After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 180

Chapter 180

Elle’s POV

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I turned around to find Brad standing behind me, his face a mask of barely controlled fury.

“Elle,” he said, his voice rough and strained. “We need to talk.”

But before I could respond, his mother’s voice cut through the tension like a blade.

“Bradley.” Victoria’s wheelchair rolled into view, her tone sharp with disapproval. “There you are.”

Brad’s jaw clenched so hard I could hear his teeth grinding. “Mother.”

“I was just having a conversation with your… companion.” Victoria’s eyes swept over me dismissively.

“About what’s best for everyone involved.”

I watched as something dangerous flickered across Brad’s features. When he spoke, his voice was deadly

quiet.

“Mom,” he said, each word carefully measured. “Are you trying to destroy my bloodline?”

Victoria’s composure cracked slightly. “Excuse me?”

“You’re hurting my mate.” Brad took a step closer to his mother, his presence filling the room. “So tell me,

Mother-is that really what you want?”

Victoria’s face flushed with anger. “I am doing what’s best for this family! What’s best for our bloodline!”

“So you can hurt my mate?” Brad’s voice rose, the Alpha command in it making even me want to submit. “Is

that what you call protecting the family?”

“I am protecting our future!” Victoria snapped back. “This human cannot give you what you need! What the

pack needs!”

“She’s carrying my child,” Brad said coldly. “What more do you want?”

Before Victoria could answer, another voice joined the day.

“Now, now,” Mira said, gliding into the room with practed grace. “Let’s all calm down, shall we?”

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Chapter 180

She positioned herself between Brad and Victoria, her voice taking on a soothing, diplomatic tone. “Victoria Luna, Brad, there’s no need for raised voices. We’re all family here.”

My hands clenched into fists. Here she was, playing the perfect peacemaker.

I tried to pull my hand away from Brad’s grip, but his Alpha strength made it impossible.

The room fell silent for a moment, tension crackling in the air like electricity before a storm.

Then Brad stepped forward.

“Elle West is my mate,” he declared, his eyes blazing. “The child she carries is the fourth generation of

Rayne Alpha bloodline. No other she-wolf will bear my pups. Ever.”

Victoria’s eyes widened in shock at the raw power emanating from her son.

“If you want to drive away my mate,” Brad continued, his voice taking on a threatening edge, “then fine. I’ll take her and leave Moonshade Bay. The Rayne Alpha lineage ends with me.”

The transformation in the room was immediate.

“I… I think I need to rest,” Victoria said finally, her voice carefully controlled. “The journey was

exhausting.”

She turned to Mira. “Mira, dear, would you help me to my room?”

Mira’s face lit up with barely concealed triumph. “Of course, Victoria Luna.”

As they moved toward the door, Victoria paused to give me one last cold stare-the look of a predator who had been temporarily thwarted but hadn’t given up the hunt.

Mira glanced back at me with a smug smile that said everything: I’m werewolf. You’re human. I’ve already

won.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

Alone with Brad, I felt the weight of everything that had just happened crash down on me,

“Let go,” I said quietly.

“No.” His grip on my wrist didn’t loosen. “Elle, you can’t

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Chapter 180

“Let go!” I repeated, my voice harder now.

Brad’s eyes were wild with desperation. “I won’t let you leave. I can’t.”

“How many times can you stand behind me?” I asked quietly. “How many times can you protect me from

your own mother?”

Brad’s face went pale.

“I can handle it,” he said, but his voice lacked conviction.

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I gave him a sad smile. “Can you? When your mother and the entire pack are united against us? When they all want you to mate with someone like Mira instead?”

Brad’s silence was answer enough.

“Let me go, Brad,” I said softly. “Please.”

Slowly, reluctantly, he released my wrist. I could see the defeat in his eyes, the crushing weight of being an Alpha who couldn’t protect what he loved most.

I turned and walked away, each step feeling like it was tearing my heart out of my chest.

“Elle!” Brad’s voice broke behind me, raw with anguish. Are you really going to abandon me?”

I stopped but didn’t turn around. After a moment, I found my voice.

“I was too greedy,” I said quietly.

“Give me time,” Brad pleaded. “I can make them accept ou.”

“I can’t wait,” I replied. “What am I supposed to do when your mother arranges for you and Mira to spend time together? Watch my mate with another female? That’s too cruel, even for me.”

I started walking again. “I’m going to pack. I’ll leave tomorrow.”

I went to what had been “our” room and began pulling othes from the closet, folding them mechanically into my suitcase. Each item felt like another piece of my heart being packed away.

After I zipped up the last bag, I dragged my suitcase toward the door, struggling slightly with its weight

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Chapter 180

and my pregnant belly. As I emerged into the hallway, nearly collided with someone.

Mira.

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She was carrying an empty tea tray, and somehow-somehow-the hot liquid that had been in the cups.

ended up all over my shirt.

“Oh my!” Mira gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in hock horror. “Elle, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to do

that!”

The liquid was scalding against my skin, but I bit back any reaction. Victoria was standing nearby, watching the scene with interest.

“How clumsy of me,” Mira continued, her voice dripping with false concern. “You should go change right

away.”

I looked at her-really looked at her-and saw the calculation in her eyes. This hadn’t been an accident.

“Excuse me,” I said quietly, turning back toward the room.

But Mira stepped into my path.

“Actually, Elle,” she said, her voice taking on a harder edge. “Since you’re leaving this room anyway… shouldn’t you cancel your biometric access?”

The words hit like a slap. I felt my face go white.

Victoria made a sound of approval. “How thoughtful of you to mention that, Mira.”

With shaking hands, I walked to the biometric scanner beside the door. I placed my thumb on the reader and watched as the system deleted my fingerprints.

The moment I stepped back, Mira moved forward and began inputting her own biometric data.

“There,” she said with satisfaction as the system accepted her prints. “Much better.”

She turned to me with a smile that was pure malice wrapped in politeness.

“I should go prepare fresh tea for Brad,” she said. “Don’t worry about seeing yourself out-I know you can manage.”

I lifted my suitcase and headed for the stairs.

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At the entrance, Martha was waiting. Her kind face was creased with worry.

“Miss Elle,” she began, then stopped herself. “I… I don’t know what to say.”

I smiled at her-genuinely this time. “You don’t need to say anything, Martha. You’ve been wonderful to

me.”

I reached into my purse and pulled out a small jewelry box. “This is for you.”

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After One Night with the Alpha