After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 181

Elle's POV

"Martha, thank you for taking care of me these past months."

She nodded, pressing her lips together to keep from crying.

I turned and walked through the gates. Behind me, I heard Martha's quiet sob, but I didn't look back.

Sophia was already waiting in the car, engine running. The moment I settled into the passenger seat, she pulled away from the werewolf residential district, heading toward the mixed zones in the city center.

Neither of us spoke during the drive.

---

The hotel room Sophia booked was modest but clean, with two beds and a small sitting area by the window. As we settled in, the weight of our shared circumstances became apparent.

"So," Sophia said, sitting heavily on one of the beds. "Here we are. Two heartbroken females who lost their Alphas to the same she-wolf."

I looked at her in surprise. "You and Lester—"

"Were never actually together," she finished bitterly. "But that doesn't make it hurt less, does it?"

I sank onto the other bed, my hand instinctively moving to my belly. "I'm sorry, Sophia. I should have realized you had feelings for him."

"Don't." She held up a hand, mirroring my earlier gesture to Martha. "This isn't your fault. Hell, I should be apologizing to you. I'm a Beta werewolf, and I was so messed up by my own drama."

"You did help," I protested. "And honestly, what could you have done? You couldn't go against everything just to help a human."

Sophia's laugh was hollow.

We sat in silence for a moment, both lost in our thoughts.

"What are we going to do now?" I asked, finally.

"I don't know. Maybe travel for a while. Clear my head." She looked at me. "What about you?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm going back to Moonshade Bay. I need to find out about my birth."

Sophia raised an eyebrow. "To your adoptive family?"

"When I called them yesterday, Susan was... evasive. Like she was hiding something important." I met her gaze.

"Will you come with me?" I asked impulsively. "I could use a friend, and you said you wanted to travel."

Sophia's smile was the first genuine one I'd seen from her since Moonvale. "You know what? Yes. Let's go find some answers."

---

The next morning, Sophia drove me to the Blair family estate in Silverpeak City. The familiar sight of the elegant home brought tears to my eyes—here, at least, I was wanted.

Martin Blair met us at the door, his face lighting up when he saw me. "Elle! Sweetheart, what a wonderful surprise."

But his expression quickly shifted to concern when he noticed my overnight bag and Sophia's presence behind me.

"Martin," I said, "We need to talk."

Martin and Stella ushered me into the living room while Sophia waited discreetly in the foyer. I told them everything—about the mate bond, the pregnancy, Victoria's ultimatum, and Brad's inability to stand against his family's united front.

When I finished, Martin was on his feet, pacing with barely controlled rage.

"Even if he's an Alpha werewolf, that doesn't give him the right to treat his mate this way!" he said, his voice rising. "Abandoning you and his child—"

"Martin," Stella said softly, but her own eyes were bright with tears. "Elle, honey, you know we'll support you, right? Whatever you need."

She reached over and took my hands. "We don't care if he's Alpha or not. The Blair family takes care of its own, and you're our daughter now. We'll raise this baby together if we have to."

"I want to go back to Moonshade Bay," I told them. "With Sophia. There are things about my background. I need answers."

Martin nodded slowly. "That makes sense. But I don't like the idea of you traveling without protection. The Rayne family should have people watching over you—it's basic Alpha responsibility."

"I told them not to," I said. "I want a clean break from werewolf society."

"Then we'll provide our own protection," Martin decided. "Harper will go with you, and I'll arrange for two of our security people to accompany you."

Stella squeezed my hands. "Whatever you find out there, remember that you have a home here. You and your baby."

---

At the airport, I wasn't surprised to see Abigail Carter at our gate. But I was surprised to see Raymond Carter beside her.

As a human who'd risen to such a prominent position, Raymond's presence anywhere was notable. Seeing him on a flight to Moonshade Bay was downright shocking.

"Good morning, Elle," Raymond said, approaching our small group.

Harper and Abigail exchanged greetings. Harper's eyes lingered on Raymond with a knowing look.

"I'm escorting Elle on family business," Harper said smoothly, her tone suggesting she knew exactly who Raymond was and what his presence might mean.

"What brings you here?" I asked Raymond directly. "Shouldn't you be staying to handle the projects with?"

Raymond smiled, but there was something tired about it. "Actually, Brad gave me notice yesterday that I can take a well-deserved break. He's taking over all the engineering projects himself—even the ones that require negotiating with other packs."

My heart clenched. I understood immediately what that meant.

Brad was burying himself in work. Taking on projects that would keep him busy, that would require him to travel. He was running away—from his family's pressure, from having to watch Mira settle into what should have been my place, from the guilt of not fighting harder for us.

"How thoughtful of him," I said, keeping my voice carefully neutral.

As we boarded the plane, I found myself thinking about Brad throwing himself into work that would take him away from Moonshade Bay. Away from his mother's matchmaking. Away from Mira's attempts to reclaim their relationship.

I settled into my seat, one hand resting on my belly where our child grew. The irony wasn't lost on me—we were both running back to where we'd started. Him to his world, me to the human community where I'd always belonged.

Maybe it was better this way. Maybe trying to bridge our two worlds had been foolish from the start.

The plane lifted off, carrying me away.

*Brad,* I thought, pressing my hand more firmly against my stomach. *you gave me this beautiful dream of being your mate, now you feel the pain of our bond breaking?*

The questions followed me into the clouds, unanswered and aching.