After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30

Elle’s POV

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“How quickly life changes,” I whispered to my reflection in the window, my eyes staring back at me with a

question I couldn’t answer.

We were traveling through the mixed district when I fell the car jolt forward. Something had hit us from behind, the impact making me clutch the folder tighter to my chest.

“What was that?” I asked, my heart suddenly racing. Were we being attacked? Had someone discovered I

was carrying the Alpha’s heir?

The driver frowned, checking the rearview mirror. “Someone rear-ended us, Mrs. Rayne. Nothing serious.”

I stepped out of the car.

The luxury SUV now sported a large scrape on its rear bumper, the Rayne family insignia partially scratched off. I winced, imagining Brad’s reaction. This would delay us, and he needed these documents for

his important meeting. Would he blame me? Probably.

“I am so sorry about that,” a deep voice said from behind me.

I turned to face a tall, muscular man stepping out of the car that had hit us.

Those eyes widened the moment they locked with mine and the man froze mid-step, his face draining of

color like he’d seen a ghost.

“Dakota?” he whispered, his voice suddenly hoarse. “Dakota, you’re alive?”

Confusion crashed over me like a wave. Who the hell was Dakota?

“Excuse me?” My voice came out sharper than I intended, anxiety making my heart pound against my ribs.

He moved closer, his eyes never leaving my face, studying me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. “Dakota,” he said, reaching for my hand before I could step back. “It’s really you.”

I pulled away sharply, alarm bells screaming in my head. Was this some kind of scam? A trap? Or was he genuinely mistaking me for someone else? “I don’t know what you’re talking about. My name is Elle West… Rayne,” I corrected myself, indicating the family insignia on the car, hoping the Rayne name would make

him back off. “Who are you?”

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Chapter 30

以念63%

The man stared at me, disbelief written across his features. He seemed to be struggling to compose himself, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. “I-I apologize. The resemblance is… extraordinary. He reached into his jacket and produced a business card. “Raymond Carter. I’ll cover all damages, of course, including any additional fees.”

I took the card reluctantly, noting the simple design and phone number. No company name, just his name and “Private Consultant.” What the hell kind of vague profession was that? In my experience, people who were vague about their jobs were usually hiding something.

“I’ll have the Rayne family legal department contact you,” I said stiffly, stepping back toward our vehicle. My instincts were screaming at me to get away from this man.

Raymond Carter moved closer, lowering his voice to a near whisper that sent chills down my spine. “Do you

have a twin sister?”

The intensity of his gaze made my stomach twist. There was something almost desperate in his question, and I found myself wondering if this was really an accident or something else entirely. Had he hit our car on purpose? The thought made me want to run back to the safety of the bulletproof SUV.

“I need to go,” I said firmly, fighting to keep my voice steady.

“Of course. Please convey my sincere apologies to Alpha Rayne.” He handed me a second card, pressing it into my palm with unexpected urgency.

I nodded curtly and slipped back into the car, instructing the driver to continue immediately. As we pulled away, I glanced back to see Raymond Carter still standing in the street, watching our car with an unreadable expression that sent a chill straight down my spine.

“That was weird as hell,” I muttered, turning the business card over in my fingers. My hands were shaking slightly. “Who the hell is Dakota Blair? And why does he think I’m her?”

We arrived at the Rayne Group headquarters fifteen minutes later, my mind still racing with questions about the strange encounter. The security guards recognized the car immediately and waved us through to the executive entrance. I was escorted directly to the conference room where Brad was having the meeting.

When I entered, all eyes turned to me. I felt my face flush under the scrutiny, suddenly aware of how disheveled I must look after the incident. Brad’s amber aze locked with mine instantly, his nostrils flaring slightly as he scented the air. Something in his expression shifted-concern? Anger? It was so subtle that I might have imagined it.

“The documents, Alpha,” I said formally, approaching with the folder extended, trying to ignore the

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Chapter 30

pounding of my heart. Would he smell the stranger on the? Would he be angry?

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Brad rose and took the folder, his fingers brushing mine deliberately. The contact sent a jolt through me that I desperately tried to ignore. “You’re late,” he observed quietly, but there was no real anger in his

voice.

Should I tell him about Raymond Carter now? Here in front of everyone?

“You’ve done well. Take the rest of the day off,” he said, his voice carrying that subtle warmth I rarely heard. He glanced down at the documents before looking back at me. “Why don’t you go downtown, do

some shopping?”

I blinked in surprise, caught off guard by both the suggestion and how easily he was dismissing me. My eyes quickly scanned the room, and that’s when it clicked-Alex wasn’t hovering at Brad’s side as usual. No wonder he’d had me deliver the documents instead of sending his shadow to fetch them.

Mystery solved. I’d been drafted as the delivery girl because the regular errand boy wasn’t available.

“Sure, I could do that,” I replied with a nod, secretly relieved to escape the heavy atmosphere of the meeting room with all those werewolf eyes drilling into me.

As the meeting resumed, I retreated to the door, but not before catching Brad’s eyes once more. He was

watching me intently.

Standing in the hallway of the executive floor, I pulled out Raymond Carter’s business card again, staring at the simple text while my mind raced. Who was this Dakota, and why did Raymond think I was her?

Then I decided to let the question go for now.

What am I gonna do next? Shopping?

“I don’t even know what I’d buy,” I muttered to myself, ucking the card back into my pocket. What was I supposed to do with this unexpected freedom?

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After One Night with the Alpha