Chapter 239
FAYE
I knew I heard Alexander’s voice.
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That realization came before I even reached the office door–before I consciously registered where I was headed. His voice had a way of anchoring itself in my awareness, calm and low and unmistakable, like a familiar thread I could always follow.
So I pushed the door open without knocking.
“I knew it,” I said lightly as I stepped inside. “I thought I heard you- ”
And then I stopped.
Helen was sitting across from Alexander’s desk.
Not standing. Not passing through.
Sitting.
My steps slowed automatically as my mind caught up with what my eyes were seeing. Weren’t they supposed to be at her house? Alexander had said he was going to see his mother. I’d
assumed that meant… there.
Instead, here they both were. Together in his office.
Helen looked up, her expression smoothing into something warm. Alexander noticed my hesitation a second later, his gaze lifting to meet mine–and the faintest hint of amusement
flickered there.
I recovered quickly.
“Hi,” I said, smiling as I walked fully into the room.
Helen stood immediately, arms opening, and I met her halfway. We exchanged cheek kisses the way we always did–easy, affectionate, practiced.
“How are you, sweetheart?” she asked softly as we pulled apart.
“I’m okay,” I said honestly. “Really.”
Over Helen’s shoulder, I caught Alexander’s eye. He gave me a look–half apologetic, half conspiratorial–and mouthed, It’s a long story.
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
When Helen stepped back, her gaze lingered on me with quiet scrutiny. “How are you feeling,” she said, “after the whole thing?”
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I shrugged lightly. “I’ve faced worse.”
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It was true–but the words seemed to land differently than I expected. Something in Helen’s expression shifted. Just for a moment. Discomfort, maybe. Or guilt.
I noticed it. Filed it away.
“Well,” I said gently, glancing between the two of them, “I won’t interrupt. It looks like you were in the middle of something important.”
I turned slightly toward the door, ready to excuse myself.
“Faye,” Helen said quickly.
I paused and looked back at her.
“I need to apologize to you,” she said.
That stopped me completely.
I glanced at Alexander without thinking. He was watching his mother closely, his face carefully neutral. He didn’t say anything.
“Apologize?” I repeated, confused.
Helen nodded. “For what happened to you in my house.”
My brows furrowed. “Helen, that wasn’t your fault.”
She inhaled slowly. “It might have been.”
That made my heart skip.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Before Helen could answer, Alexander spoke.
“We don’t know for sure yet,” he said calmly. “But it looks like someone may have been keeping a close eye on her. Close enough to know when you were there.”
I felt something cold settle in my chest.
“So they got to me… through you?” I asked quietly, turning back to Helen.
Her jaw tightened. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. The room felt heavier, layered with things I didn’t fully understand yet–but one thing was clear.
I stepped closer to Helen and took her hands gently in mine.
“I trust you, Helen,” I said simply. “I know you wouldn’t put me in harm’s way intentionally. Whatever
Chapter 240
happened–it could’ve happened to anyone.”
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Her eyes softened immediately, moisture gathering at the edges. “Thank you,” she murmured.
I squeezed her hands once before letting go.
The tension eased–just slightly.
I turned then and crossed the room toward Alexander. I leaned in close, lowering my voice.
“I was going to ask what you want for dinner,” I said softly.
His lips curved instantly.
He leaned closer, his voice dropping into my ear. “You.”
I nearly gasped the moment I understood his point.
My eyes widened as heat rushed straight to my face. I straightened quickly, acutely aware that
Helen was still in the room.
Alexander looked far too pleased with himself.
I cleared my throat and turned back to Helen, grateful for the distraction. “You’re staying over, I
hope?”
She smiled apologetically. “No, I think I’ll head out.”
“But it’s late,” I said immediately. “You should just spend the night.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
I glanced at Alexander pointedly.
He didn’t seem to notice.
I waited a beat. Then another.
Nothing.
I reached out and pinched his arm.
He reacted instantly. “Ow–what?”
I gave him a look.
“Oh,” he said, catching on at last. He turned to Helen. “You should stay, Mom. It’s safer. I can drop you off tomorrow.”
Helen studied him for a long moment.
Then she smiled. “All right,” she said. “I’ll stay.”
< Chapter 240
Relief washed through me.
“I’ll let the kitchen know,” I said quickly, already turning toward the door.
–
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I had just turned the corner that led toward the kitchen when something in the living room caught
my eye.
Movement.
I slowed instinctively, my steps quiet as I angled my head slightly to be sure I wasn’t imagining it.
I diverted from my original path.
And that was when I saw her.
Diana stood near the edge of the living room, as though she belonged there. Her posture was composed, hands loosely clasped in front of her… her expression neutral.
I stopped a few feet away, my presence registering almost immediately.
What is she doing here? I wondered.
Technically, Diana had every right to be in the pack house. She was still a member, still protected. Still… tolerated.
But this wing?
This was the alpha’s wing. Private.
Which meant she was either here to see him–or me.
And I already knew which was more likely.
The moment she noticed me, her face brightened unnaturally, like a switch had been flipped.
“Thank goodness,” she said with a relieved smile. “I was hoping I’d see Alexander, but- ”
“No,” I said calmly, cutting in before she could finish
The word wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be.
She blinked, momentarily thrown off.
“If you’re going to speak about him,” I continued evenly, my tone smooth and measured, “then you’ll start by correcting yourself. It’s Alpha Alexander to you.”
The smile on her face faltered–just slightly.
For a brief second, irritation flashed in her eyes before she smoothed it over, forcing her lips back
into place.
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“Of course,” she said tightly. “Alpha Alexander.”
I nodded once, acknowledging the correction.
Then I smiled.
Mirrored her expression perfectly.
“He’s busy at the moment,” I added pleasantly. “He’s talking with his mother. You can wait.”
The effect was immediate.
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At the mention of Helen, Diana’s shoulders stiffened almost imperceptibly. Her fingers curled inward, betraying a tension she clearly hadn’t expected to surface so quickly.
She recovered fast–but not fast enough.
I saw it.
Every flicker, every crack.
“Oh, ” she said after a beat, her voice strained. “In that case, I’ll just… come back tomorrow.”
I inclined my head slightly. “That would be best.”
She didn’t argue. Didn’t linger.
As she turned and walked away, I already knew why
Of course she would run.
Facing the mother of the mate she abandoned? The woman whose son she’d rejected in favor of his father–her husband?
That kind of reunion would take a strength Diana didn’t possess.
A small smirk curved my lips as she disappeared from view.
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