ONE NIGHT WITH THE BIKER ALPHA

TWO LINES

Elena sat on the edge of the bathtub for a long time before she trusted her legs enough to stand.

Pregnant.

"Okay," she whispered to the empty bathroom. "Okay. Think."

The math wasn't hard. There had only been one night that could explain this, and it hadn't been with Marcus.

She went downstairs like nothing at all had happened.

Vera found her twenty minutes later, staring blankly at a mug of tea she hadn't touched.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Vera said.

"I might be worse off than a ghost."

"That bad?"

"I'm pregnant."

Vera's mug stopped halfway to her mouth. "Marcus's?"

"No."

"No? Elena. Whose, then?"

"Remember the storm? The night everything happened with Marcus?"

"You said you found shelter somewhere safe."

"I found a bar. And a man. His name was Ryder. That's all I know. No last name, no number, nothing. He was gone before I woke up."

"You slept with a stranger the night your engagement fell apart."

"I'm aware of how it sounds, Vera."

"I'm not judging. I'm just, this changes everything. You know that, right? If your parents find out you're pregnant with some stranger's child right when they're trying to arrange a new alliance—"

"I know."

"They're going to panic."

"I know."

"Are you going to tell them?"

"Not yet. I need time to figure out what I'm doing before I hand them one more thing to control."

"You can't hide a pregnancy forever."

"I don't need forever. Just enough time to think." Elena looked up, steadier now despite her still trembling hands. "This is my child, Vera. Whatever happens with the pack, whatever alliance they try to force on me, this doesn't change. I'm keeping this baby, and nobody gets a vote on that."

Vera reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "For what it's worth, I've got your back. Whatever you decide."

"Thank you."

"Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"If this Ryder guy ever turns up again, you tell me immediately, because I have several questions for a man who vanishes after a storm like some kind of ghost with excellent timing."

Elena laughed, the first real laugh she'd managed all day. "Deal."

The peace didn't last long. That evening, her father called her into his study.

"Sit down, Elena."

She sat.

"I spoke with the council today," Robert said. "Given the situation with Marcus, they've proposed an alternative arrangement to secure the alliance."

"What kind of arrangement?"

"Alpha Damian Cross has expressed interest in a mating agreement."

"Damian Cross. Dad, I don't even know him."

"You'll have time to get to know him before anything is finalized."

"Finalized. You're already talking like this is decided."

"The council believes it's the strongest option for stabilizing our territory."

"I just got out of one arranged situation disguised as love, Dad. I'm not walking into another one."

"This isn't the same as Marcus."

"Isn't it? A pack asset being handed to whoever benefits the family most?" Her voice shook. "I'm not a chess piece."

"Nobody said you were."

"Then stop treating me like one."

"Elena, I know this isn't fair. I know you deserve better than what's being asked of you. But our pack is vulnerable right now, and Damian's alliance would protect hundreds of wolves who have nowhere else to turn if the border conflicts escalate."

"So it's my job to fix that."

"It's not a job. It's a sacrifice, and I hate asking it of you."

"But you're asking anyway."

"I have to."

"I need time," she finally said. "Don't finalize anything. Please."

"You have a few weeks before the council expects an answer."

"A few weeks."

"I'll fight for more if I can."

"Don't fight too hard. I don't want them looking closer at me than they already are."

"Why would that matter?"

"It doesn't. Forget I said it."

Elena walked out of that study with her hand pressed unconsciously to her stomach.

"You okay?" Vera asked, catching her in the hallway.

"No."

"Damian Cross?"

"Damian Cross."

"That bad?"

"Worse than bad. It's decided in everything but name."

"You have weeks though. Right?"

"A few. Not enough."

"Enough for what?"

"I don't know yet. But I need it."

She wasn't only fighting for her own future anymore. And somewhere out there, a man who called himself Ryder had no idea he already had everything to lose.