After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 16

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

**Chapter 16**

**Elle’s POV**

“Jason,” I murmured, my voice barely breaking the stillness of the air around us, as if saying his name too loudly might shatter this fragile moment.

My heart was a wild drum in my chest, each beat echoing the urgency of my feelings. There he stood, just a few yards away, as if he had stepped out of my dreams. Jason—my Jason—was here, and in that instant, the world around me faded into a blur. The familiar sandy brown hair that I loved to run my fingers through, those deep blue eyes that once gazed at me with such warmth and affection.

I took a tentative step forward, my bare feet meeting the chill of the stone path beneath me. Tears began to well in my eyes, the overwhelming wave of relief crashing over me like a tide. He was here. He could rescue me from this dreadful arranged mating, this life that felt more like a prison than a future.

“Jason!” I called out again, my voice rising in volume, filled with desperation and hope. I rushed toward him, arms outstretched, longing for the embrace that had once felt like home.

But something was off. Instead of stepping into my arms, Jason took a step back, his expression shifting from surprise to something akin to fear. His eyes darted nervously between me and Brad, who stood silently observing the scene with an unsettling calmness. Jason’s posture was hunched, almost as if he were trying to shrink away from the reality of the moment. This was not the confident, strong young man I remembered.

“Elle,” he finally managed to say, his voice strained, as if each syllable was a struggle.

I halted, confusion swirling within me like a storm. Why wasn’t he happy to see me? Why did he look so… terrified?

“I…” My voice faltered as I took a closer look at him. His suit was impeccably pressed, yet his face was pale, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. His gaze flitted nervously toward the black-uniformed werewolf security personnel standing nearby, their presence a looming threat. Each time his eyes landed on Brad, he seemed to shrink even further into himself.

This wasn’t the Jason I knew and loved.

“Did they force you to come here?” I whispered, my heart racing as I glanced back at Brad, suspicion creeping in. “Did he threaten you?”

Brad’s expression remained a mask of indifference, his amber eyes cold as he scrutinized our interaction.

Jason’s eyes darted again, betraying his anxiety. “No, I… they just said you wanted to see me.”

A frown creased my forehead as I stepped closer, trying to bridge the distance between us. “Then why do you look so scared?”

Before Jason could respond, Brad moved forward, his tall frame casting an imposing shadow over us. The click of his lighter ceased as he pocketed it, fixing Jason with an intense, penetrating stare.

“Mr. Miller,” Brad’s voice was deceptively calm, yet beneath it lay an undercurrent of authority that sent shivers down my spine. “You seem uncomfortable. Allow me to clarify the situation.” He gestured toward me, his tone dripping with condescension. “Elle was preparing for our marking ceremony today, but she expressed… reservations. She wanted to see you before proceeding.”

I felt my heart sink at his words. This was not the reunion I had envisioned. Where was the Jason who had promised me forever? The one who had spoken of marriage just months ago?

“Jason,” I said, striving to keep my voice steady despite the tumult of emotions swirling within me. “Yesterday in your text, you sounded fine. What happened?”

He wouldn’t meet my gaze, his eyes focused on the ground. “Nothing happened. I’m fine.”

Brad’s lips curled into a slight smirk, as if he found amusement in our exchange. “Mr. Miller, let me pose a question to you.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper that sent chills through me. “How much is Elle worth to you?”

I stiffened, turning to Brad in confusion and disbelief. “What are you doing?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify