A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 42

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Chapter 42

FAYE

Alexander’s voice carried across the sitting room before I even turned to see him.

“What did I do this time?‘ he said casually while adjusting his cufflinks.

I kept my eyes on him for a moment only half–interested, but Irene twisted in her seat, grinning at the sight of him.

He walked in, dressed in a gray suit, his tie knotted perfectly. It struck me immediately how formal it was, clearly, he was on his way somewhere important.

I chose not to ask…not like he would tell me even if I did anyway.

Irene, never missing an opportunity to stir things just a little said, “Oh, nothing much. I was just telling Faye a few of your secrets, some of the most embarrassing ones.”

Her tone was light, but still I saw Alexander’s brows twitch. He rolled his eyes as if she’d said something tiresome and not worth dignifying with an answer…he was obviously used to her drama.

“Very funny, Irene,” he said flatly, his expression bored.

That, of course, only made Irene laugh. She clearly enjoyed needling him, though it was always in an affectionate way.

For me, I didn’t engage, I dropped my gaze back to the page of my book, though I’d already lost track of the last sentence I’d been pretending to read.

As always, his presence had unsettled me in a way I didn’t care to admit…not to him, and certainly not to myself. If Irene wanted to joke, she could. I chose the safer route of silence, as though ignoring him would somehow anchor me against whatever storm always

threatened to come with him.

“Going somewhere?” Irene asked after a moment, her voice softening as she took in the outfit properly.

“Yes,” he said, adjusting his tie without looking directly at either of us. “Out of town, actually. I may not be back tonight…whatever happens, I’ll let you know.”

That pulled my eyes from the book despite myself. I tilted my head toward him, studying his face, trying to read past the careful neutrality he always wore. Out of town? And only telling us now? At least he could have told Irene.

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Wall I said, my voice sharper than I’d intended, though I softened it quickly “You’re requtrig now? Where exactly are you going that would require you to stay overnight

He didn’t change his expression, didn’t even blink “A business meeting” he said simply as if that were enough

1 frowned, closing my book slowly, placing it on the table beside me. My patience was thinning, but I tried not to let it show. “A business meeting.” I repeated “And you didn’t think to mention this until you were already walking out the door? That’s not fair.”

His eyes flicked to mine…cold as usual. “You know now,” he said. “That’s what matters.”

That answer made something tighten in my chest. How could he be so casually dismissive about something so important? It wasn’t about control, not entirely. It was about respect for those around him. About the simple courtesy of letting the people who shared his roof, who depended on his presence, know where he would be and why.

Irene, who had been watching the exchange quietly, finally stepped in. “Faye’s right, Alex,” she said gently. “You can’t just spring things like this on us. A little notice would be nice…if you couldn’t tell me, you could have at least told the your mate, Faye.”

But Alexander was already glancing at his watch, his impatience obvious in the way his jaw tightened. He nodded distractedly, not really absorbing Irene’s words. “Fine,” he said. “Point taken. I’ll make a note of it next time.”

The words sounded more like a tactic to end the conversation than any real agreement. He was already reaching for the door, his focus somewhere far beyond this room.

“Alexander…” I started, but he cut me off with a quick shake of his head.

“I’m almost late, Faye,” he said calmly. “We’ll talk later.”

And just like that, he was gone. The door clicked shut behind him.

I sat there for a moment, staring at the spot where he had been, frustration coiling tightly in my chest. Irene let out a slow breath, shaking her head.

“That man,” she muttered softly. “Always in a rush, always half here, half somewhere else.”

I didn’t respond, because I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to believe he trusted Irene, even if he didn’t trust me…yet he shuts her out too. Now I’m even more confused.

Deep down, I wanted to believe that beneath his stoic exterior, he would one day care enough to include me in certain issues, to treat me as a partner instead of an afterthought.

But tonight was just another harsh reminder. He moved according to his own rules, his own

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rhythms, and the rest of us whether his mate or sister were expected to keep up, or be left

behind.

Irene reached over and touched my hand lightly, her smile gentle “Don’t let it get to you” she said softly “That’s just how he is. He thinks keeping things close makes it easier for

everyone”

“Does it?” I asked, unable to keep the sharpness from my voice. “Does it really make it easier to be shut out?”

She was the complete opposite of Alexander, who seemed to wrap himself in ice whenever anyone got too close. That contrast had been gnawing at me for days, maybe weeks, and I finally decided to ask her the question that had been lodged in my chest.

“Irene.” I said carefully, my tone testing the ground. “How do you cope with him? With Alexander, I mean. One moment he’s almost reasonable, almost human, and the next he’s… back to shutting everyone out…cold as ice. Doesn’t it drive you mad?”

She tilted her head, her lips curving into that patient smile she seemed to reserve for moments when people bared their confusion. “He’s not always that difficult,” she said sweetly, her voice soft enough to make the words sound like truth instead of wishful thinking. “In fact, he’s the sweetest big brother anyone could ask for.”

Sweetest. The word clanged in my head like a bell struck off–key. I stared at her, trying to reconcile her claim with the man I had to endure as my mate. Alexander, with his cold glares, clipped words, and the constant weight of authority pressing down on everyone around him…

Sweet was not the word I would have chosen, not even close.

I leaned back, my brows knitting. “I… I suppose I can see that, in a way. No matter what mood he’s in, he always speaks to you with caution. It’s like he’s careful with you in ways he isn’t with the rest. And he does take good care of you.”

Irene’s eyes softened, and she smirked, leaning just slightly toward me as though she were letting me in on a secret. “And,” she added playfully, “he’s also the best mate anyone could

ask for.”

I blinked. “Excuse me?”

Her laugh rang out like chimes in the wind, light and unrestrained. She wasn’t mocking me exactly, but the sound still made my cheeks warm. She must have seen the disbelief stamped across my face because she lifted her hands in surrender, shaking her head with a

smile.

“I know, I know,” she said, amusement dancing in her eyes. “It sounds unbelievable. But I mean it, Faye.”

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1 med my wine, hanwing my eyes the “The hear mate? Are we talking about the same Aterander? Because I’m etruggling here I can’t even imagina has anyone could consider hie behavior and eth wash him the heret at anything that requires affection

its pepersian sobered a little, though the warmth never left her eyes. I understand why you’d think that she admitted gently “Most people only ever see the Alpha in him the shield, the sharp edges, the man who carries burdens none of us could begin to understand He lets the world believe that’s all there is.”

I wanted to scoff, to shake my head, to argue, but Irene’s voice carried such conviction that found myself listening instead.

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