Chapter 227: Chapter 227 One Line
Author
Across town, Quinn stared at her phone.
The third rejection.
She had read the message three times now. Hoping that if she read it enough times, the words would somehow change. They did not.
"Sorry, we have to cancel." That was it. Short. Polite. Final.
No explanation. No "maybe next time." Just a wall.
Quinn set the phone down and reached for her glass. Her fingers trembled slightly, just enough for the ice to clink against the glass.
Vanessa watched her from across the table. She did not say anything at first. She just let the silence stretch, letting Quinn sit in it.
"You were defending her last time." Vanessa’s voice was light. Casual. Like she was just making an observation. "I told you Elara was not as simple as she seemed. It is just dinner, and she still will not let Alpha Dominic meet with you."
"It is not her fault." Quinn’s voice was quiet. "He is married. It is normal for him to ask his wife’s opinion."
"If you think it is so normal, then why are your eyes red right now?"
Quinn’s jaw tightened. She did not have an answer for that. Not one that she wanted to say out loud.
She picked up her glass and downed the rest of her drink in one go. The burn hit her throat, and she welcomed it. It was something to feel besides this.
She did not answer. Because she did not know what to say.
But she knew what she felt.
She was jealous. Bitter, ugly, can’t-sleep-at-night jealous.
She was envious. Of a woman who had done nothing to her except exist in the right place at the right time. And she hated that she was.
She hated that she could not stop herself from checking her phone. She hated that she felt relieved when she saw Alpha Dominic’s name, then crushed when she read the message.
Most of all, she hated that she could not hate Elara.
Because Elara had not done anything wrong. She was just... there. Living the life Quinn wanted.
Vanessa’s expression shifted. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes.
It was there and gone so fast that if Quinn had been paying attention, she might have caught it. But she was not paying attention.
"Do not worry, Quinn." Vanessa’s voice was soft. Softer than before. The kind of soft that should have been a red flag. "We are friends. I will help you."
Quinn looked up. Her eyes were glassy. "Help me how?"
"Just trust me." Vanessa reached across the table and patted Quinn’s hand. A friendly gesture. Warm. Reassuring.
But when Quinn looked down at her drink again, Vanessa’s smile thinned. She pulled out her phone and typed a quick message. The screen stayed dark long enough for no one to see who she was texting.
Quinn was too lost in her own pain to notice.
Elara
A few days later, I realized my period was late.
My heart stopped. Just for a second.
I checked the calendar on my phone. Then I checked it again. My period was always on time. Like clockwork. Same day every month. Maybe a day early or a day late at most. But never more than that.
Three days had passed. And nothing.
I did the math in my head. Once. Twice. Three times. The numbers did not change.
I rushed to the drugstore and grabbed a pregnancy test off the shelf.
I did not look at the other options. I did not compare brands. I just grabbed the first one my hand touched and headed for the register.
I paid without making eye contact with the cashier and practically ran home.
The whole drive back, my mind was racing. What if it was positive? What if it was negative? What did I want it to be? I did not have an answer.
I locked myself in the bathroom.
I sat on the edge of the tub for a full minute before I even opened the box. My hands were shaking as I read the instructions. I read them twice. Then I did the test.
The waiting was the worst part.
Three minutes. It said three minutes on the box. It felt like thirty.
My hands were shaking as I waited for the result.
One line.
Not pregnant.
I stared at the test strip. I blinked. Like maybe if I blinked hard enough, a second line would appear.
It did not.
A dull ache settled in my chest. I had not realized how much I wanted it until the disappointment hit me. It hit me hard. Right in the gut. I felt my eyes start to burn, and I blinked that away too.
It was stupid. We had not even been trying that long.
But somehow, seeing that single line made my stomach drop. Like I had failed a test I did not even know I was taking.
I told myself it was fine. It was the first try. People tried for months. Years. This was nothing.
It did not help.
Before I could sit in it too long, my phone rang.
I grabbed it. Grateful for the distraction. My assistant.
"Elara, we have a problem." Her voice was tight. Urgent. "The Oakcrest branch is in trouble. They need you there. Now."
I took a breath. Pushed the feeling down. I could deal with it later. "Tell them to stay calm. No one does anything stupid. I am on my way. Pick me up at the house."
I threw the test in the trash. Buried it under some tissues. Like that would make it disappear.
I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.
Dominic looked up from his laptop. His eyes landed on my face, and I saw him register something was off. "Where are you going?"
"Emergency trip to Oakcrest." I kept my voice even. I did not want him to ask more questions. I did not want him to see that my eyes were still a little red. "There is an issue at the branch."
"What kind of issue?"
"A dispute with a local vendor. The usual." I waved it off. "I will handle it."
He studied me for a second too long. "Let Charlie drive you. Or I will come with you."
"Dominic." I shook my head. "It is a business dispute, not a war zone. I will be back in two days."
"Then let Charlie drive you," he repeated. Slower this time. Like he wanted me to hear that it was not a suggestion.
I shook my head. "My assistant is already on the way. I will call you when I get there."
Dominic’s brow furrowed. Deeper this time.
I could see him weighing whether to push further. For a second, I thought he would. But then his jaw shifted, and he let it go.
He followed me to the door. His footsteps were quiet behind me, but I felt him there. Every step. His hand brushed my lower back as I slipped my shoes on. A brief touch.
"Be careful on the road. Text me when you arrive."
I smiled."It is a two-hour drive, Dominic. I will be fine."
He did not look convinced.
But as I climbed into the car, I could still feel his gaze on me. Watching me leave. I saw him in the rearview mirror, standing in the doorway.
Once we pulled onto the highway, I called the Oakcrest manager.
"Do not do anything until I get there." I kept my voice firm. "No confrontations. You hear me?"
"Yes, Elara." Frustration bled through his voice. "But they are really pushing us around."
"I know the bar owner has local connections. That is exactly why you need to hold your ground without giving them an excuse."
I looked out the window. The sky was darkening. Clouds rolling in from the north. It matched how I felt inside.
"Everything can wait until I get there," I said quietly. "I will handle it."
