Chapter 64: Midnight Encounters

Chapter 64: Midnight Encounters

(Elena’s POV)

The night was deep, the warm yellow indoor light cast a misty glow on the ss, blending with the cold tones of the street sceneb, /bbas /bif filtered through moonlight. After a satisfying dinner, I called the server to settle the bill..

The waiter approached with the check, and I handed over my card without hesitation. Nathan had been generous with his time andpany tonight, and I was determined to keep my promise about paying.

As the bill was se

ttled, Nathan Sterling leaned back in his chair with his fingers inteced and resting on his chin. He smiled yfully at me.

“You finally treated me back,” he remarked with obvious amusement.

I smiled, feeling genuinely content for the first time in weeks. “I told you I would keep my word.”

The evening had been exactly what I needed – light conversation, good food, and thepany who didn’t make me feel like I was walking on eggshells.

of someone

As we exited the Crimson Rose Tavern, Nathan gantly opened the door for me. The cool night air hit my face, refreshing after the warmth inside.

“Thank you,” I said, appreciating his thoughtful gesture.

He inquired about my car’s location, and I replied that I had parked it ahead on Shadowpeak Descent due to

theck of parking spaces near the restaurant.

“The streets werepletely packed when I arrived,” I exined.

Nathan offered to apany me, his protective instincts showing. “I’ll walk you to your car. It’ste.”

As I turned to respond, a motorcycle suddenly sped towards us from the darkness. The engine roared loudly.

and the headlight blinded me momentarily.

Nathan swiftly pulled me toward him, and I collided into his embrace, narrowly avoiding the motorcycle. My

heart hammered against my ribs from the shock.

“Be careful,” Nathan said, his arms steadying me.

I crashed into Nathan’s arms unexpectedly, feeling the solid warmth of his chest against my cheek. For a moment, time seemed suspended as the motorcycle’s engine faded into the distance.

Once the motorcycle had passed, Nathan asked if I was alright. His hands remained on my shoulders,

checking for any signs of injury.

I was still shaken but grateful for his quick reflexes. “I’m fine, just startled. Thank you for pulling me out of

the way.”

My voice trembled slightly from the adrenaline rush. Without Nathan’s intervention, I could have been

seriously hurt.

Nathan nced in the direction the motorcycle had vanished, his expression darkening with disapproval.

Chapter 64 Midought Ene

“Some young people are so reckless these days. They could have killed someone”

I adjusted my bag, trying to regain myposure after the near miss. “I’m almost at my car now. I can manage the rest alone.”

Nathan shook bhis /bhead firmly. “I insist on watching you leave to ensure your safety. After what just happened, I’m not taking any chances.”

His concern touched me deeply. It had been so long since someone had shown such genuine care for my wellbeing.

I reached my car and got in, starting the engine with hands that were still slightly unsteady. Through the windshield, I gave Nathan a final nce and a small wave.

He watched my car disappear from sight before looking down at a message on his phone. Even from a distance, I could see his expression change as he read whatever had arrived.

The drive back to Moonhaven Estate gave me time to process the evening. Nathan’spany had been a wee respite from the constant tension at home.

But as I approached the familiar gates, reality came crashing back. I would have to face Marcus again, and theplicated web of emotions that surrounded our failing rtionship.

I pushed open the bedroom door of the Alpha’s Private Chamber, only to find Marcus emerging from the

Alpha’s Private Bath Chamber.

Marcus bwas /bonly wearing a bath towel wrapped around his bwaist/b. Water bdroplets /bclung to his muscled chest

and shoulders, and his dark hair was damp from the shower.

I was visibly taken aback by his presence and bhis /bstate of undress. “You… are you home?”

The question came out more surprised than I intended. I had assumed he would be outte as usual.

Marcus bran /bhis fingers through his damp hair, his golden eyes meeting mine with amusement. “If I’m not

home, where would I be?”

His tone carried that familiar hint of mockery that always set my teeth on edge, I averted my gaze from his

bare torso, feeling heat rise in my cheeks.

“I’ll go to the Shadow Wing Guest Suite,” I said quickly, turning toward the door.

Marcus then asked where the hairdryer was, his voice casual but expectant.

“It’s on the shelf,” I replied without thinking.

“Which shelf?” he pressed, and I could hear the slight confusion in his voice.

I turned back to look at him, puzzled by his question. “Don’t you know?”

It seemed strange that he wouldn’t know where basic items were kept in his own chamber.

“How did you use it before then?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“Air dry,” he replied simply

The admission surprised me. In all our years together, Marcus had never used the hairdryer. I realized he had probably never even noticed where it was kept.

Without thinking, I went to the Moonhaven Wardrobe Chamber and retrieved the hairdryer from its usual spot.

Chapter 64 Midnight Eve

My movements were automatic, born from years of familiarity with this space.

I handed the hairdryer to him, our fingers brushing briefly as he took it. The contact sent an unwee jolt through my system.

“Here,” I said, pulling my hand back quickly.

I left the chamber without another word, my heart beating faster than it should have been.

The next morning, before I was fully awake, my phone rang insistently. Legal Advocate Barnes’s name appeared on the screen, and I answered groggily.

“Elena, we need to discuss something urgent,” Barnes said without preamble. “It’s about photos.”

I sat up straight in bed, suddenly wide awake. “Photos?”

