After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 72

Elle's POV

I stepped into the meeting room, expecting tension between Brad and Raymond, which was why I'd hurried over. What I didn't expect was Raymond Carter smiling at a contract that so obviously screwed over his family's interests.

The 80-20 split favoring Rayne Group was highway robbery compared to the original 60-40 proposal. Yet there Raymond sat, casually leaning back in his chair, looking completely unfazed. Something felt off. Why would he represent the Carter family only to let Brad completely steamroll them? Was he even truly representing their interests?

Before I could fully register what was happening, he stood and crossed the room toward me with purposeful strides.

"You're right on time," he said, his voice low and intimate as he reached me.

I froze when his fingers gently brushed against my temple, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. His body subtly positioned itself between Raymond and me, as if shielding me from the other man's view.

My heart skipped a beat. What the hell was he doing?

"I just finalized the terms with Mr. Carter," Brad continued, his hand lingering near my face longer than necessary, his touch leaving warmth in its wake. I swear I could feel him deliberately breathing against my hair, leaving his scent on me.

"He's been very... accommodating," Brad added, shooting a meaningful glance at Raymond over his shoulder.

I tried to step back, uncomfortable with his sudden attention. "That's... good?"

Raymond cleared his throat loudly. "Perhaps we should continue our discussion, Mr. Rayne."

Brad's amber eyes locked with mine for a moment before he turned.

As we moved to the conference table, I kept my distance from Brad.

"Raymond," I began, trying to redirect the conversation to business, "about these contract terms—"

"Elle," Brad cut me off, his voice carrying a warning. "Mr. Carter and I have already agreed on everything."

Raymond smiled at me, his eyes carrying that same strange recognition they always did when he looked at me. "It's quite alright, Elle. The terms are acceptable to me."

Brad's jaw tightened visibly. I noticed his eyes darken as they flickered between Raymond and me. He seemed irritated by Raymond's use of my first name, by the way Raymond's gaze lingered on my face.

"I assume you're still planning to stay in Moonshade Bay for a while?" I asked Raymond, trying to keep things professional.

Before Raymond could answer, Brad reached over and absently played with a strand of my hair. The gesture seemed casual, but there was nothing casual about the way his fingers deliberately brushed against my neck.

"Actually," Raymond said, seeming amused by Brad's territorial display, "I just purchased a property on the outskirts of town. A beautiful place with gardens that should be blooming soon." He paused, looking directly at me. "Perhaps you'd like to see it sometime? The mountain flowers are particularly stunning this time of year."

My breath caught. Brad's hand on my neck froze, his fingers tightening almost imperceptibly.

I glanced uncertainly at Brad, not sure how to respond. Something told me accepting Raymond's invitation without Brad's approval would be a very bad idea.

Raymond seemed to sense the tension. "Of course, I'd send invitations to both of you," he added smoothly. "It would be my pleasure."

Brad's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How thoughtful. We'll look forward to it."

The meeting wrapped up quickly after that, with Alex escorting Raymond out. As soon as the door closed behind them, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding and turned to leave as well.

I didn't make it two steps before Brad's hand shot out, catching my wrist in a grip that was firm but careful—as if he was consciously restraining his strength.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, pulling me closer until we were nearly chest to chest.

My heart hammered as I looked up at him. "Back to work? The meeting's over."

"No," Brad said, his mouth curving into a dangerously seductive smile as he looked down at me. "I think my mate needs to understand a few things first."

I tried to pull away, suddenly feeling like prey. "Brad, what are you—"

In one fluid motion, he scooped me up into his arms. I gasped, my hands instinctively grabbing his shoulders for support.

"Put me down!" I hissed, mortified as he carried me toward the door.

He ignored me completely, kicking the door open and striding out into the hallway where Alex and several other assistants were working. Their heads snapped up in surprise, but they quickly averted their eyes, clearly recognizing an Alpha with his mate.

Brad carried me like I weighed nothing, marching straight to a private room and kicking that door closed behind us too. Without ceremony, he tossed me onto the leather couch against the wall. I bounced slightly on impact, scrambling to sit up as he loomed over me.

"What the hell are you doing?" I demanded, my face burning with anger and embarrassment.

He was on me in an instant, one knee on the couch beside me, his powerful frame caging me in. His hand shot out to grip my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You are my woman," he growled, his voice dropping to a dangerous octave. "Rest assured, Elle, you'll never belong to Raymond Carter or any other man. Do you understand?"

I tried to push against his chest, my fists connecting with solid muscle that didn't budge an inch. "Get off me! You're being ridiculous!"

His eyes were cold as he watched my futile struggles, but there was something else there too—a dissatisfaction, a strange unhappiness behind his dominance.

My anger and frustration finally spilled over into tears. "What is wrong with you?" I demanded, a single tear escaping down my cheek.

Something changed in his expression then. The hardness in his eyes softened, and he released my chin, his thumb gently wiping away the tear.

"Shh," he murmured, his touch suddenly gentle. "Don't cry."

I angrily wiped at my own eyes. "I don't understand you anymore. You've been... different. One minute you're cold, the next you're... this!" I gestured at our current position.

Brad's expression shifted.

His hand moved to cradle my face, thumb brushing softly across my bottom lip with surprising tenderness, as though I were something precious he feared breaking.

The sensation of his touch sent unexpected warmth through me. I remained still, confused by this sudden change, still trapped beneath him but no longer fighting to escape.

"Elle," he said my name softly, his voice completely transformed—gentle and intimate in a way that made my heart skip. His eyes roamed my face with growing intensity, a heat building in his gaze that made it impossible to look away.

Against my better judgment, I felt my anger melting away. The tears stopped, replaced by a strange, breathless anticipation that I couldn't explain.

Brad's expression grew more intense, more focused, as if he'd made some important decision. He took a deep breath, like he was preparing to say something significant.

"Elle, I..." he began, his voice dropping lower, more serious.