After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 206

Chapter 206

Brad’s POV

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I stood at the edge of the cliff, watching the waves crash against the rocky shore below. T my lungs as I finished typing the message to Elle, my fingers hesitating only briefly before The cookbook I’d arranged to be delivered would speak volumes that words couldn’t convey.

led

1. nd.

Setting my phone aside, I remained motionless for a long moment, then finally rose and turned toward the

vast ocean.

“Time to close the net,” I said quietly to the wind.

Alex appeared at my side within minutes, his expression carefully neutral as always. “Sir, I have an update from Moonshade Bay.”

I didn’t turn around. “Report.”

“Mrs. Elizabeth had a… significant outburst around noon today. She called your mother directly.” Alex’s voice carried the faintest hint of satisfaction.

Now I did turn, meeting his eyes. “What was said?”

Alex consulted his tablet briefly. “The conversation was heated. Mrs. Elizabeth threatened your mother, telling her that if she continued to ‘meddle in affairs beyond her understanding,‘ perhaps it was time to ‘bring Lucas home.“”

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. My grandmother had mentioned Lucas by name. Perfect.

“You’re certain of this?”

“Completely. Our contact confirmed every word.”

I nodded slowly, my mind already moving to the next phase. Lucas Rayne – the name that had been

forbidden in our household for over two decades. The name that represented my grandmother’s greatest

shame and my mother’s deepest wound. The bastard son who’d disappeared the same night my father

vanished, the same night my mother was seriously wounded.

I’d known the truth for years, had the whole sordid story investigated and documented. But blood was blood, and family loyalty ran deep – even when it shouldn’t. I couldn’t bring myself to confront my mother directly about what she’d done, what she’d covered up. But I’d always known that someday, Lucas would be

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Chapter 206

useful.

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“The timing isn’t quite right yet,” I mused, walking back toward the house. “She needs one more push to make Elizabeth take a definitive stand.”

Alex fell into step beside me. “Sir, if I may express concern – bringing Lucas back could

position.”

our

I laughed, the sound sharp in the evening air. “Alex, there’s no one left in the Rayne family who could threaten my position. And Lucas?” I shook my head. “He’s hardly a threat now.”

My phone buzzed before Alex could respond. I glanced at the screen but didn’t answer, letting it go to voicemail. The familiar number told me everything I needed to know.

When the automated message played back, my mother’s voice filled the evening air, tight with barely

controlled panic.

“Brad, darling, you need to call me immediately. Your grandmother has lost her mind – she’s talking about

bringing that… that bastard home. Lucas. She thinks she can undermine your position, threaten everything we’ve

built. I’m flying back to Moonshade Bay tonight to stop this madness. We can’t let her destroy your future over

some misguided guilt.”

There was a pause, and when she continued, her voice had shifted to the calculating tone I knew so well.

“If Elle truly is a Blair, if she can reclaim her heritage… perhaps we shouldn’t oppose the match after all. The Blair influence could be useful against Lucas. Make your move quickly, darling. Court their support. I’ll handle your grandmother, but you need allies. The board meeting is in three days, and if she puts Lucas in play…”

The message cut off abruptly.

I smiled, satisfied. Everything was proceeding exactly as I’d anticipated. Faced with family control, my mother had done precisely what I’d expected – dropped he started seeking the Blair family’s political support.

“Sir?” Alex appeared in the doorway.

I gestured for him to continue.

“The Lucas

situation

***

I let silence stretch between us before responding. “Grandmother, I’m surprised. Why the sudden interest in

“I’m listening.”

“Your mother needs to understand that Elle isn’t going anywhere. I’m transfern.

ve percent of the

company’s unmarked shares directly to Elle’s name. Shell have a board seat, protection from your mother’s… displeasure. And I’m finally going to honor the commitments we made when this arrangement

began.”

Perfect. Everything I’d hoped to achieve.

“That seems appropriate,” I said carefully.

“Will you help arrange Lucas’s welcome celebration?”

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Chapter 206

“Absolutely. I’ll handle every detail personally.”

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Lucas would come home, certainly. But the broken young wolf my mother had created would pose no threat

to anyone.

–

The irony wasn’t lost on me to protect Elle from my mother’s schemes, I’d orchestrated that would likely destroy whatever remained of my mother’s peace of mind. But Elle’s safet

amount of family drama.

I raised my wine glass toward the ocean. “Let the games begin.”

union

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