After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 15

15 /30

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

**Chapter 15**

**Elle’s POV**

Three long days had slipped by since that pivotal conversation with Brad, and now the moment had arrived—the day of the marking ceremony. Today, I would officially be known as Brad Rayne’s mate.

Sitting alone in the opulent dressing room of Moonshade Bay’s most magnificent church, I felt an overwhelming sense of isolation. This grand space, typically filled with laughter and joy during werewolf ceremonies, now echoed with silence, devoid of the usual bridesmaids bustling about, my mother adjusting my dress, or friends sharing in the excitement of the moment.

I took a deep breath, my heart fluttering as I gazed into the ornate mirror before me. The woman staring back felt like a stranger, almost unrecognizable. My hair had been intricately styled into an elaborate updo, sparkling diamond pins glimmering with every slight movement, catching the light in a dazzling display. My makeup was flawless—smoky eyes that drew attention, contoured cheeks that added definition, and my lips painted a soft, inviting rose. The wedding dress draped around me was a breathtaking creation of delicate lace and silk, hugging my curves in a way that felt both beautiful and suffocating.

Around my neck hung a diamond and sapphire necklace, a piece so extravagant it likely cost more than I could ever hope to earn in ten lifetimes. Matching earrings dangled from my ears, their weight a constant reminder of the life I was about to embrace.

Yet, beneath this veil of opulence, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was losing myself. In just a few short hours, I would be transformed into Mrs. Bradford Rayne, leaving behind my old life as if it had never existed.

Panic surged through me, my heart racing as an unsettling sense of dread settled in my chest. Something was off—every instinct within me screamed to escape, to flee from this gilded cage.

Brad’s question from days prior echoed in my mind like a haunting melody: “Do you still love him?”

The realization crashed over me like a wave—no, I did not love Brad. How could I? Our connection was tenuous at best. This arrangement, this pregnancy, this so-called mate bond he insisted upon—none of it was rooted in love. The thought of committing to a life with him filled me with despair. I would be trapped in a gilded prison, miserable for the rest of my days if I went through with this.

But Jason… oh, Jason. We had a history, a tapestry woven from two years of shared memories, inside jokes, and dreams of a future together. We had loved each other deeply once, and perhaps, just perhaps, that love still lingered beneath the surface.

I needed to find him. I needed to talk to him, to lay bare my heart and explain everything. Would he still want me, knowing I was carrying another man’s child? Would he accept me if I was no longer pure? If I was willing to abandon everything and run away with him, would he take me back?

Hope ignited within me—a desperate, flickering flame. Yes, that was it. I had to find Jason before it was too late.

Without a second thought, I sprang from the vanity chair, leaving behind the wedding heels that would only hinder my escape. My heart raced as I sprinted barefoot toward the door, yanking it open with fierce determination.

The two Beta werewolf guards stationed outside turned sharply, their bored expressions morphing into alarm as they registered the urgency on my face.

“Mrs. Rayne, is everything alright?” one of them asked, using a title I hadn’t even officially claimed yet.

I didn’t respond. I just ran, my bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor, the massive wedding dress billowing behind me like a storm cloud.

“Mrs. Rayne!” they shouted, their voices rising in pitch as they pursued me. “The ceremony begins in thirty minutes! You need to return to the dressing room!”

I ignored their calls, my focus laser-sharp on one singular goal: finding Jason. I had to tell him everything, to escape with him and leave behind the oppressive weight of Moonshade Bay and its werewolf hierarchy.

As I dashed forward, more security personnel appeared, forming a human barricade to block my path. I quickly shifted direction, heading toward a side exit I had noticed earlier.