After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 9

**The Billionaire Who Claimed My Heart and Who Broke Fate for Me**

**Chapter 9**

**Elle’s POV**

The scratch of the werewolf doctor’s pen echoed in the sterile room as he meticulously reviewed my latest test results. Each stroke felt like a countdown, a reminder of my precarious situation.

“Ms. West’s condition has stabilized completely,” the doctor declared, his gaze firmly fixed on Brad as he handed the report over, completely ignoring my presence. “Both she and the pup are doing well. She can be discharged whenever you’re ready.”

I felt a surge of irritation bubble beneath my skin at being discussed as if I were invisible. The doctor hadn’t even spared me a glance throughout his entire assessment, speaking only to Brad, as if I were nothing more than a mere vessel for the precious Alpha heir growing inside me.

Brad’s amber eyes flicked over the report with a practiced calm, his expression betraying nothing. Without uttering a single word, he passed the papers to Elizabeth, who stood by the window, her gaze sharp and calculating, as if she were examining a rare specimen under a microscope.

“Good,” Elizabeth said, her voice crisp after scanning the report. “The pup’s development is right on schedule.” With a decisive snap, she folded the papers, the sound echoing ominously in the tense air. “Now we can focus on the next step. It’s time to arrange the marking ceremony.”

My heart raced at her words. “Marking ceremony?” I echoed, disbelief lacing my voice.

“The formal mate bonding,” Elizabeth explained, her tone suggesting that this was information I should have already grasped. “It needs to happen as soon as possible.”

The atmosphere in the room shifted, becoming stiflingly thin. I had been so preoccupied with my day-to-day survival in this hospital that I hadn’t even considered what would come next. Of course, they would want to formalize this arrangement. I wasn’t just carrying any child—I was carrying a potential Alpha heir.

Brad flicked open the silver lighter he always kept on him, its metallic gleam catching the light before he snapped it shut again. “The marking ceremony doesn’t need to happen so urgently, does it?” His voice was smooth and neutral, yet I could sense a subtle resistance simmering beneath the surface.

Elizabeth’s eyes narrowed, her demeanor growing more serious. “The Frostclaw Pack will be visiting Moonshade Bay soon.”

At the mention of that name, Brad’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, a flicker of tension crossing his features.

“As Alpha, you’re expected to attend the welcome ceremony,” Elizabeth continued, her voice leaving no room for debate. “With your formally marked mate.”

“I understand, Grandmother,” Brad replied finally, his amber eyes flashing momentarily with something wild and untamed, a glimpse of the internal struggle he must have been feeling.

Elizabeth nodded, satisfied with his compliance. “Good. I’ll make the necessary arrangements.”

“Wait,” I interjected suddenly, panic rising in my chest like a tidal wave. “This is happening now? Just like that? I don’t even know what a marking ceremony involves.”

Brad’s gaze locked onto mine, his Alpha presence filling the room with an intensity that made the air feel heavy. It was as if the very atmosphere had shifted, making it difficult for me to breathe. I felt small and vulnerable under his unwavering stare, my body instinctively recognizing his dominance even as my mind rebelled against it.

“It’s a simple ritual,” Elizabeth explained, her tone softening slightly. “Brad will mark you as his mate in front of witnesses from the pack. It establishes your position and protection.”

True to Elizabeth’s word, Alex Gray arrived promptly to drive me to my family’s apartment. His black sedan was sleek and expensive-looking, yet unmarked—nothing that would immediately identify it as belonging to the Rayne family. Still, in the human district, any vehicle this nice stood out like a sore thumb. I could feel the curious eyes of neighbors peering from behind curtains, watching us with a mixture of suspicion and intrigue as we pulled up.

Upon entering the apartment, Grace’s eyes narrowed suspiciously at the sight of Alex in his impeccable suit. She shifted her gaze between us, confusion evident on her face, her eyes lingering judgmentally on my hospital clothes.

“Elle,” she said sharply, “we weren’t expecting you. Who’s this?” Her tone was laced with that familiar edge of disapproval, her gaze flicking to Alex with naked suspicion.

“Alex Gray, ma’am,” he introduced himself politely, his demeanor respectful. “I’m here with Elle on some personal matters.”

Grace’s eyes lit up with assumption. “Oh? A boyfriend?” She scrutinized him with a calculating gaze, clearly trying to determine his status.

“No, he’s just a friend,” I interjected quickly, not wanting to delve into explanations with her just yet. “Is Mom here? I need to talk to her.”

Grace folded her arms across her chest, her expression hardening. “What’s this about? You disappear for weeks, no calls, then show up with some man we’ve never met? Your mother’s been worried sick.”

Sensing the tension in the room, Alex took a step back. “I’ll wait in the car, Elle,” he said, his tone calm yet firm. “Take your time, but remember we need to get back within the hour.”

Once he was gone, Grace’s expression darkened, her voice low and demanding. “What kind of trouble are you in now?” she pressed, her eyes narrowing. “Who is that man really? Why are you wearing hospital clothes?”

I sighed, feeling suddenly exhausted. The weight of everything—the pregnancy, the impending marking ceremony—crashed down on me like an avalanche, leaving me breathless and overwhelmed.