After One Night with the Alpha Chapter 81

Elle's POV

"I... I should probably..." Jason stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as he fumbled with his keys, trying to start the car with shaking fingers.

But Brad wasn't about to let him slink away that easily.

I felt Brad's arm around my waist loosen slightly, though he kept me close to his side, his body shifting to face Jason more directly.

"Oh, Mr. Miller!" Brad's voice rang out, smooth as silk but with an edge sharp enough to cut glass. "I didn't realize you were here too! How wonderful to see you again."

Jason's face went from pale to absolutely ashen. The woman beside him—Candy—was still staring at Brad with her mouth hanging open, completely oblivious to the dangerous undercurrents in the conversation.

Brad's smile was razor-sharp as he continued, "I really must thank you for your... what should I call it... Your decision to give up Elle has worked out so perfectly for everyone involved."

The words hit Jason like physical blows.

Jason looked like he was about to pass out, his companion finally picking up on the tension and shrinking back in her seat.

But then something shifted in Brad's expression. His gaze had caught on something at my collarbone, and I saw his amber eyes grow suddenly intense, focused with laser precision on my neck.

The two rings. I was wearing both rings on the silver chain, and they'd shifted during our embrace, now visible above the neckline of my blouse.

Brad's entire demeanor changed in an instant. If his previous attention had been an act for Jason's benefit, this was something else entirely. His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he stared at the rings resting against my skin.

*If what I just witnessed was performance,* I thought, watching his face transform, *then what's happening now is the real thing.*

His free hand moved almost unconsciously toward the rings, his fingers barely grazing the silver chain before he caught himself.

"Elle," he murmured, and my name on his lips sounded different somehow. Rougher. More intimate.

I found myself caught in his gaze, unable to look away.

*Jesus, the way he's looking at me...*

My heart hammered against my ribs.

His eyes moved to my lips, and I saw something predatory and distinctly possessive flash across his features. "You don't like him," he said, still in that intimate murmur. "I'll handle him. You don't like what he's saying, I'll make it stop. That's my job now."

The words sent a shock through my system. This wasn't the Brad I knew. This was something else entirely.

"Brad..." I managed to whisper, my voice coming out more breathless than I intended.

"So tell me," he said, his voice taking on that dangerously smooth tone again but now directed at me, "what exactly would you like me to do about Mr. Miller here? Have him relocated outside city limits? I am, after all, the Alpha. These things are well within my power."

"I..." I started, then stopped, not sure how to continue this insane performance. Because that's what this still was, right? An act?

*But Brad seems more into this role than I've ever seen him.*

I glanced over at Jason, who looked like he was seriously considering just abandoning his car and running. Then I looked at his girlfriend, who was staring at Brad with naked want despite the terrifying conversation happening right in front of her.

Something petty and vindictive rose up in my chest.

"What if I said," I heard myself say, surprising myself with my boldness, "that I really don't like looking at his car? What if I said I wanted to... smash it?"

Brad's face lit up with genuine delight, his smile turning absolutely wicked. "You want me to wreck his car?"

Brad's laughter was rich and warm, and for the first time since I'd known him, it reached his eyes. "Alex," he called out without taking his gaze off me.

I hadn't even noticed Alex approaching, but suddenly he was there, along with another man I didn't recognize.

"Yes, Alpha?" Alex responded immediately.

Brad didn't say another word. He simply raised his left hand and made a subtle gesture toward Jason's car.

What happened next was like something out of a movie. Alex strode over to Jason's driver side door and yanked it open, hauling Jason out. The other man produced what looked like a tire iron from somewhere and, without any ceremony whatsoever, began systematically destroying the front end of Jason's sedan.

The sound of metal crumpling and glass shattering filled the air. Jason's girlfriend screamed and scrambled out of the passenger side, running several feet away before turning back to stare in horror.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open, watching two men completely demolish the car, all because I'd made a sarcastic comment about not liking the color.

*Holy shit. He actually did it. Brad actually had them destroy Jason's car because I said I didn't like it.*

"There," Brad said, sounding immensely satisfied as he watched his men work. "Much better. This is exactly the kind of respect I expect people to show my mate."

*Mate.* The word hit me like a physical blow. He'd said it so casually, but something about the way it rolled off his tongue made my stomach flip.

"I think," he continued, his arm tightening around my waist, "you've earned yourself a reward. I want you to cook dinner for me tonight."

Before I could respond, Alex appeared at Brad's elbow. "The car is ready, Mrs. Rayne," he said to me, and I nearly choked on air.

"Excellent," Brad said, guiding me toward the sleek black car. "Let's go home."

As we walked away, I could hear the crowd that had gathered beginning to murmur and whisper. The realization of what they'd just witnessed—who they'd just seen—was starting to sink in.

"Holy shit, was that really...?"

"Alpha Brad just destroyed someone's car on the street..."

"Did you see how he looked at her?"

I glanced back once to see Jason standing next to the ruins of his car, looking shell-shocked, while his girlfriend continued to stare after Brad with obvious longing.

*Serves them both right.*

In the car, I found myself stealing glances at Brad, who was leaning back against the leather seat with what could only be described as smug satisfaction written all over his face.

"Thank you," I said quietly. "For... all of that. I didn't know how I was going to get away from him."

Brad's smile was lazy and self-satisfied. "It was nothing. Just a little performance."

But his eyes kept drifting to the rings at my throat, and each time they did, his expression softened into something I couldn't quite identify.

"I can cook," I assured him, suddenly nervous about living up to expectations. "I mean, it won't be as good as what you're used to with the chefs, but—"

"Elle," he interrupted, and there was something almost gentle in his voice. "I'm looking forward to it."