After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Brad’s POV

60%

I maintained my composed expression until Raymond Carter left the conference room, but inside I was

seething.

Now I knew exactly who I needed to see. My grandmother had insisted on this partnership, and I needed to

understand why.

***

I stormed through the manor. Raymond Carter’s sudden interest in Rayne Group was suspicious enough,

but his fixation on Elle? That crossed line I didn’t even realize I’d drawn.

My grandmother’s human assistant stood outside her private study, clipboard clutched to her chest. As I approached, she stepped forward with a nervous smile.

“Alpha Rayne, you can’t go in right now. The Chairwoman is still handling important matters and-”

I didn’t slow my pace, simply walking around her. The scent of her anxiety spiked in the air as I brushed past. I felt my Alpha presence naturally intensify, a response to my agitation.

“Alpha Rayne, please! The Chairwoman specifically said ”

From inside the study, my grandmother’s authoritative oice cut through the assistant’s protests. “Let him

in!”

The assistant exhaled with relief, stepping aside and lowering her eyes as I passed. Smart move. I wasn’t in

the mood to deal with protocol.

I entered the study without waiting for further invitation and dropped into the chair across from my grandmother. She was exactly as I expected – perfectly omposed, pen in hand, papers neatly arranged before her. The embodiment of control.

“Grandmother, why are you insisting I agree to this collaboration with the Carter family?” I leaned forward, not bothering to hide my displeasure. “Rayne Group has other ways to achieve this goal. We don’t need

them.”

My grandmother set down her pen with deliberate slowness and removed her reading glasses. Her eyes, when they met mine, held that familiar amber glint of wolf. Even in her human form, her wolf was never

1/4

<

11:04 Tue, Dec 30 GDR

Chapter 61

far from the surface.

4完60%

“We control resources throughout Moonshade Bay,” I continued. “The Carters aren’t the only family

wanting to partner with us.”

“If I hadn’t warned you through our blood connection, you would have rejected their proposal outright,

wouldn’t you?” Her question was direct, her gaze unwavering.

I fell silent. She’d caught me there.

“Brad,” she leaned forward slightly, “tell me why you’re so opposed to working with the Carter family. Is it simply because you don’t like Raymond Carter? Or is there another reason?”

A growl rumbled deep in my throat before I could stop it. The question hit too close to my unexamined

feelings.

“Or,” she continued, her voice taking on a knowing edge “is it because of Elle West that you don’t want this

partnership?”

My wolf bristled beneath my skin. The fire that had been burning in my gut suddenly cooled as I realized my grandmother knew more than she was letting on. I pulled back my aggressive energy, waiting for her to

reveal her hand.

“Just over a month ago, you despised that human girl,” she reminded me. “You were adamantly against

claiming her.”

I remained silent, unwilling to confirm or deny anything.

“Brad, aren’t you curious why Dakota Blair and Elle West look identical?” Her voice was casual, but her eyes

were anything but.

I felt my body tense. “Grandmother, what else do you know that I don’t?”

Instead of answering directly, she smiled faintly. “She was a brilliant girl, you know. Dakota rarely appeared in social circles, but those few glimpses were enough to captivate powerful figures across various

industries.”

I chose silence again, waiting for her to continue, my fingers tapping impatiently on the armrest.

“Brad, do you know why I was so insistent that you form a contract with Elle?” She leaned back in her chair, studying me. “When I first saw Elle at the medical center, I was shocked. I thought my wolf eyes were

2/4

11:04 Tue, Dec 30 GD 0.

Chapter 61

playing tricks on me.”

I felt my pulse quicken. “What are you suggesting?”

“When I saw Elle’s face, I had my suspicions.”

I interrupted sharply, “Grandmother, that’s absurd. It’s possible! The Blair family only had one female

heir. There were no other daughters!”

“The Blair family did indeed have only one daughter,” conceded, “But they look so remarkably alike!

She folded her hands on the desk. “Consider the strate value, Brad. If Elle is somehow connected to the Blair family, by forming a contract with her, we’ve essentially tied the Rayne family to the Blair legacy,”

I felt my jaw clench at her calculating tone.

“The Blair family may be human, but they’re old nobility with centuries of lineage behind them,” she continued. “Their traditional marriage alliances with the Carter family make them valuable connections.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “And if she’s not related to them? Well, once the child is born, you can arrange whatever you want for her. As long as the bloodline con inues.”

The casual way she spoke of discarding Elle made something in my chest tighten uncomfortably.

“A human woman you never cared about,” she said pointedly. “Either outcome should be irrelevant to you,

shouldn’t it?”

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The truth was, it wasn’t irrelevant anymore, and I wasn’t ready to examine why.

“How can we determine if Elle has any connection to the Blair family?” I asked instead, keeping my voice

neutral.

“Let Raymond investigate,” she suggested. “Who in this world would care more about this than him? His possessiveness over Dakota was legendary.”

I felt my wolf stir at the thought of Raymond anywhere near Elle.

“Brad,” my grandmother’s voice softened with concern, you’ve never been this impulsive. Today you

seem…”

“It’s nothing,” I cut her off, looking down to hide whatever might be visible in my eyes. I noticed my claws

had left shallow marks in the armrest.

3/4

11:04 Tue, Dec 30 G

Chapter 61

My grandmother switched topics. “I heard you saw Marissa Hopkins again.”

I couldn’t suppress the low growl that escaped my throat at the mention of her name.

“We both know who she is. Just be careful.” Her tone was mild, but the warning was clear.

“I know. I won’t jeopardize the pack’s interests,” I assured her.

She nodded, apparently satisfied. “It’s lunchtime. Stay and eat.”

60%

During lunch, my thoughts kept drifting to Elle. Was she still at the office? What would she have for lunch?

I caught myself mid-thought. She wasn’t a pup. She could take care of herself.

Besides, my standing orders ensured the office was never short on food. Elle would be fine.

The realization that I’d set up those provisions specifically with her in mind gave me pause.

When had I started caring about such details?

Comments

5 8

Write Comments

<SHARE

4/4

11:04 Tue, Dec 30 G

R

After One Night with the Alpha