After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 116

Chapter 116

Brad’s POV

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My eyes stayed locked on Elle’s retreating figure, something sharp twisting in my chest as she walked away without looking back.

My amber eyes flashed with that familiar golden light, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin. Every instinct screamed at me to

follow her, to pull her back into my arms where she belonged. My body leaned forward involuntarily, muscles coiled and ready to move,

but I forced myself to stay rooted to the spot. My hands clenched into fists, knuckles going white.

Why didn’t she ask about Mira and me? The question burned through my mind like acid. Why doesn’t she seem to care? Doesn’t she care at

all? Not even a fucking little bit?

The Alpha in me was going crazy. My mate was walking away, and I was just standing here like an idiot.

Elle West, why can you just turn and leave like that? Why won’t you even give me a chance to explain?

The worst part was the deeper question clawing at my insides: Is it because you can’t feel our mate bond? Or is your heart just that cold-no

matter how good I am to you, you refuse to accept this connection?

My hands trembled with the effort of staying still. My wolf was howling for me to chase after her, to claim what was mine. But the

rational part of my brain, the part that had been trained to be a leader, kept me frozen in place.

“Who is she?”

Mira’s voice cut through my internal torment. I’d almost forgotten she was still standing there, and when I turned, I saw her keen eyes following my gaze to where Elle had disappeared into the crowd.

Her expression shifted from curiosity to understanding, then to something darker. “Is she your human mate?

The question hit like a slap. Mira’s wounded expression made my chest tighten with a different kind of pain the ghost of old guilt, old

affection that refused to die completely.

“Brad,’ she said softly, her voice thick with hurt, “you’ve changed.”

Her mouth turned down at the corners, disappointment radiating from her in waves. But beneath that disappointment was something else

– hope. Desperate, clinging hope that made this conversation ten times harder than it should have been.

I dragged my gaze away from where Elle had vanished and focused on Mira. The familiar ache of our shared history sat heavy between us, but something fundamental had shifted. She wasn’t my center anymore. Elle was.

“We’re both different from who we used to be,” I said carefully, keeping my voice gentle but firm. “Mira, for what we once had… I really hope you find your true mate.”

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Chapter 116

The words seemed to shatter something inside her. Her composure cracked, and suddenly tears were welling up in her eyes.

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“But how can I be happy without you? The desperation in her voice was raw, painful to hear. “We were perfect together! We loved each

other so much!”

A bitter smile crossed her face as she continued, “I’ve spent all these years thinking about us, about what I threw away. And you know

what I realized? I… I can’t let you go!”

The accusation in her next words stung: “Brad, Why didn’t you wait for me to come back?

Because I didn’t know you were ever coming back. The thought was bitter. Because you left me with nothing but silence.

“When you disappeared without a word all those years ago, I said quietly, “all I got from you was radio silence.” I managed a smile, but it

felt hollow. “That was your choice, wasn’t it?”

My eyes drifted unconsciously toward the direction Elle had gone, worry flickering through me. Was she okay?

Mira’s composure finally broke completely. Tears spilled over, catching the light as they traced down her cheeks. She looked up at me with those huge, vulnerable eyes that had once been my whole world, her shoulders trembling.

The sight of her tears hit me like a physical blow. My hands clenched and unclenched at my sides as I fought the urge to comfort her, to wipe away those tears like I had so many times before. My Alpha instincts warred with my rational mind.

“Look,” I said abruptly, turning away before I could do something I’d regret. “You can see I already have my fated mate. Mira, go find your

own happiness. I’ll be rooting for you.”

The finality in my voice was supposed to end this conversation, but Mira Shand shot out, grabbing my arm with desperate strength.

‘Brad, I’m sorry…” The words came out in a rush, broken by sobs. “I was just a kid back then. I didn’t know how good I had it with you, so

I…*

She couldn’t finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavy between us. All those years of wondering why she’d left, and now she was admitting it had been a mistake.

“I’m sorry, it’s all on me,’ she whispered, her voice dropping to something softer, more vulnerable. “Brad, I won’t make things difficult for you. Even if we can never be mates again, we’re still friends, right?”

The hope in her eyes was painful to see. Against my better judgment, I found myself nodding stiffly.

Mira’s face lit up with relief, and she pressed her advantage. “Okay then. I guess you can’t be too greedy in life. Her voice took on a self- deprecating tone. “I already had your first love how could I be greedy enough to want your entire future too?”

TH

She sighed softly, that familiar sound that used to make my heart ache. “Just seeing you again today makes me happy. For what we used to mean to each other… please don’t shut me out completely. Let me be a friend. Is that okay?”

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Chapter 116

The request hit me like a sledgehammer. ‘I know I’m asking for a lot, but you’re the only one I’ve ever loved. I’m not asking for forever – 1

just want you to be safe and happy.”

Her pleading eyes hammered against the walls I’d built around my heart. Even knowing what I shared with Elle, even feeling that mate bond pulling at my very soul, I couldn’t bring myself to be completely heartless to someone who had once meant everything to me.

“Then let’s just… be friends,” I heard myself say, the words feeling heavy as lead.

Mira’s tear-streaked face bloomed into a radiant smile that could have lit up the entire room. For just a moment, I caught something

flickering in her eyes – triumph? – but it was quickly buried under obvious joy.

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Back to this same old song and dance.

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After One Night with the Alpha