After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 28

**The Billionaire Who Claimed My Heart and Who Broke Fate for Me**

**Chapter 28**

**Brad’s POV**

As Elle savored the last drops of her milk, I felt the need to clear my throat, a subtle signal that I was about to speak.

“Next week,” I declared, ensuring my voice bore the weight of authority, “the Alpha of the Steel Forest Pack from Germany, Otto, and his Luna, Ada, will be making their way to Moonshade Bay.” I paused, keenly observing her reaction. “As my mate, it is imperative that you join me in welcoming them.”

Her eyes widened in disbelief. “Foreign werewolves? Alpha and Luna?” The words spilled from her lips, laced with a mix of excitement and trepidation, her heart racing visibly at the thought.

“You’ll need to set aside your work at the company for a while and concentrate on preparing for this visit,” I continued, purposefully overlooking the panic that flickered across her features. “Martha will be there to assist you with the necessary protocols and etiquette.”

I could sense her anxiety rising, a tangible wave that filled the air.

“I understand,” she replied, her grip tightening around the glass, a sign of her inner turmoil. “I’ll do my best.”

I scrutinized her for a moment longer, catching the slight tremor in her hands that would have gone unnoticed by anyone else. “I have other matters to attend to. Martha will start your training without delay.” With those words, I turned and exited the dining room, my mind still lingering on Elle.

As I ascended the stairs to my office, my thoughts were consumed by her.

An hour into my work, I found my focus slipping away. Rising to stretch my legs, I made my way to the window that offered a view of the garden pavilion. To my surprise, there she was—Elle, surrounded by an array of books and papers, her brow knitted in concentration.

“Guten Tag, Alpha,” I heard her voice drifting through the air as she practiced, her pronunciation awkward yet earnest. “Es ist mir eine Ehre, Sie kennenzulernen.”

Despite her clumsy delivery, something about the determination etched on her face ignited an unfamiliar warmth in my chest. She repeated the phrase, each attempt slightly better than the last, a testament to her resolve.

As the minutes passed, I noticed her movements becoming sluggish, her head nodding as fatigue began to take hold. Eventually, she leaned back, her eyelids fluttering shut, the German phrase book slipping from her fingers to rest on the cushion beside her.

“She’s fallen asleep,” I remarked, surprised at the softness in my own voice.

Alex, who had been immersed in his notes, glanced up. “Would you like me to send Martha to wake her?”

I shook my head, a firm decision taking root. “No. She’s worked hard today. Let her rest.”

“I’ll need you at the office early tomorrow,” I instructed Alex, still captivated by Elle’s serene form.

Once I finished, I wrapped a towel around my waist and stood at the bathroom doorway, watching Elle still lost in her dreams.

Against my better judgment, I decided not to retreat to one of the guest rooms as I had been doing since Elle moved in. This was my territory, after all. I would sleep in my own bed. The logical part of me argued that it was merely impractical to displace myself, but deeper instincts whispered the truth—I wanted to be near her.

Pulling on a pair of sleep pants, I slipped under the covers on the opposite side of the bed, maintaining a careful distance between us. To my surprise, I found that I didn’t mind her presence as much as I had anticipated. There was something almost… comforting about having her close.

I stared at the ceiling, listening to the soft rhythm of Elle’s breathing. After two days filled with relentless pack business and minimal rest, exhaustion soon overtook me, and I drifted into a deep sleep, enveloped in the soothing scent of my mate.

Hours later, I awoke instantly as Elle shifted, my Alpha senses heightened to any change. She had moved closer in her slumber, one arm draped across my chest, her head nestled against my shoulder. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, her golden hair spilling across my skin.

My initial instinct should have been one of discomfort at such intimate proximity to a human. Instead, I felt an unexpected sense of… rightness.

This is… new, I mused, studying her peaceful face illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the curtains. But not unwelcome.

After a brief moment of hesitation, I gently wrapped my arm around her, allowing her to nestle even closer.

With her soft breaths against my chest and the weight of her arm resting on me, I found myself slipping back into sleep more easily than I had in years.