After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Elle’s POV

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My jaw practically hit the floor as I gawked at Brad.

“You’re taking me?” The words shot out of my mouth like I’d been electrocuted. “To my pregnancy check-

up? You?”

Was I hallucinating? I never thought he was coming with me.

I actually pinched my arm hard enough to leave a mark Nope, definitely awake.

Brad snatched the appointment card from my fingers like it was the most normal thing in the world. “Are you fasting for the tests? If you are, we should head out now.” His tone was annoyingly matter-of-fact. “We can grab lunch at my grandmother’s place after they’re done poking and prodding you.”

“Hello? Earth to Elle?” Brad turned around, and-holy shit-was that an actual smile tugging at his lips? “What’s the problem? Getting cold feet?”

That half-smile was somehow more unnerving than his usual death glare. I scrambled to get my brain

working again.

“Yeah, I’m fasting for the bloodwork,” I managed to stammer out. “Haven’t eaten a thing.”

Brad nodded and called out, “Martha!”

She appeared almost instantly, like she’d been hovering nearby.

“Get the car ready,” he instructed. “And call ahead to my grandmother’s place. Tell them we’re coming for lunch after Elle’s check-up. She hasn’t had breakfast, so she’ll be starving. Make sure they prepare something that won’t make her puke.”

“Right away, sir,” Martha responded, with a twinkle in her eye that looked suspiciously like she was enjoying this development.

“Thank you, Martha,” I said quietly.

Her expression softened immediately. “Not at all, dear.”

As we headed for the door, my mind raced. What game was he playing? Then it hit me-of course, the baby.

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His precious heir. His first child. That had to be why he suddenly cared about a routine medical

appointment.

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The hospital staff must have gotten a DEFCON 1 alert about our arrival. As our car pulled up, I was greeted

by a lineup of nurses standing at attention like we were royalty-which, I guess, we kind of were.

“Good morning, Mrs. Rayne,” they chimed in unison as awkwardly climbed out.

Even after my previous hospital stay, the formality made me want to check behind me to see who they

were actually talking to.

“Good morning, Alpha Rayne,” they practically cooed at Brad.

Brad gave them a curt nod. “Everything ready?”

“Yes, Alpha,” the head nurse confirmed, looking like she might salute at any moment. “We’re fully prepared

for Mrs. Rayne’s appointment.”

Brad guided me forward with his hand barely touching the small of my back. “Let’s get this done quickly.

She’s been fasting for the blood work.”

The examination room might as well have had a red carpet. The hospital director and head physician greeted us personally, and every test happened at warp speed. What would normally take half a day was compressed into just over an hour.

During the ultrasound, I caught Brad watching the screen with an intensity that surprised me. When the whooshing sound of our baby’s heartbeat filled the room, something in those amber eyes of his softened- just for a split second-before his mask slipped back into place.

“The baby is developing perfectly,” the doctor announcel, making far more eye contact with Brad than with

1. “All indicators are excellent.”

I noticed a nurse immediately texting the results to Elizabeth. Apparently, even my uterus reported directly

to Brad’s grandmother.

Elizabeth’s estate made our massive house look like a starter home. Staff members bustled everywhere, looking like they’d been preparing for our lunch visit since dawn.

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Chapter 36

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Brad offered his arm as we approached the entrance. I looped my hand through automatically, trying my best to look like the perfect, obedient mate. The last thing I needed was to embarrass him.

The house manager materialized at the door. “Alpha Rayne, Mrs. Rayne. The Chairwoman has prepared lunch. We’ve selected lighter options for Mrs. Rayne given her condition and missed breakfast. If anything

doesn’t suit your needs, please let us know.”

“This is perfect, thank you,” I murmured.

I spotted Elizabeth watching us from across the massive foyer. My eyes immediately dropped in deference.

The dining room nearly gave me vertigo. There was a table long enough to seat the population of a small country. Thank god they’d arranged our places close together at one end.

I fumbled with the arsenal of silverware, feeling Elizabeth’s laser-focused gaze on my every move. Sure enough, she put down her knife and fork with a disapproving click.

“Elle,” she said sharply.

I dropped my fork like it had burned me. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Alpha Otto will be visiting this weekend. I want you to take the rest of the week off work. Stay home and work with the etiquette instructor I’m sending over. Your table manners are…” she paused, searching for a diplomatic word, “…lacking.”

My face burned hotter than the surface of the sun. Nothing like having your humble origins highlighted in

4K resolution.

Before I could stammer out an apology, Brad surprised me.

“Etiquette doesn’t happen overnight, Grandmother,” he said, his voice surprisingly gentle. “She’ll get there.”

I turned to him, shocked by the unexpected lifeline. Elizabeth’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched up as she studied her grandson with newfound interest.

The rest of lunch was like navigating a minefield while blindfolded. By the time we escaped, I felt like I’d

survived a earthquake.

In the car, Brad broke the suffocating silence. “She wasn’t attacking you personally, you know.”

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Chapter 36

I whipped my head toward him. “Huh?”

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“My grandmother. At lunch.” His voice had lost its usual edge. “She wasn’t judging your background. With focused training, you can learn enough basics to get though Otto’s visit without incident.”

Oh. That. I nodded, though my mind had already wandered to the question that had been haunting me.

I twisted my fingers nervously. “This Alpha Otto thing.. do you really need me there? I mean, wouldn’t it

be easier without me fumbling around?”

“Yes, you need to be there,” Brad confirmed.

I squared my shoulders, trying to look more confident than I felt. “I won’t let you down.”

The next few days were a crash course in high society etiquette. My instructor seemed impressed with how quickly I picked things up, though that didn’t stop my anxiety about screwing up.

One evening, I was alone in the study, practicing German phrases over and over. The house was quiet, and I

was completely absorbed in my task.

“Ich liebe dich,” I repeated carefully, trying to nail the pronunciation. “Guten Abend…”

I continued muttering to myself, flipping through my notes. “Wie geht es Ihnen? Es freut mich Sie

kennenzulernen…”

“How do you say ‘I love you’ in German?” can deep voice from behind me.

“Ich liebe dich!” I answered automatically, not looking up from my notes.

Then my brain registered the voice. I spun around so fast I nearly féll out of my chair.

Brad was leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching me with that maddening half-smile.

“Jesus Christ!” I yelped, heart hammering against my ris. “How long have you been standing there?”

My face flamed red as I realized what phrase he’d asked me to translate.

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After One Night with the Alpha