Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 232

Alec

The conference room was silent, the kind of silence that amplifies every thought, every heartbeat. Everyone had dispersed-Raven with the elders, Micah and Jason to rally the warriors. That left Sadie and me alone, the air between us thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

I stood by the window, pretending to be engrossed in the view, but my mind was a whirlwind. The bond between us pulsed, a constant reminder of what I yearned for but couldn't claim.

It coiled inside my chest, tightening with every breath I took. The approaching full moon intensified everything, making my senses sharper, my desires more insistent. I could feel it under my skin, stirring heat in my blood, making it harder to think. Harder to control myself. The pull between us thrummed like a live wire, sharp and electric.

I felt her presence behind me, her gaze burning into my back. She hadn't said anything since the others left, and neither had I. But the silence between us wasn't empty. It was thick with everything unspoken

The bond tugged at me, urging me to turn, to close the distance, to take what I so desperately wanted. But I couldn't. Not yet.

Knox growled low, restless, and needy. He wanted her-wanted to claim her, mark her, bind her to us. But I hadn't earned that yet. Not after everything I did. Not after the ways I failed her.

When I turned around, she was leaning against the edge of the table, her arms folded across her chest, eyes unreadable. The soft glow of the midday sun slipping through the window highlighted the tension in her posture and conflict in her eyes. It also painted her skin. Beautiful. Dangerous. Mine.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft but steady. Her eyes locking onto mine.

"No," I admitted, the word escaping before I could censor it. "Not even close."

The air between us pulsed. I took a step toward her then stopped. I couldn't trust myself right now.

She watched me, then stepped away, her movements deliberate, controlled. I saw the flicker in her eyes, the slight tremble in her fingers. She was fighting the same battle I was.

"I can feel it too," she said, voice quiet. "The full moon... the bond... it's louder. It's overwhelming."

My jaw clenched. I nodded, swallowing hard. “It's like a constant pull, a need that won't be silenced. It's driving me crazy."

"Me too."

with tension. I took another step, and this time, she didn't move away. She watched me like she was daring me to get closer-like she wanted it

just a breath away.

Sadie," I said, my voice rough. "I want to touch you,

breath caught, but she didn't

can't because I haven't earned the right. I

me back-not just because of the bond, not just because of this damn moon, but because

then, and the intensity of her gaze nearly

"I regret everything I did to hurt you, Sadie. Every word, every action. If I

between us a living thing, pulsing with desire, regret, hope. I wanted to close the distance, to claim her, to mark her

back, the weight of my

past..." she whispered and then stopped as if

word. 'But

she wanted to say, but I didn't want

continued to simmer between us, thick and burning, but the fire slowly

hard and pushing away the ache in my heart. "Come on. Let's go talk to

nodded, her expression unreadable as we made our way

stone steps. The scent of blood, iron, and earth filled the

stepping into the room. "We need to

expression guarded, his jaw tight. "I'm

You're healed. You could've broken out

by now," Sadie

us for a long moment, then shrugged one shoulder. "Where would I go? Where

and say Sadie's

as someone who wants to die

don't," he said. "But

like the others. I don't want innocent blood on my hands and from