After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Brad’s Memory

Mira Collins was stunning. Drop-dead gorgeous. Her beauty was legendary among the Frostclaw Pack, the kind that made grown Alphas stumble over their words and lesser wolves how their heads in admiration.

When I was twenty-two, Elizabeth had sent me to the Canadian border to train with the Frostclaw Pack, to learn what it meant to be a proper Alpha heir. That’s where I met eighteen-year-old Mira proud, gorgeous, absolutely captivating.

–

For someone who’d been a complete virgin romantically, Mira was my first everything first crush, first love, first heartbreak waiting to happen. We fell hard and fast, two young wolves discovering passion and connection in the wild territories between our packs.

For two years, we were inseparable. I thought I’d found my forever.

Then one day, she was just… gone. No explanation, no goodbye, nothing. She vanished from the Frostclaw Pack like she’d never existed,

leaving me frantically searching the entire North America.

I went half-crazy looking for her. Even with my growing Alpha status, even with all the resources at my disposal, I found nothing. The

emotional devastation was so complete that I could barely control my shifts during full moons.

Elizabeth had to come personally to drag me back to Moonshade Bay, forcing me to throw myself into family business to claw my way out

of the wreckage Mira had left behind. It took years to build myself back up, to become the leader everyone expected me to be.

But she’d planted something deep in my heart, something that never quite healed. Even when I’d dated Marissa, even when I’d tried to

move on, that seed of first love remained buried in the deepest part of me

Now she was back.

Sophia’s POV

I watched Elle retreat to a quiet corner of the gathering space, her shoulders tense with barely contained emotion. She’d found a spot near the large windows overlooking Moon Lake City, and from where I stood, I could see her profile clearly.

Her hands rested protectively on her growing belly, fingers unconsciously tracing circles over the fabric of her dress. Even from this distance, I could tell she was struggling the way she pressed her fingertips to her temples, the slight tremor in her breathing, the distant

look in those unusual mismatched eyes.

Shit. This is bad.

Elle was staring out at the skyline, but I could tell she wasn’t really seeing it. Her expression was that of someone replaying painful scenes over and over in their mind. The calm facade she’d maintained during Mira’s dramatic entrance was cracking, and I could

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Chapter 117

practically feel the emotional storm brewing beneath the surface.

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The way she’d gone completely still when Mira appeared, how her face had shuttered when Brad’s entire demeanor changed at the sight of

Mira it was clear this was hitting her harder than she was letting on.

.

The poor girl. Here she was, a human trying to navigate werewolf politics while pregnant with an Alpha’s child, and now his gorgeous ex-

girlfriend shows up out of nowhere. Talk about shitty timing.

I watched Elle take a shaky breath, her free hand clenching and unclenching at her side. She looked so small and vulnerable sitting there

alone, processing whatever emotional bomb had just exploded in her world.

The worst part was how isolated she looked.

In a room full of werewolves, Elle was completely alone with her pain.

That’s it. I need answers.

I found Lester near the bar, looking entirely too pleased with himself for someone who’d just witnessed relationship drama unfold.

“Alpha Lester,” I said, not bothering to hide my irritation, “what the hell is going on?”

He turned to me with that infuriatingly calm expression, a slight smile playing at his lips. “What’s up?”

“Don’t play dumb with me!” I snapped, my Beta instincts pushing against his Alpha authority. I’m talking about Brad and that woman!

Don’t tell me you have no clue what’s happening!”

Lester’s smile widened slightly. “Oh, you mean Brad and Mira? It’s no big deal. They used to be a thing – now they’re getting back

together. Not exactly shocking, is it?”

The casual way he said it made my blood run cold. “What did you just say?”

I felt like I’d been hit by a truck. “Spell it out for me! They’re exes? Then what about Elle? I thought she was Brad’s mate!”

“Sophia, Lester’s voice carried a warning edge, his Alpha authority pressing against me. Their drama isn’t your business. You know how Elle and Brad ended up together in the first place.”

The implication was clear their relationship hadn’t started from mutual attraction. Elle was human.

But I couldn’t let it go. “Okay, fine, if Brad and this Mira are exes, then what’s the deal with Marissa Hopkins? What kind of soap opera is

this?”

Lester shrugged, clearly unbothered by my persistence. ‘I don’t know all the details about their history. But years ago, Brad came to our pack. He was twenty-two, completely clueless about relationships, and Mira was one of our most gorgeous pack members at eighteen.”

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Chapter 117

He paused, studying my expression. “They fell hard his first real relationship. After two years together, Mira just up and left the pack without any explanation. Brad nearly lost his shit searching for her.”

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My heart sank as he continued. “Brad threw himself into work after that, even dated Marissa for a while, but I always figured he never really got over Mira. It’s been a long time, but some things just stick with you, you know? Even when you’ve found your supposed destined

mate.”

“But what about Elle?” I demanded. “She’s carrying Brad’s kid – a potential Alpha hybrid!”

“They hooked up because of the baby,” Lester said matter-of-factly. “I imagine Mira can handle the situation. She was crazy about Brad

back then probably still is. Maybe she can be pretty accommodating when it comes to her man’s children.”

He shrugged, dismissing my concerns. “Speaking of which, Sophia, vanishing on me when you’re supposed to be my Beta really isn’t cool.

Who’s handling Frostclaw Pack business while you’re playing hooky?”

I shot him a dirty look. “Oh, so now you remember I’m your Beta? When are you gonna let me bring my own date to these things instead

of always having to pretend to be your arm candy?”

Lester’s laugh was infuriating. “Competition’s tough out there.”

“Bullshit excuse!” I shot back. “You just get off on having a harem of female wolves fawning over you!”

But even as we sparred, my mind was racing with worry for Elle. She was human, vulnerable, carrying an Alpha’s child in a world that barely tolerated her existence. And now the Alpha’s first love had returned, looking like she wanted to reclaim what she’d walked away

from years ago.

Elle, I really hope you’re tougher than you look. Because this is about to get messy as hell.

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After One Night with the Alpha