After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 153

Brad's POV

Elle wasn't angry. Thank fuck.

Mira, on the other hand, looked like she was about to have a breakdown. She sat rigidly beside me, and I could practically feel the waves of confusion and fury radiating from her. Good. Maybe now she'd finally understand that whatever fantasy she'd been nursing about us getting back together was exactly that – a fantasy.

I'd agreed to this lunch with Mira purely to get my mother off my back, but I'd be damned if I was going to suffer through it alone.

The waiters began bringing out the food with practiced efficiency. Everything looked perfectly prepared and elegantly presented, but as usual, I made no move toward my plate. The familiar knot of distrust settled in my stomach at the thought of eating food prepared by unknown hands in an unfamiliar kitchen. It was an Alpha thing – a survival instinct I'd never been able to shake.

Elle was sitting directly across from me, and I found myself completely absorbed in watching her face as she surveyed the table. Sophia had already begun eating with obvious enjoyment, content to observe the drama unfolding around her. Mira was picking at her salad with barely concealed irritation, shooting glances between Elle and me like she was trying to solve an impossible equation.

The silence was growing uncomfortable when Elle reached into her purse.

"Brad," she said softly, pulling out a small container. "Stella packed some of her honey cakes for me this morning. I haven't had a chance to try them yet. Would you like one?"

"Mrs. Blair made those?" I asked, unable to keep the eagerness out of my voice.

Elle nodded, opening the container to reveal those familiar golden cakes. "She mentioned something about you having tried them before at some family gathering. Said you'd complimented her recipe."

If she'd made these cakes, they were good. More than good – they were probably incredible.

I reached for one immediately and took a bite.

I picked up another cake, holding it out toward her. "You should try one. Your godmother has exceptional talent."

Elle's cheeks flushed pink, and I became aware that the entire table had gone silent. Mira was staring at us with undisguised pain, while Sophia watched with obvious interest. But I only cared about Elle's reaction as she leaned forward to let me feed her the cake.

When her lips brushed against my fingers, every nerve ending in my body came alive.

"It's wonderful," she said softly, and the warmth in her voice made my chest tighten with emotion.

"Tell her I said they're perfect," I replied, my voice coming out rougher than I'd intended.

We fell into an easy rhythm after that. I alternated between eating Mrs. Blair's honey cakes and making sure Elle had enough food on her plate. Every time I placed a carefully selected bite in front of her, every time she smiled at me across the table, I felt Mira's glare intensifying. But I couldn't bring myself to care about Mira's feelings anymore.

This was exactly what I'd wanted her to see. If Mira couldn't accept that reality, it was her problem, not mine.

After we'd nearly finished the container of cakes and Elle had eaten a reasonable amount of her meal, Sophia cleared her throat.

"Well, this has been lovely," she said with a slight smile that told me she'd enjoyed watching this little drama play out, "but we should probably start thinking about that movie. The preview showing starts in about half an hour."

Perfect. The second phase of my plan was about to begin.

"Movie?" I asked, trying to sound casually curious.

"The new one," Sophia explained. "Elle and I had planned to catch the special matinee screening."

"Ah, yes." I let my smile turn predatory. "And where exactly is this showing?"

"The downtown cinema, near the main shopping district," Sophia replied, though I could see her studying my reaction with obvious curiosity.

Excellent. Everything was falling into place exactly as I'd hoped.

"Well then, you two should get going," I said with exaggerated reasonableness. "Wouldn't want you to miss the previews."

Elle raised an eyebrow at me, and I could see the suspicion forming in her expression. She knew me well enough by now to recognize when I was up to something.

"You're letting us go awfully easily," she said.

"I'm a very reasonable person," I replied with mock innocence, though I couldn't quite suppress the anticipation that was building in my chest.

The truth was, I had no intention of letting Elle go to that movie without me. I'd already had Alex purchase tickets for the same showing – seats right next to where Elle and Sophia would be sitting. Mira could come along if she wanted, but she was about to discover that even when she thought she was getting time alone with me, Elle would still be the center of my attention.

"Right," Elle said slowly, standing and gathering her purse. I could see her mind working, trying to figure out what I was planning. "Sophia, shall we head out?"

As they prepared to leave, I noticed Mira hadn't said a word during this entire exchange. She was staring at me like I'd completely lost my mind, probably trying to understand why I was so eager to let Elle leave when this was supposed to be our time together.

Elle and Sophia had just reached the door when Mira's composure finally cracked.

"Brad, why did you invite them to our—"

I held up a hand to stop her before she could finish that sentence. The last thing I needed was for Elle to hear Mira referring to this as "our" anything.

As soon as the door closed behind Elle and Sophia, I turned to face Mira with all the patience I could muster. It was time to make a few things crystal clear.

"I told you I would have lunch with you, Mira," I said calmly. "I never said it would be just the two of us."

"But I thought—"

"You thought wrong." I stood up, smoothing down my jacket. "The movie starts soon. If you want to come, you're welcome to join us. If not, you're free to leave."

Her face went white, then red with fury. "She's going too? That human girl is going to the same movie?"

"Yes," I said without a trace of remorse. "Elle will be there. In fact, her seat is right next to mine."

I paused at the door and looked back at her. She was trembling with rage, her hands clenched into fists at her sides.

"You have about five minutes to decide what you want to do, Mira," I said, checking my watch with deliberate casualness. "I won't wait."

Then I walked out, leaving her to make her choice.

I didn't need to look back to know she'd follow. Mira's pride wouldn't let her admit defeat this easily.