Chapter 248
FAYE
After briefing the warriors, Alexander returned to the chambers.
I heard his footsteps before I saw him. I had been pacing the sitting room like a restless ghost, my bare feet tracing the same invisible path across the rug, my teeth worrying my bottom lip until it almost hurt. Every second stretched too long. Every breath felt borrowed.
‘The moment he stepped inside, I turned so fast I nearly collided with him.
“Alexander,” I said, the words tumbling out of me in a rush, fear and resolve tangled together. “I’m going with you tomorrow.”
His brows pulled together immediately. “No.”
Just one word. Flat. Final.
I stared at him, disbelief flaring hot in my chest. “No?” I repeated. “You didn’t even let me finish.”
“I don’t need to,” he said, already shaking his head. “You’re not going.”
Something sharp twisted inside me. “You don’t get to decide that for me.”
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, the faint lines of exhaustion cutting deeper into his face than they had any right to. “Faye-”
“I have my wolf now. I can fight,” I cut in quickly, stepping closer, forcing him to look at me. “And you know it. I’m not helpless. I’m not fragile. Stop treating me like I’m made of glass just because I’m pregnant.”
His jaw tightened. “This isn’t about underestimating you.”
“Yes, it is,” I snapped. “Ever since I got pregnant, you’ve been acting like I might shatter if someone breathes wrong near me.”
He didn’t budge. “And I’m still not letting you go.”
Frustration surged, thick and choking. “How can you expect me to sit here and do nothing? ” I demanded. “Your mother is in danger, Alexander. And she’s in this mess because of me.”
“That’s enough,” he said sharply.
I flinched, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. “ If they hadn’t been after me, Helen wouldn’t be in their hands, I can’t just wait around while everyone else risks their lives.”
13
< Chapter 249
He stepped closer, his voice dropping, firm. “This is not your fault.”
*25 Pants
“You keep saying that like it’ll magically make it true,” I whispered. “But it doesn’t change anything.”
“It changes everything,” he countered. “Shadow Fang made a choice. Helen trusted the wrong person. None of that is on you.”
I shook my head, tears burning at the backs of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. “You don’t understand what it feels like to be the reason someone you love is suffering.”
His gaze softened, and that almost broke me. “I understand more than you think.”
I pressed my palms against his chest, just enough to feel the steady beat of his heart. “Please,” I said quietly. “I can’t do this, Alexander. I can’t sit here and wait.”
He covered my hands with his own. “And I can’t let you walk into their territory knowing you’re exactly what they want.”
I froze.
“They don’t want Helen,” he continued gently. “They want you. Sending you there would be handing them their prize.”
I swallowed hard. I knew he was right. I hated that he was right.
“I won’t let them take me,” I said, my voice low, fierce. “I’ll fight.”
He almost smiled. Almost. “That’s what scares me.”
My chest tightened. “You know I wouldn’t go down easily.”
“That’s not the point,” he said. “You are my mate. And you are carrying our child. I won’t gamble with either of you.”
The words wrapped around me like a cage–protective, suffocating, loving all at once.
I looked away, jaw clenched. I hated how reasonable he sounded. Hated how powerless it made me feel.
“I won’t let them win,” I muttered.
A spark of mischief flickered briefly in his eyes, like he was reaching for something lighter to keep us both from drowning. “To be fair,” he said casually, “I’m not entirely convinced you can fight as well as you claim.”
I blinked, turning back to him. “What?”
He shrugged. “I mean, I’ve never actually fought you. So I can’t really attest to that.”
0013
13 O
10
2/4.
< Chapter 249
Offended didn’t even begin to cover it. “Excuse me?”
Before I could stop myself, I nudged him sharply in the ribs. “You’re unbelievable.”
+25 Points
He laughed, the sound surprising both of us, soft and genuine, cutting through the tension. “See?” he teased. “Aggressive, yes. Deadly?… not so sure.”
I huffed, turning away from him and stalking toward the bedroom.
“Faye,” he called after me, amusement still lacing his voice.
I didn’t respond. I just kept walking.
The moment I reached the bed, all the strength drained out of me. I sat down hard, my shoulders slumping as everything I’d been holding back crashed over me–the fear, the guilt, the
helplessness. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, tears spilled over.
I barely heard him come in behind me.
His voice followed, softer now, edged with disbelief and concern.
“Are you seriously crying right now?”
I sniffed hard, embarrassed by the sound it made in the quiet room, and wiped at my face with the back of my hand before I could stop myself. Tears still slipped through anyway, hot and stubborn, blurring my vision.
Alexander stood there, looking genuinely thrown.
“ Are you crying?” he asked again, not harshly–just confused, like the ground had shifted under his feet and he hadn’t felt it move.
That did it.
A shaky laugh escaped me, broken and breathless, and I pressed my palm over my mouth as I tried to rein it in. I shook my head, more at myself than at him.
“I-” My voice cracked immediately. I stopped, inhaled slowly, then tried again. “I don’t even know why I’m crying.”
Alexander frowned slightly, his head tilting as he studied me, like he was trying to assess whether this was a threat he needed to neutralize or something fragile he needed to approach carefully.
“You were ready to fight me five minutes ago,” he said. “Now you’re-”
“I know,” I cut in quickly, swiping at my cheeks again. “I know. That’s why it’s stupid.”
I looked down at my lap, at my fingers twisting together, and the realization settled in with
3/4
< Chapter 249 uncomfortable clarity.
Comments
D
LUCK DRAW >
H
209
Vote
+25 Pointe