A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56

SILVER HOLLOW

+25 Points

Sage sat across from her friend, Laura. Her hands wrapped around a glass of wine. Laura had been watching her carefully.

For the last twenty minutes, their conversation had been meandering…about the weather, about the new bakery opening near the border of town, about gossip from within the pack. But finally, Laura shifted in her seat, her voice casual, though her gaze was anything but.

“So,” she said, reaching for her glass of water, “what’s going on between you and Alpha

Jason?”

Sage blinked, caught off guard. “What do you mean?” she asked, her tone almost defensive. She shifted slightly in her seat, trying to compose herself.

Laura shrugged lightly, sipping her water. “Exactly what I asked. What’s going on with you two?”

Sage hesitated, then forced a smile. “Nothing, really. We’re doing great.” Her voice had the kind of firmness that suggested she wanted to end the topic there.

But Laura wasn’t convinced. She tilted her head, lips curving into a knowing smirk. “Oh? Because to be honest, it seems odd. You, here–without him.” She gestured with her fork toward Sage, then around the café. “The two of you are practically glued together most of the time. Lovebirds, everyone calls you. And since the mating ceremony, this is only the first time you’ve stepped into town without him? With me, instead?”

Sage felt her smile fade. She set her glass down gently and folded her hands on the table, pretending to be calm. “Well,” she began carefully, “I’ve been thinking that a little space every now and then is healthy. For both of us.”

”

Laura arched a brow, her fork pausing midair. “Space? Since when did you start thinking like

that?”

Sage’s eyes dropped to her plate. She toyed with the edge of her napkin, her voice quieter now. “Since it started to feel like Jason was… taking me for granted. Lately, he’s been… different, I won’t lie.” She exhaled, trying to phrase it in a way that wouldn’t sound as raw as it felt. “Out of nowhere, he suggested that maybe we should have separate chambers, because he wanted to set up some kind of private study in it. Can you imagine? Separate chambers. Like he wanted distance.”

Laura’s fork clinked against her plate as she set it down. “He actually said that?”

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“Yes.” Sage lifted her gaze, meeting her friend’s. There was no anger in her expression, just a fragile mixture of confusion and hurt. “So I decided to grant him that desire. If he wants space, fine, I’ll give him space. And I won’t stop there…I want him to miss me. To realize what it feels like when I’m not around all the time. So I’ve started being more independent. Stepping out and doing my own thing.”

Laura leaned back in her chair, a teasing smile forming. “Hmm. That’s a bold move.” She paused, then added with a playful smirk, “But you do realize you’re taking a risk, right? Someone might swoop in and steal his affection while you’re busy making him miss you.”

For a heartbeat, Sage only stared, then laughter burst out of her. She laughed so hard she had to clutch at her stomach, the sound drawing a glance from the couple seated at the next table. “Laura, please,” she said between chuckles. “Jason would never cheat on me. Never!

He loves me…he adores me.”

But Laura didn’t laugh with her. She tilted her head, studying Sage. Slowly, she asked, “Are you

sure about that?”

The laughter died on Sage’s lips. She frowned, confusion mixing with a hint of unease. “What do you mean?”

Laura’s gaze remained fixed on her. “I mean, you’re so confident he could never cheat on you. But, Sage… don’t forget. Jason cheated on Faye….with you.” Her voice was soft now. “And everyone thought he loved and adored her too.”

Sage froze, her body stiffening. Her chest tightened as if the air itself had thickened. The mention of Faye in this situation made her uncomfortable. Guilt pricked at her.

She opened her mouth but no words came. Her mind reeled, memories surfacing she had worked so hard to bury: Faye’s devastated face when she found out, the silence that had followed, the weight of shame Sage carried ever since, even though she was too proud to

admit.

The harsh truth behind Laura’s words gnawed at her, pressing against the fragile walls of the certainty she had built around herself.

Finally, she found her voice, though it trembled with anger more than conviction. “Stop.” She raised a hand, cutting Laura off before she could continue. “I’m not Faye. Do you hear me? I’m not her. And I know how to keep my man.”

Her words cracked like a whip, but even as they left her lips, Sage knew they were more for herself than for Laura. A desperate defense, a wall hastily erected against the creeping doubt rushing through her.

Laura leaned back, surrendering with a small shrug, though her eyes lingered on Sage for a

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moment. She didn’t press further. “Alright,” she said softly, returning her attention to her plate. She speared a piece of grilled chicken and began to eat.

After a moment, Laura cleared her throat, taking a sip of water. “So, has Alpha Jason finally decided whether he’ll release the funds for the new watchtowers? Or are we all still waiting on him to pretend it’s not urgent?”

There had been a request for additional watchtowers to be erected along the borders, and the entire pack had been waiting for weeks for Jason to approve the budget…yet not a single word from him.

Sage’s smile was tight. “I’ll speak with him later today. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Laura said, smiling “You’ve always been good at smoothing him over.”

The words pricked, but Sage only reached for her dessert. “It’s called understanding your

mate.”

Laura’s smirk flickered again, that half–amused, half–knowing curve of her lips. “Mm. Understanding. Some people call it…something else.”

Sage’s fingers tightened around the fork, though her tone remained light. “If you

something to say, Laura, you can just say it.”

have

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