A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

FAYE

Dinner was quiet.

Alexander sat across from me, his plate barely touched, though his fork kept moving food around as if to keep his hands busy. I wasn’t much better…I focused on my meal like it was the only thing in the room, as though chewing and swallowing would keep me from speaking the thoughts that pressed at my lips.

Once upon a time, this kind of silence was our norm. Back when I was still adjusting to him, back when conversation was scarce and his walls were high. But not anymore, we had long passed that phase. Now silence meant something. Silence meant distance.

And I knew he could see it.

He adjusted in his chair, studying me. “Are you alright?”

I forced myself to look up, my fork paused halfway to my mouth. “I’m fine.”

Even I could hear the unnecessary sharpness in my response.

His eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion, but in recognition. He knew I was lying. Of course he did, he always knew. He didn’t push right though. That was Alexander–sometimes he liked to let silence draw the truth out. But tonight, I wasn’t going to let it hang.

I set my fork down a little harder than necessary and sighed. “Screw it. I can’t sit here pretending like everything’s fine. I didn’t like the way you spoke to your mother earlier.”

His brows arched in surprise. That was clearly not the complaint he had been expecting.” What was wrong with the way I spoke to her?” His tone was calm but edged, like he was already bracing himself for the argument. “She was being overbearing as always. And not just with me this time…she dragged you into it.”

I lifted my gaze to meet his. “Maybe her method wasn’t the best, I’ll give you that. But Alexander, she was doing what she thought was right for you. Just as any mother would.”

He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “That’s the problem. It doesn’t matter what she thinks is right. She’s my mother…I know how she works. If I don’t stand my ground and shut her idea down, she’ll keep applying pressure until she gets her way. That’s what I grew up with. That’s who she is.”

I wanted to argue, but part of me understood. I had seen glimpses of Helen’s strength, her sharpness, the way she could push without seeming to. But still… “I understand,” I said

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Chapter 134

slowly, “but I still don’t agree with how you handled it.”

His jaw tightened. “I was defending you.”

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My heart softened at that, but not enough to let it go. “And I’m grateful for that. Really. But I wasn’t exactly in need of that kind of defending. Not against her.”

His eyes searched mine, like he was trying to decipher whether I meant that or whether I was falling under Helen’s influence. His silence told me exactly what he was thinking.

“You hurt her feelings, Alexander,” I added gently.

He scoffed under his breath, shaking his head. “Of course I did. That’s her tactic–make me feel guilty, get me to bend. You don’t see it now, Faye, but that’s how it works.”

“Maybe. Or maybe she’s just a mother who loves her son and feels shut out.” My voice softened. “She lost a piece of you yesterday when you walked away disappointed. And then today, you slammed the door in her face. You think she doesn’t feel that? You should apologize to her.”

His expression softened a little. A crack in the steel mask. He sighed and ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “Damn it, Faye…”

I folded my hands in my lap, waiting. “Please…” I added.

He glanced at me, reluctant but yielding. “Fine, I’ll talk to her… I’ll apologize.”

Relief should have washed over me, but it didn’t. Not fully. Because something inside me still

ached.

He must have seen it in my expression, the way my lips pressed into a line, the way I couldn’t quite smile. “You’re still not happy.” It wasn’t a question.

I shook my head slightly. “I’m not sure how I feel.”

He frowned. “About what exactly?”

I dropped my gaze to my plate, pushing food around without tasting it. How could I tell him? How could I explain that the sting I felt wasn’t just about how he treated his mother, but about the way he had reacted to her words?

Helen’s suggestion had unsettled me, of course. I wasn’t eager to follow her path, to give in to her pressure about giving Alexander an heir. But still… a part of me couldn’t help the sting I’d felt at his reaction. The way he recoiled, like the idea itself was poison. Like the thought of having a child with me was the worst thing in the world.

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* Chapter 134

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Was it just his mother’s interference that enraged him? Or was it the idea itself–that deep down, he didn’t see me as the one to carry that legacy with him?

The questions churned silently, burning the back of my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask them. Not tonight. Maybe not ever.

Instead, I forced a small smile and picked up my fork again. “It’s nothing… just the tension from the whole situation earlier. That’s all.”

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push either. He simply watched me, as if he was trying to piece together a puzzle with missing pieces.

I had been training with the warriors for nearly an hour this morning, sweat clinging to my skin, my arms aching with the satisfying burn of repetition.

Kyle lunged toward me, wooden staff aimed high, and I twisted just enough to knock him off balance. A chorus of cheers and groans followed from the younger warriors gathered

around.

They’d gotten used to me sparring alongside them, but I could tell some still found it strange to see their Luna throwing herself into drills with this much stubbornness.

I was just catching my breath when a shift in the air made me pause. That awareness I could never ignore prickled down my spine before I even turned. Alexander.

I didn’t have to look to know he was there. I could feel him.

Still, when my eyes darted to the edge of the training ground, my stomach gave a small, traitorous twist. He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, watching me like I was the only one worth seeing.

I swallowed and pretended I wasn’t flustered. “Kyle,” I called, tossing him the staff. “Take it from here.”

He blinked, surprised, but obeyed. My feet carried me straight toward Alexander.

“What’s up?” I asked, stopping just close enough to catch the heat radiating off him.

He pulled something from the inside of his jacket and held it out between two fingers, waving

it slightly like it was both an accusation and a joke.

An envelope.

“The hell is this?” he asked.

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I exhaled through my nose. “An invitation.”

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“To Silver Hollow,” he drawled, his eyes narrowing as if testing my reaction. “When were you planning on telling me?”

I shrugged, trying for casual. “I was going to. I just…forgot.”

“Forgot,” he repeated, voice dripping with disbelief.

I bit my lip, amused despite myself. He was suspicious…of course he was suspicious. That was Alexander. And in fairness…he wasn’t entirely wrong.

“You think I hid it from you?” I asked, tilting my head.

His silence said everything.

I laughed under my breath. “Relax. There’s nothing to hide. I wasn’t planning on going, so why would I?”

That earned me a sharper look, one eyebrow arched like I’d just spoken blasphemy. “You weren’t planning on going?”

“Why would I?” I shrugged again, feigning innocence. “It’s your summit, not mine. You’re the Alpha. You decide if you want to go.” I wasn’t about to start telling him my reasons… it’ll be

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