Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 266

The silence that followed breakfast wasn't awkward-it was peaceful, like the quiet that came after a long, devastating storm. The kind of silence that didn't demand to be filled. Alec sat across from me, chewing slowly, eyes occasionally flicking in my direction. I caught him once, and he looked away, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

When we both finished eating, he stood and gathered the plates, heading toward the sink. I followed without thinking, scooping up the cups and setting them beside him before switching on the tap.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asks, his voice low but with a familiar gruffness that held no real irritation-only disbelief.

I turn to find him staring at me, a deep crease between his brows. I am confused because it was obvious what I was doing. It didn't take a genius to figure out I was about to wash the dishes.

"Washing the dishes?" I reply.

He scowls. "Sadie, sit your ass down. You just came off three days of moon heat, and your legs barely work. You shouldn't be doing chores."

I roll my eyes and turn back to the sink. “I'm fine, Alec. I can handle it. You made breakfast, so it's only fair I clean up after."

"You're being stubborn."

"No, I am not."

"Yes, you are."

Goddess, why the hell were we arguing like little children?

"You're being bossy," I shoot back with a smirk. "Now are you going to help me rinse these or just stand there pouting?"

narrows his eyes like he wants to argue further, but eventually he exhales and picks up a towel. "Fine.

sigh and roll my eyes at him. He is being so overprotective as if washing the

the sink. There is something strangely intimate about it, the way our shoulders brush every so often, the way

domestic, like this is how things are supposed to be. Like this was how things were supposed to be from the

say after a minute, keeping my

sound of water running

didn't expect this to be his. Maybe a friend or something. I never would have imagined Alec having a small, cozy cabin. If anything, I imagined him having a huge-ass

at him.

"Built it three years

here I thought I knew everything

escape cabin in the middle

rubs the back of his neck, sheepishly.

curious

"Because I built it for my mate. I

ours. Somewhere quiet. Private. No one else would know about it... just the

fingers

inside me. I suddenly come crashing down from the cloud nine I was riding on a few minutes ago. Everything in me stiffs

I say slowly, my voice above a whisper, "you

Heavy. Do I really need a confirmation when his silence speaks volumes? Who else would he have built it for if it weren't Lola? And

lips, leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I want nothing but to drop the subject but something inside

look at him. "Did she ever come here? Did she ever sleep