ONE NIGHT WITH THE BIKER ALPHA

THE ALPHA'S CHARM

Alpha Damian Cross arrived exactly on time.

"He's here," Vera said from the doorway. "You ready?"

"No."

"Want me to tell him you're sick?"

"Tempting. But no. Better to get this over with."

Downstairs, Damian crossed the room toward her, hand extended.

"Elena." His voice was smooth, practiced. "It's a pleasure to finally spend time with you properly."

"Alpha Cross."

"Please. Damian." He smiled. "I hope the circumstances of our introduction weren't too uncomfortable for you."

"Which circumstances would those be? The broken engagement, or the fact that my family is negotiating my future like a real estate deal?"

Behind her, Diane gasped. Damian only laughed, low and easy.

"Direct. I appreciate that." He gestured toward the sitting room. "Might I steal a few minutes of your time? Alone."

Elena led him inside, closed the door, and crossed her arms.

"Let's skip the pleasantries," she said. "You know why you're here. I know why you're here. Neither of us chose this."

"You're right. I didn't choose this specifically. But I'm not opposed to it, either."

"Why not? You could have any woman in the council's territory."

"I could. But most of them bore me within an hour. You, at least, have some fire in you."

"Fire doesn't make a marriage."

"No. But it makes an interesting one." He leaned forward. "Let me be honest with you, Elena, since you clearly value honesty. This arrangement benefits both our families. Your pack gains protection and stability. Mine gains territory and influence. Whatever we build between us personally is secondary to that, but it doesn't have to be miserable."

"That's supposed to be comforting?"

"It's supposed to be realistic. You're twenty three, recently humiliated by a man who wasn't good enough for you, and facing a council that expects an answer within weeks. I'm offering you security, protection, and a position of real influence as my mate. I'd think carefully before dismissing that."

"And if I say no?"

"Then your family continues struggling against border conflicts they can't win alone, and eventually someone else makes this offer with far less patience than I have."

"That sounds like a threat."

"It's not a threat, Elena. It's simply how the world works. I'd rather you choose this willingly. It makes everything so much more pleasant."

"How generous of you."

"I try." He stood, straightening his coat. "Take your time deciding. Not too much time, though. I don't enjoy waiting."

He left the way he'd arrived. Vera slipped in the moment the front door closed.

"Well?"

"He's exactly what I expected. Charming enough to fool a room, cold enough underneath to make my skin crawl."

"Did he threaten you?"

"Not directly. He's smarter than that. But he made it very clear what happens if I refuse. My family struggles. The border conflicts continue. Someone worse eventually makes the same offer without his patience."

"That's not a choice, Elena. That's a trap with nice wrapping paper."

"I know."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Stall. As long as I possibly can."

"And when you can't stall anymore?"

Before Elena could answer, her phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number, no name attached, three words.

I found you.

"Who's that?" Vera leaned over her shoulder. "Elena, who's texting you that?"

"I don't know. I don't recognize the number."

"Then don't answer it."

"What if it's him?"

"Storm guy? You think he tracked you down through a text message out of nowhere?"

"I don't know what I think. But nobody else has a reason to send me something like that."

Her hands shook as she stared at the screen, heart hammering.

Nobody outside her immediate family knew about the pregnancy test. Nobody should have any reason to send a message like that.

Unless somehow, impossibly, the man from the storm had finally tracked her down.