He Wanted Me Gone, Now He Wants Me Back

006: Alpha London

ELENA’S POV

The icy wind sliced through my coat, numbing my skin as I gripped the handle of my suitcase tighter. It wasn’t just the cold—it was the cruelty that had become my reality. Aside from that, it was as if the night itself had decided to mock me. The quiet around me felt oppressive, broken only by the occasional rustle of dry leaves or the faint, teasing hum of a distant car engine.

I didn’t have a destination in mind, just the overwhelming need to be far away from Aiden’s pack. I told myself I’d figure it out—find a cheap motel for the night and decide on my next steps in the morning. But as I stood there, a sleek black SUV rolled to a stop beside me.

The tinted window lowered, and my breath caught in my throat when I saw who it was. Alpha London. My childhood best friend and Aiden’s biggest rival.

His piercing gaze flickered to the suitcase in my grasp, then back to my face. His dark brows furrowed as he leaned slightly out of the window. “Elena?” he asked, his deep voice tinged with concern. “What are you doing out here at this time of night?”

I hesitated, panic rising in my chest. Of all the people to run into, why did it have to be him? “I’m, uh… waiting,” I stammered.

London’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced. “Waiting for what? Or should I say, who? Where’s your jerk of a mate?”

The mention of Aiden made my stomach churn, but I quickly forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as forced as it felt. “I’m not alone,” I said hastily. “Aiden is on his way to pick me up. I just got tired of waiting at the café.”

London’s gaze sharpened, scrutinizing me so intensely I felt like squirming. I prayed he’d take my answer at face value and drive off, but instead, he opened the car door and stepped out.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice tinged with panic as he walked up beside me.

He crossed his arms over his broad chest, towering over me. “I’m waiting with you,” he said simply.

“What? No!” I exclaimed, shaking my head. “There’s no need. Really, Aiden will be here any minute now.”

London smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Good. Then I can ask him why he thought it was a good idea to leave his Luna standing on the roadside in the middle of the night.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, regretting every word of my stupid lie. The last thing I needed was for London to get involved, especially when I knew how volatile things could get between him and Aiden.

“London, seriously,” I tried again, forcing my tone to stay calm. “You know how Aiden is. He won’t like this. A fight might break out if he sees you with me, and I really don’t want to deal with that right now.”

He raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “Let him get mad. I’ll deal with him. Besides, I’m not leaving you out here alone.”

I groaned inwardly. There was no convincing him. He was too stubborn, too protective. Finally, I gave in. “Fine,” I muttered. “Maybe I lied.”

His smirk widened as he leaned casually against the car. “I figured as much the moment you said Aiden left you behind to grab a car. That doesn’t sound like him—well, not the old him, at least. So what’s this about?”

I glared at him and smacked his arm. “If you already knew, then why stick around and interrogate me?”

“Because I care,” he said simply, his tone so genuine it caught me off guard. “Now, tell me where you’re headed so I can take you there and get home.”

“I don’t need a ride,” I insisted, folding my arms. “I’m waiting for a taxi.”

London shook his head, his lips quirking into a half-smile. “Taxi? In the middle of the pack’s territory at this hour? Come on, Elena. Just let me drive you. Consider me your chauffeur for the night.”

I sighed, realizing there was no winning against his stubbornness. “Fine,” I relented.

Before I could protest further, he grabbed my suitcase, tossed it into the back seat of his car, and opened the passenger door for me. His actions were smooth, leaving no room for argument.

“Get in,” he said, motioning toward the seat.

Reluctantly, I climbed in, the warmth of the car enveloping me immediately. Once he settled into the driver’s seat and started the engine, he glanced at me. “Where to?”

I hesitated, unsure of how much to tell him. Finally, I said, “Just take me to any motel in town.”

London frowned, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “A motel?”

I didn’t want to talk. I didn’t want to explain. But London, being London, couldn’t help himself. “I'm waiting,” he said, his voice breaking the quiet. “Why a motel, Elena?”

I sighed, turning to face him. “It’s not your business, London,” I replied flatly. “Stop trying to pry answers out of me.”

His grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, his jaw clenching for a moment before he exhaled. “Fine,” he said. “But whatever’s going on between you and Aiden, you deserve more than some rundown motel in town.”