All Chapters of Bound To My Best Friend’s Alpha Father: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Seven years. That was how long I had stayed away from Moonridge Pack, long enough to convince myself the place no longer had a hold on me, long enough to believe the memories had finally stopped hurting.I was wrong because the moment the plane landed, every promise I had made to myself began to crack. The mountains surrounding Moonridge looked exactly the same as they had the day I left with tears burning my eyes.I had sworn I would never come back. Yet here I was, returning because Willow Rogen had asked me to stand beside her on the happiest day of her life. She had been my best friend since childhood, my sister in every way that mattered, and no amount of pain could make me deny her that one request.I told myself I would survive a few days. I would smile through the engagement celebration, attend the wedding, hug Willow goodbye, and disappear before the past had another chance to ruin me. The plan sounded simple until I walked through the arrival gate and realized Willow was no

I had spent the entire morning convincing myself that avoiding Jacques Rogen was the smartest decision I could make. Alpha Manor was large enough for dozens of guests, yet somehow our paths kept crossing.Every time I heard his voice somewhere nearby, I quietly chose another hallway or another room. It felt ridiculous, especially because he had done nothing wrong. If anything, he had been nothing but kind since picking me up at the airport.That only made everything worse. Kindness is easy to ignore until it begins making you feel safe. Safe makes people forget the lessons life has already taught them. I refused to become that woman again. I came back to celebrate Willow’s happiness, not to lose my common sense.Even so, memories of our accidental touches refused to leave me alone. I could still feel the strange warmth that spread through me at the airport and again in the sitting room.I told myself there had to be a logical explanation. Perhaps returning home had stirred emotions I

I had no idea how long he had been standing there. The corridor was silent except for the faint crackle of a distant fireplace and the steady rhythm of my own heartbeat.I should have stepped back into my room and closed the door. Instead, neither of us moved. It felt as though the world had narrowed until only the two of us remained.Alpha Jacques finally broke the silence, rubbing the back of his neck with a sigh. "Elsie... I’m going to be completely honest with you. I’ve spent the last three days trying to stay as far away from you as humanly possible."Hearing those words should frighten me, yet they brought an unexpected sense of relief because I was no longer carrying this impossible confusion alone."I know," I whispered. "I've been doing exactly the same thing to you. Every time I hear your voice in a room, I literally turn around and walk the other way.""It’s not working, is it?" he asked, a faint, humorless smile touching his lips. "Every time we end up in the same space, i