Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 238

I didn't answer. I couldn't. The silence stretched until it felt like it would choke me.

"You don't have to say anything," he said gently. "I'm not telling you to give him a chance, Sadie. That's your choice. But I think... I think it's time to stop hiding."

"Hiding?" I repeated, my voice hollow.

"You think you healed from what happened, but you didn't. You just got really good at pretending it didn't hurt anymore. At locking it away. But burying your feelings isn't the same as healing. Healing means letting go of the past—not just locking it in a box and pretending it doesn't exist."

His words landed like a weight on my chest.

I didn't respond. I couldn't.

"I'll reach out to some of my contacts," he continued when I didn't speak. "See if I can dig up anything about Kaden or Xena. Before I forget, say hi to my favorite niece."

"Thanks, King, I will." I murmured.

"Anytime. And Sadie?"

"Yeah?"

"Be kind to yourself. Okay?"

He hung up before I could reply.

I stared at the screen for a long time, his words still echoing in my head. Burying

your feelings isn't the same as healing.

that he

hated it even more because I didn't know what to do

thoughts away and reached out through the mind-link. Meet

ten, I told my warriors. We've got work

minutes, forming a tight semi-circle around me. Familiar

one of

be helping Alec's

chorus of cheers and mutters of

"I was getting bored. I swear I've memorized every crack in

get a

eyes stared

one of them asked, shock written all over his

to be angry as I filled them in, but they weren't. The shock in their faces

will be

smirk. "I've always wondered what it would

proud of my warriors. "Well, you are about

few instructions as we made our way to the field. But

stepped onto the training ground, I stopped in my

center of

And Aspen.

rested on her small back. Her tiny hands were cupped around his face as she grinned up at him like he was her

looked... full. Content.

how much that

then. Aspen turned,

pointing at me. "I found him!