Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Sadie

Raven and I sat side by side in the large conference room. Last night, before Alec left my room after kissing Aspen goodnight, he had reminded me of today's meeting. Something that I had completely forgotten

The room was quiet, thick with silence and tension that sat heavy on everyone's shoulders. We'd been here for ten minutes already, just waiting.

I leaned back in the stiff chair and glanced around the table.

Jason looked like he hadn't slept in two days, which was probably true. His eyes were shadowed, his jaw tight, and even his posture was beginning to slump with the weight of exhaustion. Micah sat beside him, silent, arms crossed, staring at the table like he was mentally running through every scenario he'd already played out a hundred times.

And Raven... Raven was unreadable, but I noticed the way she kept clenching her fists beneath the table, the way her foot tapped a quiet rhythm against the stone floor. She was trying to keep her control in check. Trying to hold herself together like the rest of us.

This whole operation was bleeding us dry. Slowly. Quietly.

I dragged my eyes to the last person in the room-Alec.

He hadn't said a word since we sat down. Just stared ahead, brows drawn, hands folded on the table in that way that made it look like he had complete control. Like he was calm. But I'd seen through that look before. I knew the set of his jaw meant he was grinding his teeth. That his foot tapped once, quiet and low, every time he was stressed.

He was tired too. But he wouldn't show it.

goddess help me, even like this-worn down and simmering with frustration -I

my skin prickled with awareness, the way my breath caught in my throat when he was next to me. Like everything inside me was slowly being

out. Heat burned low

how much of a grip the bond had on me. It made

the full

It was him.

hated this feeling. I hated that the

against the dryness in my throat. I could feel the start of heat building already. That deep

close, I was a damn flame waiting to

he feel it too? Can he feel the

steady myself, trying to be something other than just a body that craved his. There was too much at stake. Too many lives on the fine.

bond to take precedence.

of relief when the door creaked open, snapping everyone to

The Elders had arrived.

filled the room. No greetings. No wasted time. Just the rustle

their seats. One of them-Elder Orion-leaned forward, folding