After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 11

Elle's POV

Grace jabbed a finger at me. "You stupid, foolish girl! Do you think we're idiots? Brad Rayne wouldn't look twice at someone from our district, let alone mate with them! If you're really pregnant, it's probably by some lowlife who's convinced you he has connections!"

"Mom," I turned to Susan again, desperate for someone to believe me. "Please. I need to go. They're expecting me back."

Susan's face was creased with worry. "Elle, I can't let you leave like this. What if they're dangerous? What if they're using you somehow? There are people who would do anything to get close to a powerful family like the Raynes. Maybe they're using you as some kind of pawn."

This wasn't going how I'd planned at all. I'd expected shock, maybe even anger, but not this complete denial of reality.

"The car outside," I tried one last time. "It's from the Rayne family. Alex is Brad's personal assistant. He can confirm everything I'm saying."

"A nice car proves nothing," Grace spat. "Except that they have money to trick naive girls like you. For all we know, he could be part of some elaborate scheme."

"Elle," Megan said with mock sweetness, "if you're really carrying Brad Rayne's baby and about to become his mate, why don't you call him right now? Have him come pick you up in person. I'm sure an Alpha would do that for his 'true mate,' right?"

The room felt like it was closing in on me. No matter what I said, they weren't going to believe me. I moved toward the door, but Grace stepped firmly in my way.

"You're not going anywhere with that man outside," she declared. "Susan, call the police. Tell them we have a situation with potential traffickers."

"No!" I shouted, panic rising. "Don't do that! You'll just cause problems!"

Our voices had risen considerably, the argument escalating to a full-blown shouting match. Grace had my arm in a vice-like grip, Mom was crying, and Megan was watching the whole scene with cruel amusement.

Suddenly, there was a sharp knock at the door, cutting through the chaos. Without waiting for an answer, the door opened, and Alex stepped in, his expression calm but alert.

"Is everything alright in here? I heard shouting." His eyes quickly assessed the situation—Grace holding my arm, my mother's tears, my own desperate expression.

I felt a rush of relief so profound I nearly collapsed. "Alex," I said, his name coming out like a prayer. "Please help me explain. They don't believe me about Brad and the baby."

Grace turned her fierce glare on him. "And who exactly are you? Another part of this scheme?"

Alex straightened, his demeanor shifting to something more formal and authoritative. "My name is Alex Gray, personal assistant to Alpha Bradford Rayne. I can assure you that everything Elle has told you is true. She is carrying the Alpha's heir and will be formally marked as his mate soon."

Instead of being impressed, Grace let out a derisive snort. "Personal assistant? You mean you're the dog that fetches for the wolves? How much are they paying you to be part of this scam?"

Alex's professional expression didn't waver, though I saw a flicker of annoyance in his eyes.

Megan joined in, looking Alex up and down with contempt. "Look at him, dressed all fancy, thinking he's important because he runs errands for werewolves. Pathetic. I bet they make you wear a collar when no one's looking."

"You can dress up this whole story however you want," Grace continued, "but we're not buying it. Brad Rayne with our Elle? Please. Next you'll tell us she's being crowned queen of the moon."

Alex reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. "Would you like me to call Alpha Rayne directly? I'm sure he would be... interested... to hear that his mate is being prevented from returning to his care."

Grace laughed harshly. "Go ahead! Call whoever you want. Call the president for all I care! This whole thing is ridiculous."

"Elle isn't going anywhere with you," Susan said, her voice firmer than I'd ever heard it when speaking to a stranger. Her maternal protection had overridden her usual timidity. "I don't know what you're really up to, but my daughter stays here."

Alex dialed a number on his phone, his eyes never leaving Grace's. As he waited for an answer, the tension in the room was suffocating.

"Sir," he said into the phone, his voice perfectly composed, "we have a situation at the West residence. Elle's family is... reluctant... to let her return." He paused, listening. "Yes, sir. I understand."

He handed the phone to me. "He wants to speak with you."

I took the phone with trembling fingers, aware that everyone was watching me intently. Brad's voice came through, deep and commanding even through the small speaker.

"Elle? What's happening?" His tone was clipped, impatient.

"They don't believe me," I said quietly. "About us. About the baby. They think it's all some kind of scam."

There was a pause, then a low growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "Put me on speaker."

I pressed the speaker button, holding the phone out so everyone could hear.

"This is Brad Rayne," his voice filled the small room, carrying that unmistakable Alpha authority. "Elle West is carrying my heir and will be my marked mate. Alex is to bring her back immediately. Any interference will be considered a direct challenge to my authority as Alpha of Moonshade Bay."

The room fell silent. Even Megan's mocking smile faltered slightly.

"How do we know this isn't just some actor? Anyone can claim to be Brad Rayne on the phone."

"Mrs. West, I don't have time for this. My mate will return now, or I will come collect her myself. Trust me when I say you do not want that."

The cold menace in his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I knew he meant every word.

But Grace, ever stubborn, wasn't giving up. "If you're really Brad Rayne," she said with defiant incredulity, "then come here yourself! Let's see the big powerful Alpha in person!"

There was a moment of deadly silence on the line, followed by a growl so deep it made the phone's speaker crackle. Without another word, the call ended abruptly.

"Well, that settles it," Grace said triumphantly. "Your so-called Alpha couldn't even be bothered to show up. Some mate he is!"