Chapter 178
Elle’s POV
I stood there in the hallway, watching Mira’s noms mapped around Brady waist, and felt something inside me shatter,
Just last night, Frad had danced for me. He’d made love to me with such tenderness, such passion. He’d told me he loved me. And now here he
“Elle, Abigail whispered beside me, her voice tight with contem. “We should go.
But I couldn’t move. I couldnt stop staring at the way Mira fit against him, how natural it looked. They were both werewolves. They understood each other’s world in ways I never could. Maybe that would always matter more than whatever Brad felt for me.
The v
worst part was that I couldn’t even feel angry. Not really. Just… empty. Like I’d been fooling myself this entire time.
Elle? Abigail hand touched my arm gently
I blinked, forcing myself to focus. “We should get back,” I said quietly
As we walked back toward the main hall, I tried to push down the nausea rising in my throat.
When we returned to our table, Sophia was already seated, looking as miserable as I felt. Her eyes met mine, and I saw the same hollow recognition there. We’d both watched the Alphas we cared about choose Mira in some way tonight.
“You look pale,” Sophia murmured as I sat down. “Are you alright?”
“Tust tired,” I lied, reaching for my water glass with hands that weren’t quite steady.
A few minutes later, Brad returned to the table. I felt him before I saw him – that familiar presence that usually brought me comfort now just made my chest ache. He slid into his seat beside me, and I caught his scent mixed with something else. Something that smelled like Mira.
“Elle,” he said softly, and I could hear the concern in his voice. “You seem upset. What’s wrong?
His hand moved toward mine on the table, and I jerked back like he’d burned me. The image of accepting Mira’s embrace flashed through my mind, and
I felt sick
“I’m fine,” I said, not looking at him. “Just tired.
“Are you sure? You look-
“I said I’m fine.” The words came out sharper than I intended, and I saw him flinch slightly.
Brad’s jaw tightened, and I caught the flash of confusion and frustration in his eyes, He probably thought I was being unreasonable. Maybe I was. But I couldnt get the image out of my head.
“We should head back tomorrow, shouldn’t we? I asked, still not meeting his eyes. Back to Moonshade Bay!”
“Yes,” Brad replied carefully. “We need to be back for several meetings next week.”
I nodded, then turned to Sophia. “You mentioned you’re taking your leave tomorrow, right?”
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Chapter 178
Sophia looked up from ber untouched dinner, surprised. “I… yes. I was planning to take somr
“Maybe we could take a trip together? I said, forcing a smile that felt like benken glass.
Sophia’s eyes sharpened with understanding. She glanced briefly at Mira, who was speaking animatedly with Lester a few seats away, practically glowing with
That sounds wonderful,” Sophia said quickly. ‘I’d love the company. We could visit the coast, maybe head up to the mountains…”
“Elle. Brad’s voice had an edge to it now. “You’re pregnant. You shouldn’t be traveling all over the place.”
The
doctor said s
light travel was fine,” I replied, still not looking at him. In fact, he encouraged walking and moderate activity.”
I couldn’t keep the hitter note out of my voice, Brad’s eyes narrowed.
Before he could answer, Mira’s voice cut through the tension. “Oh, that sounds like a perfect plan!
1 turned to see her approaching our table, her face bright with what looked like genuine enthusiasm. My stomach clenched.
“A girls trip is exactly what you need, Elle, Mira continued, placing a hand on the back of Brad’s chair in a gesture that looked casual but felt territorial.
And it works out perfectly, because I was hoping to spend some time helping Brad catch up on pack business after being away for the weekend.”
Her smile was sweet as honey, but I caught the calculating gleam in her eyes.
“Mira,” Brad warned, his voire low.
But she was already pressing on. “Besides, Victoria will be arriving in Moon Lake City soon. She’ll need someone to help her settle in, and since Elle is pregnant and shouldn’t be overexerting herself… She shrugged delicately. Td be happy to take care of everything Victoria and I have always gotten along
10 well.”
The words hit like physical blows. Brad’s mother, who Ed never met, who probably hoped her son would end up with someone like Mira instead of a random
man girl who’d gotten accidentally pregnant.
I felt Brad’s gaze on me, but I kept my expression carefully blank. “That’s very thoughtful of you,”
said. “Im sure Brad appreciates the offer.”
“Elle” Brad started.
“It makes sense,” I interrupted. “You Il ni
everything.”
I need all the help you can get, especially with your mother coming. And I could use some time away to process
Just then, Alex appeared at Brad’s elbow with his phone. “Sorry to interrupt, sa, but it’s your mother.”
Brad’s expression tightened as he answered. “Mom? I thought your flight wasn’t until next week… What? You want Mira and me to pick you up together? Mom, we have plenty of staff who can… I understand that you want Mira specifically, but… No, I get it. She understands your needs better.“–
Each word felt like another nail in my coffin. I watched Brad’s face as he spoke, saw the resignation there. The acceptance of his mother’s wishes.
“Alright, Mom, Well be there… No, Elle will stay at home. She needs to rest… I understand. We’ll take care of everything
When he hung up, the silence stretched between us like a chasm.
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16:14 Mon, Dec 22 TJ
Chapter 178
“My mother’s flight landed early,” he said finally, nol site meeting my eyes. “I need to go pick her up. With Mira.
The words hung in the air between us. Not I want to or “I have to because of circumstances, fest the simple statement that he was going to pick up his mother with his ex girlfriend while leaving his pregnant mate at home.
“Of course,” I said, my voice steady despite the way my heart was breaking. That makes perfect sense.”
And it did, in a horrible way. Victoria Rayne wanted Mira there, not me. She probably saw Mira as the mate shed always hoped for, and me as the human
complication who trapped her son with an accidental pregnancy.
The mate bond might make Biad feel protective of me, might even make him think he loved me. But watching him now, seeing how easily he slipped back
into patterns with Mira when his mother demanded it…
As I sat there watching them plan their trip to collect his mother, I felt something cold settle in my chest. Victoria Rayne was coming to Moon Lake City, and I had a sinking feeling that her early arrival wasn’t a coincidence.
al with me.
She was coming to deal
And I was starting to think she might succeed.
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The insecurity of her is getting annoying. And the fact that he accepts that backward behavior from women as well. Is he a tough Alpha or not? The story drags on too long w… More
7 days ago
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
