After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

Elle’s POV

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I stood there in the hallway, watching Mira’s arms wrapped around Brad’s waist, and felt something inside

me shatter.

Just last night, Brad had danced for me. He’d made love to me with such tenderness, such passion. He’d

told me he loved me. And now here he was.

“Elle,” Abigail whispered beside me, her voice tight with concern. “We should go.”

But I couldn’t move. I couldn’t stop staring at the way Mira fit against him, how natural it looked. They were both werewolves. They understood each other’s world in ways I never could. Maybe that would always

matter more than whatever Brad felt for me.

The worst part was that I couldn’t even feel angry. Not really. Just… empty. Like I’d been fooling myself

this entire time.

“Elle?” Abigail’s hand touched my arm gently.

I blinked, forcing myself to focus. “We should get back,” I said quietly.

As we walked back toward the main hall, I tried to push down the nausea rising in my throat.

When we returned to our table, Sophia was already seated, looking as miserable as I felt. Her eyes met

mine, and I saw the same hollow recognition there. We’d both watched the Alphas we cared about choose

Mira in some way tonight.

“You look pale,” Sophia murmured as I sat down. “Are you alright?”

“Just tired,” I lied, reaching for my water glass with hands that weren’t quite steady.

–

A few minutes later, Brad returned to the table. I felt him before I saw him that familiar presence that usually brought me comfort now just made my chest ache. He slid into his seat beside me, and I caught his scent mixed with something else. Something that smelled like Mira.

“Elle,” he said softly, and I could hear the concern in his voice. “You seem upset. What’s wrong?”

His hand moved toward mine on the table, and I jerked back like he’d burned me. The image of him accepting Mira’s embrace flashed through my mind, and I felt sick.

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Chapter 178

“I’m fine,” I said, not looking at him. “Just tired.”

Are you sure? You look-”

“I said I’m fine.” The words came out sharper than I intended, and I saw him flinch slightly.

Brad’s jaw tightened, and I caught the flash of confusion and frustration in his eyes. He probably thought I

was being unreasonable. Maybe I was. But I couldn’t get the image out of my head.

“We should head back tomorrow, shouldn’t we?” I asked still not meeting his eyes. “Back to Moonshade

Bay?”

“Yes,” Brad replied carefully. “We need to be back for several meetings next week.”

I nodded, then turned to Sophia. “You mentioned you’re taking your leave tomorrow, right?”

Sophia looked up from her untouched dinner, surprised. “I… yes. I was planning to take some time off.”

“Maybe we could take a trip together?” I said, forcing a smile that felt like broken glass.

Sophia’s eyes sharpened with understanding. She glanced briefly at Mira, who was speaking animatedly with Lester a few seats away, practically glowing with satisfaction.

“That sounds wonderful,” Sophia said quickly. “I’d love the company. We could visit the coast, maybe head

up to the mountains…”

“Elle.” Brad’s voice had an edge to it now. “You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be traveling all over the place.”

“The doctor said light travel was fine,” I replied, still not looking at him. “In fact, he encouraged walking

and moderate activity.”

I couldn’t keep the bitter note out of my voice. Brad’s eyes narrowed.

Before he could answer, Mira’s voice cut through the tension. “Oh, that sounds like a perfect plan!”

I turned to see her approaching our table, her face bright with what looked like genuine enthusiasm. My

stomach clenched.

“A girls’ trip is exactly what you need, Elle,” Mira continued, placing a hand on the back of Brad’s chair in a gesture that looked casual but felt territorial. “And it works out perfectly, because I was hoping to spend some time helping Brad catch up on pack business after being away for the weekend.”

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Chapter 178

Her smile was sweet as honey, but I caught the calculating gleam in her eyes.

“Mira,” Brad warned, his voice low.

But she was already pressing on. “Besides, Victoria will be arriving in Moon Lake City soon. She’ll need someone to help her settle in, and since Elle is pregnant and shouldn’t be overexerting herself…” She shrugged delicately. “I’d be happy to take care of everything. Victoria and I have always gotten along so

well.”

The words hit like physical blows. Brad’s mother, who I never met, who probably hoped her son would end up with someone like Mira instead of a random human girl who’d gotten accidentally pregnant.

I felt Brad’s gaze on me, but I kept my expression carefully blank. “That’s very thoughtful of you,” I said.

“I’m sure Brad appreciates the offer.”

“Elle-” Brad started.

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“It makes sense,” I interrupted. “You’ll need all the help you can get, especially with your mother coming. And I could use some time away to… process everything.”

Just then, Alex appeared at Brad’s elbow with his phone “Sorry to interrupt, sir, but it’s your mother.”

Brad’s expression tightened as he answered. “Mom? I thought your flight wasn’t until next week… What? You want Mira and me to pick you up together? Mom, we have plenty of staff who can… I understand that you want Mira specifically, but… No, I get it. She understands your needs better.”

Each word felt like another nail in my coffin. I watched Brad’s face as he spoke, saw the resignation there. The acceptance of his mother’s wishes.

“Alright, Mom. We’ll be there… No, Elle will stay at home. She needs to rest… I understand. We’ll take care

of everything.”

When he hung up, the silence stretched between us like a chasm.

“My mother’s flight landed early,” he said finally, not quite meeting my eyes. “I need to go pick her up.

With Mira.”

The words hung in the air between us. Not “I want to” of “I have to because of circumstances.” Just the simple statement that he was going to pick up his mother with his ex-girlfriend while leaving his pregnant

mate at home.

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Chapter 178

“Of course,” I said, my voice steady despite the way my heart was breaking. “That makes perfect sense.”

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And it did, in a horrible way. Victoria Rayne wanted Mith there, not me. She probably saw Mira as the mate

she’d always hoped for, and me as the human complication who’d trapped her son with an accidental

pregnancy.

The mate bond might make Brad feel protective of me, might even make him think he loved me. But

watching him now, seeing how easily he slipped back into patterns with Mira when his mother demanded

it…

As I sat there watching them plan their trip to collect his mother, I felt something cold settle in my chest.

Victoria Rayne was coming to Moon Lake City, and I had a sinking feeling that her early arrival wasn’t a

coincidence.

She was coming to deal with me.

And I was starting to think she might succeed.

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The insecurity of her is getting annoying. And the fact that he accepts that backward behavior from women as well. Is he a tough Alpha or not? The story drags on too long w… More

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After One Night with the Alpha