Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 240

"I didn't tell anyone," he replied with a shrug. "I was ashamed. But eventually, I realized I couldn't fight him forever. So, I stopped trying to control him, and I just... accepted him. I accepted that Knox was a part of me. I embraced the power of an Alpha and I allowed myself to merge with my wolf. And once I did, the rest followed."

I sat with that, the weight of his words pressing into me like a puzzle piece sliding into place.

"Maybe that's it," he said after a moment. "Maybe you're still fighting it. Still afraid of what this new version of you means. You are still afraid of letting go and embracing this power because it came as a surprise for you. No one prepared you for it. You didn't expect it and because of that, you didn't get a chance to accept this new version of you... But you have to, Sadie. If you want to gain control over it, you first have to accept that it's a part of you."

His words rang painfully true.

"I don't want to be afraid of it anymore. I don't want to keep failing," I murmured.

"Then stop fighting it. Stop fighting something that's part of you," he said softly. "You're still you, Sadie. Just... more."

I inhaled deeply. "Okay. I'll give it another try."

He stood and reached out a hand to help me up. I took it, grounding myself in his touch. His skin was warm, calloused from training, but gentle.

I closed my eyes, breathed in slowly, and let go.

No fear. No resistance.

myself to the powerful spark inside me and accepted her. Wings unfurled from my back-pure white and radiant. My skin shimmered, and I felt the change ripple through me. The gown, the light, the power-it all came in a rush that felt like air filling my lungs after being underwater too

staring at me with something close to awe. "You

heard from myself in a long time.

was doing, shouting thank you into his shoulder. He caught me, held me his arms

then it hit me I was

I froze.

a step away

still fluttered faintly behind me, suddenly

How could I forget, in the moment, who I was hugging? I'd been so excited about finally getting it that I didn't even think. It doesn't matter that I loved it. It doesn't matter that for that split second, it felt right being in his arms. What matters is that

stared at each other in the silence that followed, the weight of the moment still

eyes... goddess,

I

I was terrified

desire...and affection? That last

emotion is

afraid of acknowledging.

um... why were you out here

the tension easing just a