The Billionaire Alpha’s Contract Lover by Caesar Erickson novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32
I stood still for a few seconds, then quietly bent down to pick up the check.
Five years ago, this money was life changing. Five years ago, I’d desperately needed it.
But now, it didn’t matter even a little bit.
Calmly, I took a step toward the car and placed the wad of paper on the car seat.
“Alpha Knight, you are too generous, but if I were to take your money, I wouldn’t be able to marry Roman with a clear conscience.”
It wasn’t until then that Griffon realized why Taya didn’t want a penny from him. It turned out that she had plans to marry a wealthy and powerful man.
As he looked up at her, all doubts in his heart dissipated entirely, leaving him numb.
“I never want to see your face again.”
Taya smiled indifferently, and something flitted through her eyes, an emotion or thought he couldn’t place. “You won’t.”
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At the gate of Griffon’s private manor, Preston quickly got out of
the car.
A Town Car dro ve into the garden when he was about to enter the villa to look for Griffon.
A man who was nearly 6’2″ tall got out of the car.
He exuded an arr ogant aura from head to toe, with a strong sense of command that made people dare not approach him.
Even Preston felt a chill run down his spine when he saw him.
He shook off his thoughts and walked up to Griffon.
“Griffon-” Preston started to ask where Griffon had gone after Nightshade, but he clamped his mo uth sh ut when the Alpha’s look shot daggers at him.
With a low, rumbling growl, Griffon walked past Preston and headed straight for the villa.
As the entrance, the servant, who had been waiting some time for him, greeted him with a bow. They’d expected their Alpha to be back much earlier, but they hadn’t dared to leave the door for fear of Griffon’s wr ath should they not be in their proper places when he returned home.
Griffon removed his jacket and tie, handing them to the servant.
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Then, he walked to the wet bar and grabbed a decanter full of caramel-colored liquor.
He casually picked up two tumblers and poured a glass for each
of them. He turned and handed one to Preston.
“What brings you here?” Griffon asked.
Preston rarely came to the pack manor. He must have something to tell him, especially at such a late hour.
Preston took the tumbler, sniffed, and then took a swig. Bourbon. The good stuff.
He looked Griffon up and down. Seeing the Alpha’s expression, which wasn’t as grim as before, Preston mustered up the courage to speak.
“Did Ms. Palmer offend you somehow before tonight?”
The Alpha’s actions tonight were completely out of character for him.
“It’s none of your business.”
Preston remained unfazed and probed further. “Is she the woman you keep?”
He knew that his cousin had a secret lover, but he had never seen her before. Something about the way Griffon had treated this woman made Preston think there was something more at play between them.
Chapter 32
Griffon raised his head and clenched his jaw. “What are you implying?”
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Preston planned to probe a bit more, but when he saw the hairs
on the back of Griffon’s hand get longer, he decided not to beat around the bush. He didn’t have long before the wolf took over and Griffon became all sharp edges and teeth.
“Griffon, have you fallen in love with Ms. Palmer?”
In Nightshade, when he saw how Griffon had targeted Taya, he’d already guessed that she was the woman who had been his secret lover for five years.
When he first saw that Taya looked like Tara, he thought Griffon had just regarded her as a substitute while he was unable to have Tara.
But then Griffon had lost control of the tight reins he held on his
emotions.
Strong emotion from an Alpha never led to anything good, and Griffon had always been able to maintain his rigid composure, never let anyone see what he was truly feeling.
Until tonight.
Until an emotion Preston didn’t even think Griffon was capable of showed its face.
Jealousy.