The legal advocate’s voice was tense with concern. “You’re trending on the inte. Although your mating with Marcus is a secret, being caught in an affair before the mate bond severance could be detrimental to your settlement.”

My blood ran cold as I reached for myptop. I quickly checked the trending topics, finding a photo of Nathan pulling me into his arms to avoid the motorcycle.

The image was captioned “#Young Master Sterling’s Rumored Mate Revealed#“. The photo had been taken at the exact moment Nathan had saved me from the speeding motorcycle.

Although disoriented at first, I forced myself to calm down. The photo was taken out of context. My

rtionship with Nathan isn’t like that.”

I exined the situation to Barnes, describing the near–ident and Nathan’s protective response.

The legal advocate acknowledged my exnation but stressed the power of public opinion. “I understand the circumstances, but perception matters in these cases. bYou /bneed to address this issue to secure your mate

bond severance settlement.”

I acknowledged his advice and hung up, contemting the situation with growing dread. The timing couldn’t

have been worse.

I anticipated a difficult conversation with Victoria ckwood due to the scandal. She would undoubtedly have strong opinions about her son’s mate being photographed with another Alpha.

As for the mate bond severance itself, I was indifferent to the financial oue. I was willing to leave with

nothing if necessary.

My primary motivation for the settlement and the Moonhaven Estate’s house was to provide for David and repay the ckthorne family’s kindness in raising me.

After washing up, I walked to the Moonhaven Estate Great Hall, I saw Marcus was still there, which surprised ollime. /li/ol

Marcus sat at the dining table, talking on the phone while casually eating his breakfast. His voice was low and authoritative as he conducted what sounded like pack business.

After a while, he hung up the phone and set it aside. Catherine Hayes walked out of the kitchen with a te. of fresh fruit, her movements efficient and practiced.

I pulled out a chair and sat down across from Marcus. The silence between us was thick with unspoken

Chapter 64 Midnight Enco

tension.

No one spoke for several long moments. Marcus leaned back in his chair and loosened his bcor/b, his golden eyes studying my face.

“The trending search, he said finally, his voice matterb–/bof–fact. “I have already had it removed.”

I was genuinely surprised by his admission. I had expected anger, usations, or at least some form of confrontation about the photos.

Marcus calmly drank water and continued to stare at me. “One scandal for you, one for me, we’re even. But don’t let it happen again.”

Before I could respond to his unexpected deration, he set down his ss with deliberate precision. He grabbed his coat from the back of his chair and headed toward the door.

Catherine Hayes, finishing her work in the kitchen, looked up in confusion. “Alpha… eh? Why did he leave so early?”

She turned to me with concern in her eyes. “Luna, Alpha left a bowl of venison stew for you. I’ll warm it up for you.”

I lowered my eyes, processing Marcus’s words and actions. His behavior waspletely unexpected.

“Catherine, you’re up early,” I said quietly, trying to make normal conversation.

I never said anything meaningful from beginning to end of our brief encounter. In the past, Marcus might have ignored such a scandal entirely, but he definitely wouldn’t have personally Intervened to remove it..

“Even…” I smiled mockingly to myself. What bwas /bthis talk about being beven/bb? /b

My situation with Nathan had been aplete ident, a moment of protection from danger. But Marcus and Sophia were willing participants in their rtionship.

The nature of the two situations waspletely different, yet he acted as if they were equivalent.

The online trending searches were quickly suppressed by other celebrity revtions. Within hours, there was no trace of the scandal involving Nathan and me.

(Sophia’s

POW

I sat in my Sophia’s Healing Office, frustration building as I monitored the inte. No matter how hard all the hired inte trolls I had paid worked, they couldn’t get the poprity of Elena’s scandal up again.

I immediately knew that bthis /bwas Marcus’s doing. His influence and resources far exceeded anything I could

muster.

My face turned ugly with anger and disappointment. Recently, when I sent messages to Marcus, either he

didn’t reply, or he said he was busy with pack affairs.

But he had appeared at the pack gathering with Elena. His car was parked at Moonhaven Estate, and he was clearly living with her.

Even Elena’s scandal with Nathan hadn’t worked to drive a wedge between them. Marcus had actually

protected her reputation instead of using it against her.

It seemed that I could only carry out the n I had thought aboutst time. Although it was a risky move, at

least I had to win once.

Chapter 64 Midnight Enco

I picked up my phone and called Heidi Cross, my voice dancing with anticipation Didn’t I sayst time that i had a n to deal with Elena? But I still have to trouble you to use your connections to help me get the phone numbers of Elena’s parents.”

Rachel Thompson was passing by the office when she heard my voice. Her face turned pate in an instant as she realized what she was overhearing

Director Sophia was actually the culprit who had harmed Healer Elena’s younger brother! The revtion hit

her like a physical blow

I unintentionally braised /bmy eyes and saw a figure at the door. I stood up suddenly, my voice sharp with rm.

“Who’s there!”

Rachel met my gaze and was frightened by the fury in my eyes. She turned and ran away in a hurry, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.

I chased out into the Institute Corridor, only to see the back of a nurse fleeing. My heart pounded with the realization that someone had overheard my conversation.

The anxious voice of Heidi Cross came from the other end of the phone. “What’s wrong. Miss Sophia? Could it be that someone overheard us?”

I was silent for a few seconds, considering the implications. Then my red lips hooked into a slight smile.

“It’s okay, just a mouse,” I said with cold confidence. “As long as she is still under my nose, I can find her

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