A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103

FAYE

I woke to the soft quiet of my room, the faint warmth beside me long gone. My hand instinctively reached across the bed, brushing against nothing but cool sheets.

Alexander must have already gone to his office. For a moment, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to decide if I wanted to face the day at all.

The thought of stepping outside my room felt like walking straight into a nightmare. I could already picture it…the stares, the whispers, the sideways glances that weren’t subtle at all. Everyone in the pack had already branded me: traitor, enemy. It didn’t matter that I hadn’t been given the chance to speak, that I was innocent. In their eyes, guilt had already been written across my skin.

A knot formed in my chest. How was I supposed to survive this? To walk among them knowing every word behind my back was poison?

I pressed the heel of my palm against my eyes, forcing myself to breathe. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter what they think.

That voice in my head was shaky, but I was determined. And then, as if something finally clicked into place, I realized the truth: the pack could look at me however they wanted. They could call me a traitor, spit in my direction, tear me apart with their stares. But Alexander–his opinion was the only one I needed.

He had stood by me. He had believed me without question. He had pulled me from that dungeon, not once asking for proof of my innocence. If he, the Alpha, the one whose word was law in this pack, believed I was innocent…then maybe I could believe it was enough.

That thought gave me the smallest flicker of strength. Enough to finally drag myself out of bed.

I padded across the room and into the bathroom, splashing cold water against my face. The reflection in the mirror didn’t comfort me–it looked pale, my eyes shadowed with exhaustion, my lips drawn tight. I lingered there longer than I meant to, gripping the edges of the sink until my knuckles whitened.

“Come on, Faye,” I whispered to myself. My own voice cracked in the silence, but I forced it to be steadier on the second try. “You can do this. Head up. Shoulders straight. Don’t let them see you crumble.”

The pep talk wasn’t magic…it didn’t erase the worry in my stomach…but it was something.

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And I needed something.

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I freshened up, slipped into a simple outfit, and smoothed the fabric as though the small act could shield me from judgment. My steps to the door felt heavy, but I told myself over and over that hiding in this room all day would only let them win. Whoever set me up wanted me cowering. I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction.

When I finally pushed the door open, the hallway stretched out in front of me like a trial. My pulse quickened as I forced one foot in front of the other, down the familiar path that led toward Alexander’s office.

I paused when I reached the door, staring at the wood as though it might reveal what was happening on the other side. For a moment, doubt crept in again. What if he had changed his mind overnight? What if he regretted defending me so openly? The elders must have pushed back, surely. They must have warned him what it looked like, standing up for me.

I raised my hand, hesitated, then lowered it again. Instead of knocking, I just stood there. Until his voice came from within.

“Come in, Faye.”

He must have smelled me, sensed me somehow.

He was seated behind his desk, probably doing something on the computer, but his eyes lifted immediately to meet mine. And then…he smiled. Not a full grin, not the kind that showed teeth, but something small, tugging at the corner of his lips. Something soft.

It made me falter. My tongue stumbled over the first word. “Hello.”

He didn’t answer right away. He just kept looking at me, that faint smile still playing on his face. And suddenly, I felt heat rush up my neck.

Because I remembered last night. The tears. The way I’d clung to him. The almost–kiss that hung between us–the feeling was unspoken but undeniable. His expression now–it almost looked like an inside joke, like he knew a secret no one else did. And that secret was me.

I quickly dropped my gaze, blushing like some inexperienced girl. My feet carried me further into the office because standing frozen at the door made it worse.

“You look bright this morning,” Alexander said finally. His voice was low, steady, and there was something in his tone I couldn’t place.

I forced a smile. Bright. That wasn’t how I felt inside. But if he wanted to see me that way, I’d give him what I could. “Thank you.”

He leaned back in his chair, studying me with that unreadable gaze of his. “It’s good you’re

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Chapter 103

out. I was waiting for you to wake up.”

That made me blink. “Waiting…for me?”

“Yes.” His tone was honest. “So we could go out.”

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“Go out?” The words tumbled out awkwardly, confusion lacing every syllable. My first thought was that it must be pack business–patrols, council meetings, duty. Something that required my presence as Luna. But right now I didn’t see myself as Luna anyway, at least not yet.

As I asked if it was pack duties, he only shook his head, amusement flickering in his eyes at my expression. “Not for work. I thought you might need a break from within these walls.” His lips curved slightly again. “We could go out for breakfast.” He paused, glanced at the clock.” Well…brunch now.”

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