Alpha Alec's Redemption by Kathy M

Chapter 268

"Are you ready to go home?" Alec asks softly, his voice breaking through the calm of the cabin's warm interior.

I look around once, then down at my hands. This small cabin has been my sanctuary for the past three days. In it, with Alec by my side, I've felt safe. I was in pain, yes, but I felt at peace in a twisted kind of way.

Now we are going back to the pack and I feel a heavy weight on my chest. I know it was just an illusion of peace, but it was something. For the past three days I haven't thought about the curse, Xena, Kaden or the premonition of my death. I haven't thought about the war that is to come or everything that could go wrong. Now, though, we are going back to all that chaos and I don't know what to do.

"Not really," I admit truthfully. "But I miss Aspen... so much."

Not being able to talk to her has been hard. She has always been my center. My calm. I want her in my arms.

He nods and doesn't say anything else he just walks to the door and opens it, waiting for me to follow. I did.

The cool air hits me the second I step outside, and I inhale deeply. It stings a little, sharp and clean, in my lungs. I close my eyes for a moment and just let things be. I ground myself and try to think about anything except for what is waiting for me in Alec's pack.

My mind tries to circle back to the kiss I shared with Alec. It was good. Really good. So good that it made something inside me ache in a way that scared me. But I shove the memory down. I am not going to let myself go there. Not yet. Not when I couldn't separate what was real from what had been born out of moon heat and longing.

"You good to walk, or should I carry you on my back?" Alec asks, cutting into my spiraling thoughts. Something that I am grateful for, even if he doesn't know it.

I shoot him a look. "I've been sleeping for so long, I need this walk. It'll help get my system back on track."

wasn't just talking big. It's true. I need this walk. Maybe the walk will also help

teasing light in his eyes familiar now. "Alright. But

know," I say, already

door behind me. Minutes later, he rushes

walk in silence for a while. The forest around us whispers softly, leaves rustling, twigs

surprisingly calm," Alec suddenly

glance over at him.

she'd be a little more frantic after not seeing you

I can't always be home. She knows sometimes I

had panicked. She had spent the whole time crying for me. I had to cut our mission short

quickly. Yes, she's young, but you have

pretty remarkable. What kind of missions?" "Hunting," I say simply. "Whenever we got solid information about hybrids, we acted on it. My warrior and

"How come you and your pack never said anything? About you being the Alpha of the

not like everyone else; I thought you'd have figured that out

me," he winks.

the council is. They're a bunch of old, sexist assholes. Do you

hated those