All Chapters of The Little Canary of the Alpha: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Brielle POV.Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my racing pulse. Maybe it was just a delivery person or a neighbor. But the way she stood there, so poised, so deliberate... it didn't feel like a casual visit. My hand hovered over the doorknob, a battle raging within me – my instinct was screaming that something was wrong."Brielle."I spun around. Elion was coming down the stairs, dressed in a new set of silk-black pajamas. He looked like he was in a serious rush; his hair was a mess, and water was still dripping from it. "What?" I asked, but my hand stayed firmly on the doorknob. Before he could even answer, I turned back and opened the door.Elion's eyes widened in alarm, and then he was moving. In an instant, he was at the door, one hand braced against it, holding it shut.My eyebrows shot up. He looked stressed, guilty even. ‘Why? Who is this visitor? Wait... this woman isn't one of the neighbors, or some delivery girl…’I glared at him, my expression cold and emotionless. It

Brielle POV.The day of my coming of age.I gasped, my breath catching as I stared into the mirror. The reflection staring back wasn't the Brielle I knew – the one who preferred comfortable jeans and oversized sweaters. This girl was… different. Her dress, a deep emerald green that shimmered under the light, hugged her curves in a way that felt both foreign and exhilarating. Her hair, usually a messy braid, cascaded in soft waves around her shoulders. She looked… mature. Sexy. Definitely more courageous than I felt."Wow! My beautiful best friend! You look breathtaking!"Heza’s voice, warm and genuine, pulled me from my daze. She stood in the doorway, a vision in a sapphire blue dress that complemented her fiery red hair. It was a rare sight; both of us usually shied away from anything too flashy.I turned, a smile playing on my lips as I met her gaze. "Look who's talking," I teased, linking my arm through hers. "If I didn't know you, I'd think you were trying to steal all the attent

Elion POV.I slumped onto the bar stool, the cool leather a small comfort against the simmering rage inside me. An Elder had just finished talking to some of the staff, all about the marriage plans. My marriage plans. Another gulp of whiskey burned its way down my throat.I was fighting every instinct screaming at me to lash out, to smash something, to maybe even take down one of the Elders. But I couldn't. Not here. Not now. Not with her around.It was Brielle’s birthday. She was eighteen today. The little kid I’d practically raised, the one I’d sworn to protect… she was a woman now. I scanned the room, my eyes finding her. She was across the hall, laughing with her friend, looking so carefree.I could hear snippets of their conversation, and it just grated on me. And then, her friend pulled her towards some of my pack members. My girl. She was drinking. Downing drinks, one after another. My knuckles were white on the edge of the bar. God, I wished I hadn't thrown this party. I wishe

Brielle POV.I forced myself to turn to him, to slap on a smile that felt fake and brittle. Time to sell this, I thought, trying to sound tough. I needed to make this believable, for Elion’s sake, and maybe, just maybe, for mine too."Yeah, Jax," I said, my voice a little too bright, a little too eager. I reached up and touched his cheek, letting my fingers linger there. "Everything's perfect." I leaned in, letting my lips brush his, a quick, not-really-there kiss. "Thanks for the locket. It’s beautiful." I tried to put some warmth in my voice that I didn't really feel, hoping it sounded real. I even managed a small, shy smile, letting my eyes flick over to Elion. He was talking to Elvie now, his back to me. ‘See? I’m fine. I’m happy. I’m moving on.’Jaxon’s relieved smile came back, bigger this time, and he squeezed my hand. "Glad you like it, Brielle." He glanced over at Elion, a weird look in his eyes for a second, then back at me, his possessiveness showing. "It's just the start

Brielle POV.Elvie’s footsteps recede down the hallway, a frantic echo in the sudden silence. Elion, still heavy in my arms, lets out a soft groan. His grip on me tightens, his fingers digging into my shoulder. The warmth radiating from him is intense, almost feverish."Elion?" I whisper, my voice barely audible. "Are you okay? Elvie’s gone."He doesn’t respond, just buries his face deeper into my neck. His trembling seems to have subsided, replaced by a heavy stillness. I can feel his pulse thrumming against my skin, a frantic rhythm that mirrors my own racing heart.I look down at him, at the way his head rests against me, the curve of his jaw, the slight stubble on his chin. He looks so vulnerable, so unlike the controlled, powerful man he usually is. My heart aches with a confusing mix of concern and a fierce, protective tenderness. 'She's mine,' his words echo in my mind, a dangerous, intoxicating thought.I gently try to ease him further into my arms, supporting his weight. He's