After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Elle’s POV

Brad and I froze, our smiles dying instantly on our faces.

Who was this woman?

My mind blanked as I watched the beautiful stranger staggering toward our table, her perfectly made-up

face contorted with rage.

“Marissa,” he whispered, so low I barely caught it.

My heart hammered against my ribs. Marissa? The name meant nothing to me, but clearly she meant

something to Brad.

Alpha Otto and Luna Ada exchanged concerned glances before slowly rising from their seats.

“Alpha Rayne,” Otto said stiffly, “what is the meaning of this interruption?”

“Alpha Otto, Luna Ada, this is merely a misunderstanding-” Brad began, but the woman was already upon

Brad turned to face her, his voice dropping to a commanding growl. “We’ll discuss this later, Marissa.”

In a split-second decision, he turned to me. “Elle, please escort our guests downstairs while I handle this.”

“Of course,’ I said, attempting to maintain composure despite my racing heart. I turned to our guests with an apologetic smile. “I’m terribly sorry for this disruption. If you’d follow me, we can continue our discussion in a quieter setting.”

Before I could lead them away, the woman lunged forward, her hand connecting with my cheek in a vicious slap that echoed through the room. The force sent me aggering backward, pain exploding across my face.

What the hell?

“You bitch!” she screamed, grabbing my blouse collar and yanking me toward her. “How dare you pretend to be his mate! You’re just some random human he knocked up!”

My ears rang from the blow. I tasted blood where my teeth had cut into my cheek.

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As she raised her hand for a second slap, Brad moved with supernatural speed, catching her wrist in mid-

air.

“That’s enough, Marissa,” he snarled, his voice barely human.

I stood there, one hand cradling my stinging cheek, utterly bewildered. “Who is she?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “Brad, who is this woman?”

The room had fallen into stunned silence. Even the kitchen staff had frozen in place, watching the drama

unfold.

“Alpha Otto, Luna Ada,” Brad said with remarkable control, “please accept my deepest apologies for this disruption. Alex will escort you to the conference room while I resolve this matter.”

Luna Ada cast a sympathetic glance my way as they departed.

Once they were gone, Brad released Marissa’s wrist with a warning look.

“I asked you a question,” I said, my voice stronger now despite the throbbing pain in my cheek. “Who is

she?”

Marissa laughed bitterly. “He didn’t tell you about me? About us?” She turned to Brad. “I was gone for three months and you replace me? With a human?”

My blood ran cold. “What is she talking about?” I asked Brad, taking a step back. Was this woman Brad’s girlfriend? The thought made my stomach twist into knots. Had he been involved with someone else the

entire time?

“Elle- Brad started, but Marissa cut him off.

I’m Marissa Hopkins,” she said, her eyes never leaving my face. “Brad’s girlfriend for the past two years.” She looked me up and down with naked contempt. “Imagine my surprise when I get back and discover Brad Rayne, my boyfriend, has suddenly claimed a human mate.”

I felt like I’d been slapped again. “Girlfriend?” I whispered, looking at Brad. “You never mentioned a

girlfriend.”

“Because there isn’t one,” Brad said firmly. “Marissa and I ended our relationship months ago.”

“Liar!” Marissa spat.

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Chapter 41

The room spun around me. I gripped the edge of the table to steady myself.

“Marissa, Brad said, his voice tight. “Our relationship was over. You know it was.”

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She spat, “You needed an heir. I can’t give you one-we both know that.” She turned her fury back to me. “Did he tell you that part? That I have a genetic defect that makes me unable to have children? Is that why he picked you? Some fertile human to breed with while planning to come back to me?”

Each word struck like a physical blow. “I didn’t know,” I whispered. “I didn’t know anything about you.”

“Of course you didn’t,” Marissa laughed bitterly. “He wouldn’t tell his broodmare about his real mate,

he?”

would

“That’s enough,” Brad growled, his patience clearly wearing thin. “Marissa, we were over long before Elle and I made our arrangement. You’re making things up!”

“No, Brad,” I interrupted, finding my voice. “What is she talking about? You owe me an explanation!”

Marissa turned to me with a cruel laugh. “You poor, pathetic human. Did you actually think you meant something to him? That he chose you for any reason other than the pup in your belly?”

Brad’s eyes flashed dangerously. “Marissa-”

“Brad and I have been promised to each other since we were children,” she continued, ignoring his warning. “We’re both werewolves from prominent families. I’ve been by his side through everything. We understand each other in ways a human like you never could.”

Each word felt like another slap.

“That was a long time ago, Marissa,” he said evenly. “Things changed,”

“Nothing changed!” Marissa shouted, then turned back to me with venom in her voice. “Look at yourself. A human playing dress-up, pretending you could ever be real Luna. It’s laughable! Do you think the pack would ever accept you? That society would? You’re nothing but an incubator for his heir.”

I flinched at her words, each one cutting deeper than the last. The worst part was, she was voicing all the insecurities I’d been fighting since this arrangement began.

“You don’t belong in our world,” she continued mercilessly. “The moment that baby is born, he’ll come back to me. We’re meant to be together. We’re the same species, for god’s sake!”

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“That’s enough!” Brad roared, the sound inhuman in its intensity. The room temperature seemed to drop several degrees. “Elle is my fated mate, carrying my chil. You will respect that or leave my territory

immediately.”

Marissa stepped back, momentarily cowed by his Alpha command, but her eyes still burned with hatred when they met mine. “You may have trapped him with that baby, human, but you’ll never be one of us.

You’ll never be his true Luna.”

My legs trembled beneath me as the full weight of her words sank in. This woman knew Brad in ways I never would. They shared history, culture, even species. What was I compared to that?

“I need to go,” I whispered, my voice breaking. The tears I’d been fighting now streamed freely down my

face.

“Elle, wait-” Brad reached for me, but I jerked away from his touch.

I stumbled from the room, desperate to escape their stares.

I spotted a restroom sign and staggered toward it, barely making it inside before my legs gave out. I locked myself in the furthest stall and collapsed onto the closed toilet lid, my whole body heaving with sobs that I couldn’t control anymore. Gut-wrenching cries tore from my throat as I pressed my fist against my mouth, trying and failing to muffle the sounds of my complete breakdown.

“Oh god, oh god,” I gasped between sobs, rocking back and forth. My tears came so hard and fast I could

barely breathe.

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After One Night with the Alpha