Alpha's Private Plaything (Elsa and Drake Stone) novel Chapter 51

Chapter 51

Elsa

1 stared at Sophia with disbelief as she practically shoved me toward Drake’s waiting car.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hissed, digging my heels into the pavement so hard I nearly twisted my already aching ankle.

“Your Uber canceled,” Sophia whispered urgently. “And it’s not safe for you to wait here alone in your condition.”

“My condition is called a fucking hangover,” I growled, even as my head pounded mercilessly like a jackhammer was drilling

directly into my skull. And a broken heart, but who’s counting?

Sophia’s eyes narrowed. “You’re pale as a ghost, Elsa. Just take the damn ride home.”

I glanced at the sleek black Bentley where Drake sat in the back seat, his face half-hidden in shadow. Through the open passenger door, I could see Vera’s perfectly made-up face transform from smug satisfaction to outrage as Drake nodded almost imperceptibly, giving me permission to enter.

“Fine,” I muttered, stumbling toward the car. “But you owe me big time.”

“Love you too, sweetie!” Sophia called out cheerfully, waving as I reluctantly slid into the backseat beside Drake, leaving Vera

to take the front passenger seat.

The car interior was suffocating-not just from the tense silence, but from the mingled scents of Vera’s cloying perfume and Drake’s familiar sandalwood and rain. That scent-his scent-triggered a visceral response in me that I hated myself for. My traitorous wolf stirred inside me, whimpering with longing.

Down, girl. Have some fucking dignity.

I pressed myself against the door, creating as much distance as possible between us. Drake had his eyes closed, head resting against the leather seat, but the rigid set of his jaw told me he was far from relaxed.

Vera’s shoulders were tight with tension, her knuckles white where she gripped her designer purse. I could practically feel the jealousy radiating off her in waves. Good. Let her stew in it. Ten years I’ve been in his life, bitch. Ten fucking years.

“Thank you for the ride,” I said stiffly, addressing no one in particular, the words tasting like ash in my mouth.

Neither of them responded. The driver pulled away from the curb, and we rode in uncomfortable silence for several minutes. The tension was so thick I could have carved it with a knife and served it with crackers,

1/3

“This car smells nice,” Sophia suddenly announced from the front seat, her voice artificially bright. “Is that a custom scent? It

reminds me of something…”

I shot her a warning glare which she pointedly ignored. Shut up, Sophia. For the love of all things holy, shut your damn

mouth.

“Oh, I know! It’s that aromatherapy blend Elsa made, isn’t it?” She turned to look directly at Drake. “She specially added herbs to help you relax after stressful days. Very thoughtful of her.”

Jesus fucking Christ, Sophia, what are you doing? My cheeks burned with humiliation as I remembered those nights spent carefully blending herbs, testing combinations until I found the perfect mixture to ease the tension from Drake’s shoulders.

after particularly brutal board meetings.

Drake’s eyes opened, fixing on me with an unreadable expression that still somehow managed to set my skin on fire.

“And this little charm,” Sophia continued, reaching up to touch the small silver wolf hanging from the rearview mirror. “Elsa made this too, right? She told me she got it blessed at the Twin Moon Temple for protection.”

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