Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 265

"It's what a mate does," he says simply, his voice steady. "And it's what I wanted to do."

I meet his gaze, and the sincerity there steals my breath. For a moment, neither of us speaks. The air feels heavy, weighted with words neither of us seems ready to say.

I can't even begin to express how I am feeling or how I have felt these past few days. He has been there, both Knox and him. They helped us in ways I can't be able to understand. They didn't run. They didn't force their need on us. Instead they were patient and stayed by our side. That is something I can't get over.

Finally, Alec breaks the silence. "You slept for a while," he says, picking up his coffee and taking a slow sip. "How are you really feeling?"

I exhale, pressing my palm to my forehead. "Like I was hit by a truck. But... I don't feel like my insides are burning anymore, so that's a plus."

He nods, his jaw tightening. "I hated seeing you like that," he admits, his voice rough. “Knowing you were in pain and not being able to do anything about it..." He drags a hand through his hair, the tension returning to his shoulders. He didn't finish the sentence, but I got what he was saying.

Seeing your mate suffer and not being able to do anything about it must be a

different kind of torture. Especially for an Alpha male like Alec.

I stare at him, something heavy pressing down on my chest. There's a

in him I haven't seen before, and it makes something inside

I ask, my voice

expecting me to ask. He leans back in his chair, his fingers tapping

my head,

to brush me off. But then he sighs, running a hand over his face. "Honestly? It was... hard. Harder than

me and my pain, that I didn't pay attention to him. Instead I just took all the strength

lump forms in my throat. "Why didn't you say anything? Why would you let

leans forward,

the

on

the one in pain. You were the one

were hurting too," I say, my

the way you were," he says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "It was more of a

light with his last statement, but there's something raw in his eyes, something that makes me feel like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff. Before

"seeing you in my shirt kind of