After One Night with the Alpha (Brad and Elle) novel Chapter 2

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

**Elle’s POV**

I found myself huddled against the cold, unyielding wall, tears cascading down my cheeks like a relentless storm. The stranger with the amber eyes—a werewolf, as it turned out—had retreated to the far side of the room, his back turned to me as he made a phone call. It felt like he was granting me a sliver of privacy, yet I couldn’t shake off the feeling of vulnerability that enveloped me.

“Alex, I need you to bring something to my suite immediately,” he commanded, his voice low, yet it resonated with authority. “A blank check from my personal account. And bring a bottle of whiskey.” He paused, listening intently to the response on the other end. “No, I don’t care what meeting you’re in. This is priority.”

With that, he ended the call and turned back to face me. His expression was inscrutable, but I could feel the weight of his gaze as it bore into me, those penetrating amber eyes revealing a heritage I should have recognized if I hadn’t been so drunk and disoriented.

“The tears won’t change anything,” he stated flatly, his tone devoid of sympathy. “What’s done is done.”

I angrily wiped my face, irritation bubbling within me. “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who just…” My voice trailed off, the words lodged in my throat like a stone.

Just then, my phone buzzed, and I felt my stomach plummet as I read the text message that had just arrived: “Elle, I’m so sorry I couldn’t make it tonight. My mother found out, and I’m already on the plane. Will call when I land. Love you.”

He was gone. Gone, already soaring through the skies while I was left here, grappling with this disaster alone. A bitter laugh escaped my lips, sounding more like a strangled sob than anything else.

“Problem?” the werewolf inquired, his tone dripping with indifference.

“None of your business,” I muttered, only to freeze as a dreadful realization washed over me. I looked up at him, truly seeing him for the first time. The tailored suit casually draped over a chair, the commanding presence that filled the room, and the way he spoke on the phone—like a man who was used to giving orders without question.

“Wait… you’re… you can’t possibly be Brad Rayne, can you?” My voice came out as a horrified whisper, barely escaping my lips.

His eyebrow arched slightly, a flicker of amusement in his amber gaze. “You know who I am.”

Of course, I knew who he was. Everyone in Moonshade Bay was well-acquainted with Brad Rayne. The Alpha of the city’s dominant pack, the CEO of Rayne Group—the very company I worked for.

I had just slept with my boss. My werewolf boss. The Alpha werewolf who effectively ruled this entire city.

“Oh my god,” I whispered, the weight of my realization threatening to crush me.

In the divided society of Moonshade Bay, humans and werewolves led lives that rarely intersected—an arrangement that had persisted since The Revelation a century ago. That pivotal moment when werewolves revealed their existence to humanity had altered the course of history. I had learned about it in school—how, after centuries of secrecy, werewolf leaders decided to step into the light, showcasing their superior strength and abilities.

The chaos that ensued eventually settled into the current order: humans could work for werewolf companies, but always in subordinate roles. Werewolves held all the power, all the wealth, and all the prime real estate in the city. And Alphas—they were treated like royalty.

The Rayne family had played a crucial role in shaping Moonshade Bay’s social hierarchy. They had been among the first to advocate for “peaceful coexistence”—which, in practice, meant humans accepting their place at the bottom of the hierarchy in exchange for “protection.”

“My reputation precedes me,” he remarked dryly, his expression revealing nothing. “And you are?”

“Elle West,” I replied automatically, immediately regretting the slip of my real name. “I work in your company.”

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