After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Elle’s POV

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I left the room with Sophia, fighting to keep my expression neutral despite the emotional storm raging inside me. My heart felt like it had been put through a blender, but I refused to let it show. Another day,

another drama with the Alpha wolf-I was getting tired of this emotional rollercoaster.

‘I’m really sorry about all this,” I said to Sophia as we walked toward her car. “I actually wanted us to have

a nice chat, but then… well, you know what happened.

Sophia shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve seen enough things like this. This is practically Tuesday

for me.”

Her casual response made me smile despite myself. There was something refreshing about Sophia’s

straightforwardness.

“Why don’t we head over to the Bay Gardens? We could walk around, clear our heads. My temporary place

is nearby-we could grab a drink afterward if you’d like. she said suddenly, glancing up at the nearly full

orb hanging in the sky.

I hesitated, surprised by the invitation.

Sophia must have sensed my hesitation. “Look, Elle, you can relax around me.”

Her words hit me right in the chest. After everything that had happened with Marissa and Brad, what

Sophia had said made my eyes water.

“I’d like that, I managed, my voice a little thick with emotion. “Thanks, Sophia.”

She grinned and led me to her car—a sleek silver two-seater sports car with the back seat completely filled

with what looked like handcrafted items from the northern wolf territories. The intricate designs of wood,

leather, and silver caught my eye.

“Family gifts,” she explained, following my gaze. “My pack always sends me away with reminders of home.”

As we drove through Moonshade Bay, I noticed how smoothly Sophia handled the car, far gentler than

most werewolves drove. Perhaps she was being considerate because I was human-and pregnant.

“You’re awfully quiet,” she observed as we made our way toward the gardens. “Thinking about him?”

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Chapter 74

“Trying not to,” I admitted.

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The Bay Gardens were stunning at night. The special moon-blooming flowers were in full display, their silver-blue petals glowing faintly in the moonlight. The scent of night-fragrant wood filled the air, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget about Brad, Marissa, and all the werewolf drama.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Sophia said, running her fingers along the silvery moonlight grass. “So, are you really

over him?”

“What does it matter if I am or not?” I replied with a calmness that surprised even me. “It’s not like this is the first time somebody has betrayed me. I can handle.”

“Since when did you close your heart?” she asked.

I touched a particularly beautiful moonlight lily. “Since Marissa said what she said. I’ve been fooling

myself, but no more. I’m done with this ridiculous game.”

Sophia raised an eyebrow. “So you’re just going to hand Brad over to Marissa? Even though you’re carrying

his mixed-blood child?”

I smiled, feeling strangely at peace with my decision. “That’s not the point. Brad has his own mind. If he

wants Marissa in his heart, there is nothing I can do. And if he doesn’t have feelings for her anymore, what

difference would handing Brad over make?”

I hugged a bundle of silver-blue moonlight lilies to my chest, deliberately changing the subject. “I like

these.”

Sophia sighed. “You make such a good point.”

She walked beside me in silence for a moment before speaking again. “Still, Alphas can be terrifying, Elle.

Are you sure about your decision? Having the baby and then just leaving?”

“What else is there?” I replied with a casual laugh that didn’t quite reach my heart. “This mate bond thing

means nothing to me anyway.”

We moved on to lighter topics after that, picking out our favorite night-blooming flowers as we made our

way to Sophia’s temporary place in the werewolf district of Moonshade Bay.

Her apartment was sleek and modern, about a thousand square feet with floor-to-ceiling windows

overlooking the city.

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“I rarely stay here,” she explained, grabbing two glasses from a minimalist kitchen. “I spend most of my time at the Frostclaw territory. This place is for when I feeling restless and my wolf is hard to control. I drag a chair right here-” she pointed to a spot by the window “-and I look out at half of Moonshade Bay below. I enjoy the view, and somehow my wolf calms down.”

She handed me a glass of water. “Try it. It might help with controlling that little wolf cub inside you.”

Curious, I sat in the chair she’d indicated. My view perfectly captured the boundary between the werewolf

district and the mixed zone. I could see the subtle differences-the higher-end shops gradually giving way

to more modest establishments, the sleeker cars becoming more ordinary models.

Yet there was something oddly peaceful about watching the two species coexisting, even with their clear

boundaries.

Sophia’s phone suddenly rang, startling me. She glanced at the screen and answered it casually. But I

noticed how her body stiffened slightly, her wolf senses clearly on alert as her eyes flicked toward me.

“How did you know she was with me?” she asked whoever was on the other end.

I looked over, curious. Sophia put her hand over the phone.

“It’s Raymond Carter. He’s called to invite us to dinner. Says he has something to tell you…” She paused

meaningfully. “If I’m not mistaken, it has something to do with Dakota!”

I froze, caught completely off guard by this development.

“Do you want to meet him?” Sophia asked me directly. “If you don’t, I can decline.”

I hesitated only briefly. “Actually, I’m curious. Aren’t you?”

Sophia smiled. “About a human who looks exactly like you? I think any werewolf or human would be

curious about that.”

Sophia called Raymond back. She confirmed our meeting location at a restaurant. After hanging up, she

turned to me.

“We’re all set. Ready to go when you are.”

We rested for a bit in Sophia’s apartment before heading out again.

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The restaurant was tastefully decorated with warm lighting. When we arrived, Raymond Carter was already there, seated at a corner table that offered privacy.

“Sorry we’re late,” Sophia said as we approached, though her werewolf aura made it clear she didn’t actually

feel apologetic.

Raymond stood immediately, his smile polite. “Not at all. I just arrived myself.”

He pulled out chairs for both of us-an old-fashioned gesture that seemed genuine coming from him. Once

we were seated, he looked at us both, his expression turning serious.

“I appreciate you both meeting me on such short notice. Besides wanting to treat you to dinner, I have a

favor to ask.” His eyes settled on me.

I exchanged a quick glance with Sophia.

Here it comes.

After we placed our orders, I decided to cut straight to the point. “Mr. Carter, whatever you need to say,

please just say it.”

Raymond’s expression shifted to one of resignation, as if he’d expected my directness. “Perhaps you’ve already guessed why I wanted to meet. The truth is, I needed to ask you, Ms. West-do you really not know

Dakota Blair?”

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After One Night with the Alpha