

I felt Mom’s body stiffen beside me, her instinct to retreat kicking in immediately. She tugged gently on my sleeve. “Elle, honey, maybe we

should-

“No,” I said firmly, threading my arm through hers more securely. “We’re customers. We have every right to be here.”

But the voice wasn’t done. “We pay ten thousand a year in membership fees. This place shouldn’t be accessible to just anyone from the

edge districts.”

Mom’s face flushed with embarrassment, and I could see her shrinking into herself the way she always did when confronted with conflict. Twenty-five years of being told she wasn’t good enough by Grace had conditioned her to accept humiliation as her due.

Not today,

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After One Night with the Alpha