A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 85

As Bella stepped into the corridor from Alexander’s room, she let out the breath she had been holding. Her palms were still damp, and she could almost hear the wild beat of her heart echoing in her ears.

For those few minutes inside, with Alexander’s phone in her hand, she had danced on the edge of disaster. But she had pulled it off–brilliantly, flawlessly.

Right there, while pretending to observe the details of the shoes, she had bought herself just enough time to search. Her fingers had worked quickly, skimming through the gallery until her eyes caught what Gerald wanted.

She forwarded it to her own number in one smooth move and erased the trail before her

nerves could betray her. It was all so clean–no stray notifications, no lingering history, no hint left behind. There was no way Alexander would ever figure it out.

Her lips curled into a smile as she moved swiftly down the corridor, forcing herself not to break into a triumphant run. Inside, her thoughts were racing, wild and sharp like sparks snapping in a fire. That’s it. That’s done. Gerald will finally have what he needs. And Faye… oh, sweet Faye. Your little reign in this pack is crumbling before it even begins.

Bella’s chest swelled with satisfaction. She imagined the look on Faye’s face when the ground was pulled out from under her, when the illusion of security shattered. The picture was more than an image–it was a weapon, and Bella had just placed it in the hands of the one man willing to use it against her.

She hurried along the hall, biting her lip to hold back the laughter bubbling in her throat. Excitement fizzed through her veins like wine, and she had to grip the side of the banister just to steady herself. By the time she reached her room, she couldn’t contain it any longer. She shut the door behind her, threw herself onto her bed, and buried her face in the pillows with a muffled laugh.

“I’m just too smart,” she whispered aloud, giddy with her own genius. The words tasted delicious on her tongue. She stretched out on the mattress, savoring the sweet glow of victory, then rolled over and grabbed her phone. There was only one more step left.

She dialed Elder Gerald’s number, her heart thrumming with anticipation. The line rang once, twice, and then his familiar voice came through.

“Bella.”

A slow smile spread across her face. She didn’t waste time on greetings. “I have the picture,” she said, her voice smooth, as if she hadn’t just risked everything for it. “I’m sending it to you

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now.”

“Good girl. I knew I could trust you,” Gerald said.

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Bella rolled her eyes. “I’ve done my part. Now it’s your turn, don’t let my effort go to waste.”

FAYE

I had planned to go for a run this morning, but right now, getting out of bed felt like waging a war I hadn’t signed up for. My body ached in ways I couldn’t even describe, as though fire lived beneath my skin, licking through my veins and settling heavily in my bones.

Every movement pulled at me, dragging me deeper into exhaustion. My head throbbed mercilessly, and even lifting it off the pillow felt like I was fighting against an unseen weight pressing me down.

I forced myself to sit up, groaning quietly. I didn’t feel any sign of fever before going to bed last night. I couldn’t just lie in bed, though.

Dragging myself toward the bathroom, I gripped the wall for support. My legs trembled as though they no longer trusted me, but I made it inside and ran a bath, sinking into the cool water with a heavy sigh. The moment the water embraced me, I felt some of the heat in my body ease. Relief swept over me, though only for a fleeting moment. My headache remained, pounding like a drum in the silence of the room.

I closed my eyes and leaned back, letting the water lap against my skin. I told myself over and over again: You’ll be fine.

By the time I finally got out and dressed, I felt marginally better. My movements were slow, like I was afraid one sudden shift would send me spiraling back into that pit of exhaustion. I was just pulling my top over my head when I heard knocks against the door.

I didn’t want anyone seeing me like this, so I had to compose myself quickly. Taking a steadying breath, I forced my voice out, though it sounded far weaker than I intended.

“Who’s there?”

“It’s me, Cole,” he said.

I managed to open the door, and he greeted me with that respectful tone he always used.

“Luna,” he said with a small bow of his head.

“Cole,” I said.

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Chapter 85

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I stepped aside and let him in, though every part of me screamed for rest. My body swayed slightly as I moved, but I prayed he wouldn’t notice. I didn’t want that kind of attention.

“There’s a council meeting this morning,” he began. “Your presence will be needed to represent Alpha Alexander.”

His words sank into me slowly, as though my brain was on delay. I pressed my fingers against my temples, the pounding in my head intensifying. “What about Alexander?” I managed to ask, my voice quieter than I meant it to be.

Cole’s gaze flickered with concern before he answered. “He got a call. Had to leave for urgent business in town. It was… impromptu.”

Of course it was. With Alexander, things were always impromptu. Always business that left me in the dark. He could have at least informed me. A bitter taste filled my mouth, but the headache was so sharp I couldn’t even dwell on the sting of it.

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. The words he spoke were drowned out by the throbbing pain clawing at the sides of my head. It was as though someone had struck me from within. I rubbed at my temples, trying to will the ache away, but my hand trembled in the effort.

Cole’s expression shifted quickly. He wasn’t a fool; he noticed. He stepped closer, lowering his voice with that mixture of respect and concern that made me feel oddly seen.

“Luna… are you okay?”

I wanted to tell him I was fine. That I could handle myself. That nothing was wrong. But before I could form the lie, he reached forward, his hand brushing against my forehead. The warmth of his touch barely lingered before he pulled back sharply, his brows knitting together

in alarm.

“You’re burning up,” he said, his tone urgent.

I opened my mouth to reply, to tell him it wasn’t as bad as he thought, but the words never came. My vision blurred suddenly, the room spinning around me as if the ground had shifted beneath my feet. A wave of dizziness crashed into me so violently I couldn’t even steady myself.

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