A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53

ALEXANDER

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I had got off the phone with Cole…he said they were on their way back. I thought I’d use the time to speak sense into Bella before they arrived. I didn’t want Faye walking in on the

conversation.

As expected, Bella shifted into defense mode the moment she walked into my office. She had been standing in front of my desk for the last ten minutes, pacing back and forth like a caged wolf, her hands flailing as she ranted.

“I cannot believe you’re treating me this way, Alex!” she snapped, her voice pitched high with frustration. “After everything we’ve shared, after all the loyalty I’ve shown, this is how you repay me? Dismissing me like some nuisance while she…” her mouth twisted in disgust at the word…“while she gets to do whatever she wants.”

I sat still in my chair, leaning back slightly, hands folded in front of me. I let her words spill out, uninterrupted. There was no point in arguing with Bella in that mode; she thrived on the drama, needed the chance to spin her own narrative. If I tried to stop her now, she’d only turn sharper, louder, more insistent. So I waited.

Finally, she paused, drawing in a breath as if expecting me to bend, to soothe her, to give her

what she wanted.

“Bella,” I said calmly, “I told you yesterday I would investigate what happened, and I did. I took it seriously, despite the fact that you have a history of provoking others. I asked questions. And do you know what I learned?”

Her lips pressed into a thin line, but she said nothing.

“That Faye didn’t attack you,” I continued. “She didn’t even want to fight you, even though you taunted her. You challenged her, and pushed her to the ground in front of the entire pack and forced her hand.”

Bella’s eyes rolled so hard I almost thought she’d injure herself. “Of course she lied to you.

She had to. She…”

My patience snapped. My voice dropped lower. “Don’t insult me, Bella. Faye didn’t tell me a damn thing…not a word. She never mentioned it. I found out by asking others. They all saw you, remember? You disrespected her, again, and now you have the audacity to come here and lie to me, claiming she attacked you? What did you think was going to happen?”

Her mouth fell open slightly, shock flickering across her features before morphing into

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offense. “So now you’re charging at me because of her? Really, Alexander? You’re turning on me for her? You don’t care about us anymore.”

I exhaled slowly, shaking my head. “That’s ridiculous, don’t twist this. There was never anything between us beyond… physical convenience and you knew that. We both did.”

She flinched, though she tried to mask it with a scoff. “Even if that’s true, you can’t expect me to just get used to someone parading herself around here as your mate. Especially not her.”

A laugh escaped me. “I admit that at some point, we were stupid…I was losing control and you were desperate for attention. But don’t act like you believed it would lead anywhere. You knew better, Bella. You knew you could never be my mate, let alone the Luna of this pack. Unless, of course, you’ve been delusional all along. It was all a bad idea from the start.”

Her eyes narrowed, and for the first time I saw something dangerous there…not just desperation, but spite. She moved closer, stopping at the edge of my desk. She leaned forward, her voice softening. “You don’t mean all that, Alexander. You’ve never spoken to me like this. You still want me and you know it.”

Really? How could she be so delusional, even with the truth staring her in the face.

I stared at her blankly. Once upon a time, perhaps, her antics might have worked. But now, all I could think about was how pathetic it felt…how forced.

When her attempt at seduction failed, her mouth curled into a sneer, and of course she reached for the same weapon she always used when threatened: Faye. “And her? That little girl you call a mate? You think she’s good enough to stand by your side? To satisfy you?She’s

not even…”

“Enough.” I straightened in my chair. Bella froze, her words dying on her lips. “I have let you get away with far too much. I’ve tolerated your behavior, your attitude, your constant disrespect toward Faye. And do you know why? Because of my father.”

Her brows furrowed, confused.

“I made him a promise,” I continued. “To look after you. To make sure you were cared for after he was gone. That’s the only reason I’ve let you have your way. But do not mistake my restraint for permission.”

She opened her mouth, but I cut her off with a raised hand.

“Disrespecting other pack members is one thing, I can handle that. But disrespecting my mate–your Luna–in front of the pack?” My jaw tightened. “That undermines her authority. It undermines me. It gives room for them to look down on her, and that is something I will not tolerate.”

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Her breathing quickened. “What are you going to do, then?” she asked, her voice slipping back into that breathy attempt at seduction as she touched my arms slowly. She leaned closer, eyes flashing. “Are you going to punish me?”

For a moment, silence stretched between us. Then I smirked, letting her see just how serious

I was.

“No, Bella,” I said quietly. “I won’t punish you. But if you ever pull another stunt like that again, if you ever disrespect Faye… whether in private or in front of the pack…then I’ll let her decide your punishment herself. In her authority as Luna.”

The words landed like a strike. Her face drained of color, her lips parting in disbelief. She hadn’t expected that from me. She’d thought, perhaps, I would scold her, threaten her, maybe even indulge her twisted little game. But giving Faye authority over her? That was a slap she hadn’t seen coming.

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