After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155

Elle’s POV

Outside the cinema, I watched Mira standing there like statue, her face twisted with rage as the three of

–

us Brad, Sophia, and I walked past her without so much as a glance.

–

I couldn’t bring myself to acknowledge her. As a human facing a werewolf female who’d tried to manipulate me at every turn, my response was simple: complete indifference. Her attempts at playing the victim, the fake tears, the desperate clinginess – I was done with all of it.

Brad’s attention was entirely focused on me, his protective Alpha instincts so strong that Mira might as

well have been invisible.

be ear

comily way.

Behind us, I heard Mira’s frustrated shriek, but none of us turned around. Let her throw her tantrum. I had

real family matters to deal with.

“My car’s this way,” Brad said, his hand finding the small of my back as he guided me toward the familiar

black vehicle.

As I slid into the passenger seat, my eyes immediately found the small decorative charm hanging from his rearview mirror – a cheap little trinket I’d bought weeks ago from a street vendor. It looked completely out of place. But Brad had kept it.

My heart did something stupid and warm in my chest.

“You still have it,” I murmured, touching the little charm gently.

Brad’s eyes followed my gesture, and something soft flickered across his usually stern features. “Of course I

do.”

He started the engine, then reached over and took my hand, placing it on the gear shift. Every time he needed to change gears, he moved our joined hands together. His palm was so much warmer than mine – that werewolf body heat that always made me feel safe.

“Your hands are always so cold,” he said quietly, his thumb tracing over my knuckles.

At a red light, Brad pulled out his phone and quickly shipped a photo of our intertwined hands on the gear shift. Before I could ask what he was doing, he was already uploading it to his social media.

“Brad, what are you-

<

1/4

18:53 Wed, Dec 31 0 D 7.

Chapter 155

7%

“Clearing up some rumors,” he said simply, typing something I couldn’t see. Then he took another photo, this one showing more of the car’s interior, and tagged e in it.

I hadn’t been on social media in days, so I had no idea what rumors he was talking about. But judging by his determined expression, it was something about Mir

Sophia was following in her own car behind us.

When we arrived at the Blair estate, I practically jumpe out of the car before it fully stopped. The urgency in Stella’s voice had been eating at me during the entire drive.

“Stella!” I called out as soon as I entered the main hous

Stella appeared in the hallway, her face pale and drawn “Elle, sweetheart, you shouldn’t have come back. I told you to stay away.”

“You sounded terrified on the phone. What happened? it really about Ivy?” I moved closer, studying her worried expression. “And don’t you dare try to protect me by keeping secrets. I’m not a child anymore.”

Brad stepped up beside me, his presence commanding even in this human household. Sophia entered

behind us, quiet but alert.

Stella’s eyes flickered between us, then she sighed heavy. “Maybe… maybe it’s better if you know. And with Brad here…” She looked at him with something like hope. “Perhaps his influence can help us handle

this mess.”

“Stella,” I said firmly, “what happened to Ivy?”

Stella’s composure cracked. “She… she was pregnant. Umarried. And she went to some back-alley clinic

to… to take care of it.” Her voice broke on the last words.

My blood turned to ice. “Oh god.”

“The family doctor examined her afterward. Because of her special constitution from our bloodline, the procedure… it damaged her badly. She may never be able to have children.”

The room felt like it was spinning. I sank into the nearest chair, my hand instinctively moving to my own

stomach.

Brad’s voice was dangerously quiet, “What about the man? Did he just abandon her?”

|||

O

2/4

18:53 Wed, Dec 31 0 0 07

Chapter 155

Stella’s laugh was bitter. “The bastard is married. Of course he didn’t take responsibility.”

I felt anger surge through me. “This can’t just be swept under the rug. That man needs to face consequences. People can’t treat the Blair family like were disposable!”

Brad stepped forward, his Alpha authority filling the room. “They won’t. Not while I’m here.”

Stella looked between us, then nodded slowly. “If… if you both came with me, maybe we could pressure

that coward into doing the right thing.”

“Where is she?” I demanded, already standing.

“A small private clinic outside the city. She didn’t want anyone in Moon Lake City to know.”

7%

The drive to the outskirts took over an hour, through winding roads that led to a small human community

hospital. The building was shabby compared to the medical facilities werewolves used, and the smell of

disinfectant hit me as soon as we stepped outside the car.

Inside, I spotted Martin talking intensely with a middle-aged couple I didn’t recognize. The woman was

crying, the man looked defeated, and both of them flinched when they saw Brad approach. Alpha presence

had that effect on humans.

“How is Ivy?” I said, going straight to Martin.

Martin’s face was grim. “Not good, Elle. The medication they used was too strong. The damage to her

reproductive system is severe. The chances of her conceiving again are…” He shook his head.

My heart broke for Ivy, despite all our differences. “What about the family’s ancient knowledge? Surely

there’s something in our archives that could help? And if it’s a matter of money for better treatment-

“We’ll handle any financial concerns,” Brad said immediately, his voice carrying the weight of his family’s

influence.

–

The middle-aged couple who I now realized must be y’s birth parents – looked at us with a mixture of

hope and desperation.

“The problem isn’t money,” the woman said, her voice shaking with emotion. “The problem is that

worthless man who got her into this mess hasn’t shown his face once! Not once!”

=

|||

O

r

3/4

18:54 Wed, Dec

After One Night with the Alpha