Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 185

Chapter 185

I realized my hasty movement had shifted my scarf, revealing the

bruised puncture marks on my neck from the silver toxicity test at the

hospital. My hand flew up to cover it, but it was too late.

“Nothing,” I said, quickly readjusting the fabric with trembling

fingers. “Mind your own fucking business.”

“That doesn’t look like nothing.” His voice had dropped dangerously

low, taking on that Alpha timbre that made my inner wolf want to

bare its throat. “Who did that to you?”

My skin prickled with unwanted awareness. I tightened my grip on

the steering wheel, focusing on the road with unnecessary intensity.

“It’s from the hospital,” I said, keeping my eyes fixed ahead. “They

tested my silver sensitivity levels. Standard procedure.” I could feel

his gaze burning into the side of my face.

“And?” The word hung in the air, demanding an answer.

“And I’m still highly reactive to silver. No surprise there.” I changed lanes aggressively, earning a horn blast from another driver. I flipped them off without thinking. “You know I get sick around silver. That’s

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Chapter 185

why I never attended your precious pack ceremonies. Not that you

ever bothered to invite me.”

Drake studied me with an intensity that made my skin crawl. I shifted

uncomfortably in my seat, hyper–aware of how close we were in the

confined space.

“I never taught you our pack’s traditional ceremonies, did I?” There

was something odd in his voice that I couldn’t quite place.

“Why would you?” I laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that filled the car.

“I’m just an assistant, not a core pack member. Just a convenient fuck

when you needed one.” The bitterness in my voice surprised even me.

“I don’t have the right to participate in those activities. We both know

that.”

“You’ve been wearing my mark for ten years,” he said quietly. “That

makes you part of the pack, whether you like it or not.”

We rode in tense silence until we reached Stone Enterprises. I pulled

up to the curb with a jerk, putting the car in park and staring straight

ahead, my hands still gripping the wheel as if it were a lifeline.

“Thank you for the bonus last month,” I said stiffly, though the words

tasted like ash in my mouth. “It helped with the hospital bills.”

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Chapter 185

“Don’t thank me. It was in our agreement.” Drake’s hand rested on the

door handle. “Your services, my payment.”

“Right. My services.” I couldn’t keep the venom from my voice, my throat tight with suppressed emotion. “Well, our agreement is over. I don’t need anything else from you. So kindly fuck off and stay out of

my life.”

Drake got out, slamming the door hard enough to make my entire car

shake. The violence of it made me flinch. Before walking away, he

tossed a small package through my open window. It landed in my lap,

and I stared at it like it might bite me.

“Silver toxicity salve,” he said, not looking back. “For your neck. This

trash heap you call a car wouldn’t be driven by even the most

ordinary pack member. Don’t expect extra compensation.”

I watched him stride into the building, his broad shoulders

disappearing through the revolving doors before I picked up the

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