Chapter 123
I left Irene’s room with the heaviness of her words still bothering me. The door clicked shut behind me, and for a long moment I stood in the hallway.
She had given me enough to know there was fire behind the smoke…just not enough to hand to Alexander as proof. And she had made me promise not to reveal it came from her. That left me in a tight spot.
I thought of Alexander’s face earlier that day….the cold certainty when he’d said his father had no other children, the conviction in his voice that he knew his entire family tree. He had clung to that firmly. What would happen if I told him what Irene said? He would demand where I got the information from. He would see betrayal in every hesitation, and if Irene’s name slipped from my lips… it would drive a wedge between them that might never close again.
I lingered outside his office door for a moment, gathering myself. I knew I couldn’t let Alexander carry on blind. There had to be another way for him to get answers…one that didn’t betray Irene but still gave him the push he needed.
I knocked once before pushing the door open. He was at his desk, head bent, pen scratching across paper. Always working. Always carrying everything on those shoulders like he had no right to rest.
“Alexander,” I said softly.
He looked up at me blankly for a moment before his eyes softened just slightly. “You should be sleeping.”
I ignored that. “I needed to talk to you.”
That got his attention. He set the pen down, leaning back in his chair, watching me like he already suspected this wasn’t going to be a light conversation.
I walked closer, keeping my hands clasped to keep them from fidgeting. “About the letter. About what it said.”
His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but he didn’t interrupt, just waited.
I drew a breath. “I think you should talk to your mother.”
His brows drew together. “My mother?”
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Chap 171
“Yes.” My voice steadied, even though inside I felt like I was walking a tightrope. “If there’s even the slightest chance that the man who sent that letter is more than just a random pretender, then she would know. If anyone could tell us whether this is truth or manipulation. it would be her.”
He gave a short laugh. “You think I should leave now, when my pack was just attacked days ago, when my people are already tense and watching for the next move, to travel all the way to my mother’s house and ask her whether I might have a brother hiding in the shadows? That’s what you’re suggesting?”
I braced myself. “Yes.”
His eyes narrowed, not in anger, but in that way he did when he was testing the weight of something. “That’s ridiculous, Faye. It’s exactly the kind of distraction someone like this Marcus…or whatever he calls himself…would want. To rattle me. To make me second–guess myself, waste time chasing ghosts while he plots something real. If he wants my throne, hell have to take it from under me. I won’t hand it over by running off to dig through something that clearly doesn’t make sense.”
I exhaled sharply, torn between admiration and exasperation. “You’re impossible. Sometimes I don’t know whether to admire you for standing your ground like that… or knock some sense into you.”
The corner of his mouth twitched, and suddenly his tone shifted, playful in a way that caught me off guard. He leaned forward slightly, his voice low. “I like the sound of both.”
Before I could react, his hand slid around my waist, pulling me closer. The seriousness of the moment almost evaporated in that instant, replaced by the warmth of his body, the heat in his eyes.
For a heartbeat, I nearly let myself sink into it. Nearly. But then I caught myself, pressing my palm lightly against his chest, stopping him just enough. “Don’t distract me.”
He smirked, unrepentant. “Who said I was trying to?”
I steadied my breathing, fighting the smile that threatened to betray me. “Alexander, listen to me. I know you want to stand strong, to prove you can’t be shaken by words on a page. But this isn’t about looking weak or strong. It’s about being prepared. If there’s even a chance this man isn’t bluffing, you need to know what you’re up against.”
His expression sobered again.
“Talk to your mother,” I urged. “Not over the phone. You know as well as I do that this isn’t something for a quick call. Go to her. Ask her directly. If there’s nothing, then fine…we’ll know, and you can focus on the fight in front of you. But if there’s truth in it… you can’t afford to be
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Chapter 123
the last to know. ”
Claim
Silence stretched between us. He studied me like he always did when I pressed him too far, when I refused to simply follow his lead. His pride and his caution warred behind his eyes.
Finally, he let out a long breath. “You’re not going to drop this, are you?”
“No,” I said simply.
A beat of silence. Then, his thumb brushed lightly against my side.
He shook his head, but there was no true anger in it…only reluctant acknowledgment. “Fine. I’ll go. I’ll take a day off and speak with her.” His gaze met mine. “But not because I think there’s truth to this. Only because you won’t let it go.”
I let out a slow breath of relief, a small smile tugging at my lips. “That’s all I’m asking.”
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