After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 141

Elle's POV

"You don't understand what we had," Mira continued, her voice breaking dramatically. "Six years ago, when I left, Brad searched for me everywhere."

"He promised Lester he would wait for me forever. He looked for me for two whole years until he finally gave up hope." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, smearing her makeup. "But when I finally came back, I found him with you."

I felt a stab of something—jealousy, maybe—but my rational mind kicked in.

"You know what, Elle?" Mira's voice dropped to a whisper. "Even now, he keeps the pocket watch I gave him in his office drawer. That watch was our love token, our promise to each other."

That one hurt. I couldn't deny the sharp pang of jealousy that shot through me. But I forced myself to stay calm.

"Mira," I said quietly, "what exactly do you want me to do about this?"

She looked up at me with those tear-filled eyes, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

"Please," she begged, grabbing my hands before I could pull away. "Let me have him back. What's between you two—it's just an accident, just biology. But what Brad and I have is real love."

I extracted my hands and took a step back. "Is that so?"

"I swear to you, Elle, I'll treat your child like my own. I'll raise that baby as if it came from my own body. I'll dedicate my entire life to Brad and your child."

The desperation in her voice was almost convincing. But something about this whole performance felt rehearsed, manipulative.

"I've prepared money for you," she rushed on. "Enough to ensure you'll never have to worry about anything after you leave the Rayne family. And if you ever need help in the future, I'll be there. I promise."

I stared at her for a long moment, watching her hopeful, calculating expression.

"Mira," I said calmly, taking another step back, "I'm not the kind of person who clings to something that doesn't want to be with me."

Her face lit up with hope.

"But," I continued, "I do have one condition. Get Brad to tell me himself—to my face—that he wants me to leave so you two can be together. If he does that, you won't have to spend a single cent."

The hope in her eyes flickered and died.

"Elle, you don't understand—"

"No, Mira. You don't understand." My voice grew firmer. "I won't be manipulated into making a decision that should be his to make."

Suddenly, Mira dropped to her knees in front of me, and I jumped back in shock.

"Please!" she sobbed, but there was something strange about her eyes now. They had an almost predatory gleam that didn't match her tears. "I'm begging you! I can't live without him!"

When I didn't respond, her tone shifted completely.

"Fine," she said, her voice turning cold even as tears continued to stream down her face. "If you push me to my death, you think you and Brad will be able to live happily ever after? Our families have been allies for generations. The Rayne family will never fully accept an outsider like you."

The threat was subtle but clear. I felt my own temper flare.

"Mira," I said, my voice ice-cold now, "you're asking the wrong person. If Brad loves you as much as you claim, then getting him to choose you over me should be easy, right?"

I turned toward the door. "I'm not going to beg or fight for someone who doesn't want to be with me. But I'm also not going to run away based on your word alone."

"Elle, wait—"

"Get Brad to tell me himself," I repeated without turning around. "That's my final answer."

I reached for the door handle, ready to escape this suffocating room and Mira's emotional manipulation.

The moment I opened the door, I saw Sophia waiting in the hallway. Her silver hair caught the light, and she was wearing a subtle scent of pine that reminded me of mountain forests. Something about her presence immediately made me feel calmer.

"Ready?" I asked with a small smile.

Sophia nodded, her perceptive eyes scanning my face. "Let's go."

We walked toward the elevator together, and I could feel some of the tension leaving my shoulders. Whatever game Mira was playing, I wasn't going to let her win by default.

When we reached the lobby, I was surprised to find Brad, Abigail Carter, and the others still waiting.

"I'm so sorry," I said quickly. "I didn't mean to keep everyone waiting."

Abigail smiled graciously. "Don't worry about it at all, dear."

But I noticed her expression shift slightly when she saw how close Sophia and I were standing. There was something in her eyes—not quite jealousy, but definitely some kind of competitive tension.

Sophia, with her werewolf instincts, picked up on it immediately. I caught her slight smirk as she processed what was happening.

Brad approached us with that warm smile that still made my heart skip. His amber eyes were gentle as they met mine.

"No rush at all," he said, his voice soft. "Everyone ready to head out?"

Just as we were moving toward the exit, Alex came rushing over with a phone in his hand.

"Sir," he said quietly, "it's your mother on the line."

I felt my stomach drop. Victoria Rayne—Brad's mother. In all this time, I'd never actually met her or even spoken to her directly. The fact that she was calling now felt ominous.

Brad took the phone, and I watched his expression grow darker with each passing second. The air around us seemed to grow thick with tension.

Then, from somewhere outside, someone screamed.

"Oh my God! There's someone on the roof! Someone's going to jump!"

My blood ran cold as I looked up through the glass doors. There, silhouetted against the orange evening sky, was a figure sitting on the edge of the building's roof.

Even from this distance, I could tell exactly who it was.

Mira.

*You must be fucking kidding me.*