After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Elle’s POV

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I stared at Brad, a hot flush of embarrassment washing over me. He’d just declared my homemade spaghetti

“awful.”

Despite his criticism, Brad was shoveling the pasta into his mouth at an alarming rate. Fork after fork, he devoured the meal he’d just insulted, his eyes never meeting mine as he systematically emptied his plate.

“What the hell?” I muttered under my breath.

He glanced up briefly, then returned to eating without comment.

I watched in fascination as he finished every last bite, then set down his fork. The contrast between his

words and actions left me utterly confused.

“Would you like to try some of mine?” I offered hesitantly, pushing my half-full plate toward him. “Though it probably won’t meet your standards either.”

Brad stared at my plate for a long moment. Something flashed across his face. Then, to my complete shock,

he reached over and took it.

“Thank you,” he said stiffly, as if the words were foreign to him.

I couldn’t hide my surprise. Even in our short time together, I’d noticed Brad’s obsession with cleanliness. He wiped down doorknobs after others touched them. He never shared utensils or food. Yet here he was, eating from my plate without hesitation.

Before I could process this bizarre behavior, the sound of footsteps made us both look up.

Alex appeared in the doorway. When he spotted Brad eating from my plate, his eyes widened comically.

“Sir…” Alex’s voice was hesitant.

Brad set down the fork with a sharp clink. “What is it, Alex?”

Alex cleared his throat. “I have urgent news. The Frostlaw Pack has sent an emergency

communication.”

“I’ll let you two talk,” I said, sliding off my stool. “I’m done eating anyway.”

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Chapter 24

As I walked toward the door, I heard Brad mutter behind me: “It really was awful.”

I rolled my eyes, not bothering to turn around.

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After grabbing a glass of water from the kitchen, I was adding back toward the bedroom when I nearly

collided with a wall of muscle in the hallway. Brad stood before me, now dressed in a black suit.

“Whoa,” I said, taking an instinctive step back. “You clean up fast.”

My tongue darted out to lick a droplet of water from my upper lip, and I noticed Brad’s eyes tracking the movement with unexpected intensity. For a split second something wild flickered in his amber gaze before

he blinked it away.

“I need to leave immediately,” he said, his voice carefully controlled. “I’m heading to the Canadian to meet

with the Frostclaw Pack.”

“Oh. Is everything okay?”

“Pack business.” He adjusted his cuffs. “I’m not certain when I’ll return.”

“That’s… fine.” I wasn’t sure what else to say. Were we at the point in our relationship where I was

supposed to care about his travel plans? “Be careful, I guess.”

Something shifted in his expression-surprise, perhaps at my words of concern.

“Mrs. Rayne,” Alex said, appearing beside Brad with an overnight bag, “there’s absolutely no need to worry. The Alpha’s security detail is comprehensive. His safety is guaranteed.”

“Right,” I said, oddly uncomfortable with Alex’s formality. “Good to know.”

Brad gave me one last unreadable look before turning away, his movements fluid and purposeful. As they walked toward the front door, I heard Alex briefing him on logistics and security protocols.

When the door finally closed behind them, I stood frozen in the hallway, listening to the sudden, complete

silence that filled the massive house.

“Wait,” I whispered to myself as realization dawned. “Ts whole place is empty? It’s just… me?”

A giddy feeling bubbled up from my chest, breaking free as a laugh that echoed through the empty hallway.

“Holy shit!” I spun in a circle, arms outstretched. “I’m free!”

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I spent the next few hours exploring my temporary freedom with childlike enthusiasm. First, I ran a bath in Brad’s massive jacuzzi tub. I dumped in obscene amounts of expensive bath salts, creating a mountain of

bubbles that smelled like lavender and something wild couldn’t identify.

After my bath, I wrapped myself in one of Brad’s ridiculously soft towels and explored the house. The

kitchen pantry alone was bigger than my old apartments bedroom.

When bedtime came, I hesitated at the door to Brad’s room-our room, technically, though it never felt like

mine. With a surge of rebellious joy, I launched myself onto the enormous bed, rolling around and messing

up the perfectly arranged pillows.

“This is amazing,” I sighed, starfishing across the mattress. For the first time since moving in, I felt like I

could breathe freely, without calculating my every move and word.

I fell asleep sprawled across the bed, not bothering to put on pajamas, simply enjoying the feel of the

expensive sheets against my skin.

In my dream, I was running through a moonlit forest, laughing as my bare feet barely touched the ground. A small bundle was cradled in my arms-a baby wrapped in a soft blanket, cooing happily as we danced

between silver-dappled trees.

“Look at the moon, little one,” I whispered, tilting the baby’s face toward the brilliant full moon overhead.

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

A twig snapped behind us, and I turned, startled but not afraid. A massive wolf stood at the edge of the clearing, its fur black as midnight with streaks of silver at the ruff. Its eyes glowed amber in the darkness, intelligent and focused entirely on me.

As I watched, the wolf’s form began to shift and blur, bones cracking and reshaping until a man stood where the wolf had been. Brad stepped forward, naked and unashamed, his body powerful in the

moonlight.

“Elle,” he said, his voice deeper and more primal than I ever heard it. “My mate.”

He reached for the baby-our baby-with gentle hands, his expression softened with love I’d never seen

before.

I jolted awake, heart hammering against my ribs, the dream so vivid I could almost smell the forest and feel Brad’s touch on my skin.

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“What the fuck?” I whispered, pressing my hands agains my hot cheeks. “Why am I dreaming about Brad

like that?”

I glanced at the clock-3 AM-and flopped back onto the pillows with a groan.

“I’m losing my mind,” I muttered, rolling onto my side and curling around my still-flat stomach.

“Pregnancy hormones must be messing with my head.”

Morning came with brilliant sunshine streaming through the windows I’d left uncurtained the night before.

I stretched lazily, enjoying the warm light on my skin, before sitting up with renewed excitement at the

realization that I was still alone in the house.

Another day of freedom!

I rummaged through Brad’s closet and pulled out one of his crisp white business shirts, slipping it on

without bothering with any underwear. The shirt hung to mid-thigh, more than decent enough for private

lounging.

After a quick stop in the kitchen for orange juice, I wandered out to the massive terrace overlooking the

gardens. The morning air was crisp and perfect.

I spotted the watering can near a collection of unusual silvery-blue. Setting down my juice, I filled the can and began carefully watering each plant, humming a Taylor Swift song under my breath.

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10:46 Tue, Dec 30 DAD

After One Night with the Alpha