Chapter 149

Ella POV

My first week as Alexander's wife was... interesting. The media buzzed endlessly about our wedding, and speculation about what Alexander would do next was constant. Pregnancy rumors had already begun to circulate, which I couldn’t help but laugh at.

Living with Alexander turned out to be surprisingly easy. Partly because we were both neat in our habits, but also because he was perfectly content to let me do my own thing—as long as I brought James along.

James was now officially my personal bodyguard, accompanying me everywhere. It was an arrangement I was more than happy to agree to. Not only was I sure the way the weddings had played out would enrage David, making him unpredictable, but Dr. McIntyre was still at large.

There was no telling what her motivations had been or what she might do now that she was desperate. Taking precautions just made sense.

I settled into a routine quickly. Mornings were spent in the gym, afternoons in the office or working from the apartment on my computer.

I remained involved in the planning process for the solar plant, and virtual meetings with my father and other pack members occupied much of my time. Evenings were reserved for dinner with Alexander.

The routine was comfortable and, at least to me, enjoyable. Alexander gave no indication that he was anything less than content, and I did my best not to overthink it.

Alexander worked the same grueling hours I had expected, from early morning until dinner. But, to his credit, he had been good about wrapping up on time during this first week. Judging by August’s comments, however, I knew it wouldn’t last.

August was a constant presence, always reminding Alexander of meetings and obligations he was putting off in the wake of the wedding. I didn’t blame him—that was his job as beta, after all—but I couldn’t shake the feeling that August didn’t like me.

He was the only other person who knew that things between Alexander and me weren’t entirely legitimate. The only one privy to the details of our contract. Perhaps that knowledge made him resent me, which would be perfectly reasonable. I tried not to let it bother me.

Finally, Friday arrived—the day I’d planned to give Alexander the surprise date I had been working on for weeks.

When it was time to leave, I was already prepared. I wore a lovely sundress, with my hair and makeup done to perfection, and accessorized with some of the exquisite jewelry Alexander had gifted me at my first wedding.

I made my way downstairs to meet him. Alexander had been working all morning and into the early afternoon but had gone upstairs about an hour ago to get ready. My heart fluttered with anticipation as I waited for him, hoping the evening I had planned would be a success.

When I saw Alexander in the outfit Antonio had designed for him, I couldn’t help but gasp. I knew it would look good, but he looked like he had stepped straight out of a fashion magazine.

The outfit gave him a slightly rebellious edge that perfectly suited his personality, and yet it was more casual than I’d ever seen him.

The cut of the jacket accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist, while the dark fabric contrasted sharply with his light features, making his bright eyes seem almost luminous.

“This is quite the outfit,” he remarked, smoothing his hands down the front of the jacket before turning in a slow circle, allowing me to admire it fully. “You and Antonio have certainly outdone yourselves.”

“Just Antonio, really. I only paid for it,” I replied.

“And was it worth the price?” Alexander asked, raising an eyebrow at me suggestively.

I rolled my eyes, my go-to response whenever he acted flirtatiously. If I tried to say anything, I’d just embarrass myself—I’d already learned that lesson.

“So, are you going to tell me now what this big plan of yours is?” he asked.

“Not yet,” I replied, smiling at the flicker of frustration on his face. “It’s a surprise. You’ll find out when we get there.”

Alexander sighed dramatically, feigning defeat, and offered me his hand. “Well, we should get going then. I’d hate for us to be late for whatever it is we’re doing.”

“Yes, they’ll certainly start without us if we’re late,” I teased, savoring the brief flash of irritation that crossed his face. It wasn’t often I got the upper hand when it came to teasing Alexander, so I made the most of it.

We got into the car—a sporty model I had specifically chosen for the occasion—which earned me another curious look from Alexander. I met it with a grin and no further explanation.

The drive to the racetrack was short, and we were lucky to have clear skies and unseasonably warm weather. I watched Alexander’s expression carefully as the track came into view.

Realization dawned on him when the car pulled onto the grounds and headed toward the VIP section.

“You got us tickets to the Grand Prix?” he asked, disbelief evident in his voice.

“Yes,” I confirmed, suddenly nervous. “I hope I didn’t misjudge—will you enjoy this?”

He stared at me for so long I began to second-guess myself. But then his face broke into a broad smile. “It’s been so long since I’ve been to a race,” he said. “I can’t believe you thought of this. Who gave you the idea?”

“No one,” I said with a shrug. “It was my idea.”

“But how did it come to you? So few people know about my love of racing.”

I just smiled. I couldn’t exactly explain that the idea had come from a dream of the original timeline.

“I have my ways,” I replied cryptically. “So, are you excited? Was this the right call?”

“This was a great choice,” Alexander said, his tone warm. “You’ve certainly surprised me.”

“Judging by that boyish smile,” I teased, “you’re more than surprised.”

“I’m thrilled,” he admitted, just as the car pulled up to the entrance.

Alexander looked at me with a questioning expression, but beneath it, I could see a flicker of fondness. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he almost looked emotional.

Was it possible that he was truly so touched by this surprise? It was hard to imagine him being moved by much—he was always in such perfect control of his emotions. Yet, in this moment, I felt as though I could read his expression easily.

Seeing the look on his face brought a fluttering sensation back to my stomach. I had wanted to show my gratitude to Alexander, but I hadn’t expected his reaction to stir such a strong one in me. It was thrilling to see him so happy.

“I booked a VIP box,” I informed him, trying to keep my voice casual. “We’ll be able to watch comfortably, and I think it’s quite close to the track.”

Alexander nodded approvingly. “I appreciate this very much,” he said warmly. “I tried so hard to figure out what you had planned, but it never even occurred to me to check the racetrack. I’ve never known a woman who’s enjoyed a car race.”

“I like them just fine, though it’s not something I would have chosen for myself. I just had a feeling it would suit you.”

Alexander glanced down at his jacket, a slight smirk playing on his lips, before turning his charming smile back to me. “It seems to me you have a much better understanding of what suits me than even I do.”