After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 14

**The Billionaire Who Claimed My Heart and Who Broke Fate for Me**
**Chapter 14**

**Elle’s POV**

The air in my modest bedroom was thick with tension, a palpable force that seemed to wrap around us like a heavy blanket. Brad stood before me, his gaze unwavering, that intense, possessive spark in his amber eyes lingering as he absorbed my words about Jason’s past significance.

“What do you mean by that?” he finally broke the silence, his voice deep and carefully measured, as if he were weighing each syllable.

I placed Jason’s graduation photo down on my bedside table, turning it slightly away from him, as if shielding it from his scrutiny. “I— I don’t know… I think Jason and I are over,” I managed to say, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.

“You think you’re over?” His eyebrow rose sharply, a clear indication that he had caught the ambiguity in my statement, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I perched on the edge of my bed, feeling the weight of the moment. “His mother called me after… after that night at the hotel. She told me that Jason had been chosen by a prestigious werewolf family for a unique position. She said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he simply couldn’t refuse.”

Brad’s jaw clenched tightly, a flicker of anger flashing across his features. “Go on,” he urged, his tone demanding yet curious.

“She made it abundantly clear that I was no longer part of his future. That I should gracefully step aside because I—” I swallowed hard, the memory still fresh and painful, “—because I couldn’t provide him with the life he deserved. A human from my community would only hinder his progress.”

Brad’s eyes bore into mine, his focus unwavering, as if he were trying to read the truth etched into my soul. “Did Jason himself ever tell you it was over?”

The question struck me like a physical blow, forcing me to look down at my trembling hands. “No,” I confessed quietly, the admission feeling like a weight on my chest. “He sent a few texts asking if I was okay, but I never replied. I just… assumed we were finished.”

“So technically, you never officially broke up.” His tone was flat, a statement rather than a question, and it sent a shiver down my spine.

I hadn’t considered it from that angle before. The realization constricted my chest, making it hard to breathe. “I guess not.”

Brad stepped closer, compelling me to meet his gaze. His expression was inscrutable, a mask hiding his true feelings. “Do you still love him?”

The bluntness of his question caught me off guard, and I felt my heart race at the implications. Did I still have feelings for Jason? I delved deep into my heart, searching for an honest answer. Memories of our two years together flooded my mind—the laughter we shared, the dreams we built, the comfort of having someone who truly understood me.

“I don’t know,” I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. “Maybe. We were together for two years. We had plans. It’s not easy to just… turn those feelings off.”

I noticed Brad’s nostrils flare slightly, and I wondered if he could sense the turmoil within me. He turned away, pacing the small confines of my room like a restless beast trapped in a cage.

“Tell me about him,” he said suddenly, his voice sharp and demanding. “This Jason. What does he do?”

“He works in city administration,” I replied, somewhat taken aback by his sudden interest. “In the human resources department of the mixed district council. We met at college.”

Brad nodded slowly, a contemplative look crossing his face. “I wasn’t aware you had a boyfriend when we first met,” he said, his tone tinged with something I couldn’t quite place.

The memory of our first encounter loomed between us, heavy and unspoken.

“So I essentially took another man’s woman,” he continued, the hardness in his voice unmistakable. “Without even knowing it.”

“It wasn’t like that,” I interjected quickly, though I wasn’t entirely sure why I felt the need to defend Jason. I had been waiting for him that night, after all. “I thought Jason was coming to meet me.”

Brad’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over his features. “That explains why you called me by his name.”

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