A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 202

< Chapter 202

Chapter 202

ALEXANDER

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By the time I reached the pack house, the sky had settled into late evening. I didn’t bother greeting anyone on my way in. I didn’t stop for questions. I

didn’t stop for breath.

I pushed through the clinic doors with more force than necessary.

My eyes landed on Cole. He lay on one of the beds, eyes closed but

breathing steadily. I moved closer, the anger in me tightening like a rope. Before I could speak, his nose twitched and his eyes snapped open.

He didn’t look surprised.

Of course he wasn’t. He probably knew hours ago that I would come back

the moment I heard what happened, regardless of what anyone told me.

“You’re not very good at taking advice,” he said quietly–his voice rough

around the edges.

I exhaled, a humorless breath. “You’re talking too much for someone

stabbed this evening.”

His lips twitched, but the attempt at a smile faded almost instantly as pain

shot through him. His body shifted slightly, and I could tell the wound hadn’t

healed as quickly as it should have. Slow healing meant silver. Or someone

knew exactly where to stab.

“How did it happen?” I asked.

Cole didn’t waste time.

He took a slow breath. “I was in your office. Just sorting through some documents. I heard someone walk in–it seemed normal. He came in like he

belonged there, like he was coming to make a report. No hesitation. No

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nervousness.”

I didn’t like that. At all.

425 Points-

Cole continued, “He got close. Too close. Before I could even ask what he

needed, he struck… fast, straight to the side.” His hand moved weakly toward

the bandaged area. “He tried to bolt afterward, but I managed to shout for

help. Caught him before he made it out the door.”

He grimaced. “We fought. He was strong, and the blade did enough damage that I couldn’t overpower him, but I got him on the leg. Slowed him down. He didn’t get far before the others grabbed him.”

I nodded slowly, jaw tightening.

A stranger getting into my office was already an issue. But someone who moved confidently enough to blend in? That was worse.

Before I could ask another question, the door swung open and Kyle walked

1. in. He froze for a moment at the sight of me, then bowed his head.

“Alpha.”

I didn’t waste time. “How did an assassin enter this house unnoticed and

walk straight into my office?”

Kyle didn’t flinch. “Because he wasn’t an outsider.”

My blood turned cold. “What?”

“He was one of ours,” Kyle continued. “A pack member… but one of the new ones who just moved in. That explains why he mistook Cole for you.”

For a moment, all I heard was ringing. My own pack–my wolves–were supposed to be the safest place. The most protected place. Yet someone within these walls had attacked Cole.

Cole saw my reaction. “He’s right,” he confirmed.

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The betrayal stung, but the fury drowned it out quickly.

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Kyle stepped closer. “He said the intention was not to kill. The stab was meant to send a message.” His eyes hardened. “A message that you are not

untouchable.”

A laugh escaped me before I could stop it.

“Oh, I caught that message clearly,” I said. “He aimed at me. Cole was simply

in the way. Who sent him?”

Kyle hesitated. “He said Marcus sent him.”

My vision went dark around the edges.

Marcus again. That bastard.

Kyle wasn’t finished. “Samson said you’re surrounded. That several Blood

Crescent wolves have already sworn loyalty to Marcus. And that this was just

a test–to see how far their reach goes.”

My jaw locked until it hurt. Marcus had gotten to them.

That was enough… more than enough.

I straightened, the decision forming inside me with clarity so sharp it felt like

a blade.

“I’m going to solve this Marcus problem once and for all,” I said quietly.

Cole blinked, a knot of worry forming in his expression. “Alexander.”

“I’m going to do it the old–fashioned way” I continued, ignoring the warning in

his voice. “I’m going to challenge Marcus in the Ring of Fire.”

Kyle didn’t speak. His face didn’t move. But I could feel his shock like a pulse

in the room.

Cole, however, reacted instantly. “Are you insane?”

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“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “And the only thing that might make me sane

again is Marcus’s blood.”

Cole stared at me, waiting for me to take it back. I didn’t.

“Enough is enough,” I said. “This ends now.”

Cole shook his head. “Alexander, the Ring of Fire is a fight to the death. No

rules. No protections. You and Marcus won’t be evenly matched there–he

thrives in chaos. You follow structure. You play by rules… he doesn’t.”

“I don’t care,” I said. “Marcus already sent his rogues once. Ambushed our wolves. Killed them. And now he managed to stab you in the center of my

territory.”

Cole’s jaw flexed. Kyle remained silent, waiting.

“Marcus has managed to get into Blood Crescent,” I continued. “He’s buying loyalty like it’s nothing. Planting wolves. Polluting the structure from inside

out.” My fists clenched. “He’s a damn cancer.”

Cole fell quiet. Not because he agreed, but because he realized I wasn’t

backing down.

He looked at Kyle, then at me again. “Your mind is made up.”

“Yes.”

A long moment passed before Cole sighed and leaned back painfully on the

bed. “Then nothing I say will stop you.”

“No,” I admitted. “But I appreciate the attempt.”

Kyle finally spoke. “What do you want us to do?”

I turned to him. The decision was already made.

“Call for assembly in the morning,” I said. “Everyone gathers at the square.”

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Kyle nodded immediately. “Understood.

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I looked at Cole then–my beta, my friend. His eyes, though tired and dimmed

by pain, still burned with loyalty.

I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Rest.”

He didn’t argue.

And without another word, I left the room.

FAYE

I didn’t even realize when sleep finally pulled me under. I’d been trying so

hard to stay awake, to stay alert, to convince myself I was keeping watch

even with Derek around. But one second my eyes were open, and the next, I

was blinking back into consciousness.

And he was there.

Alexander was sitting on the couch beside the bed, head tilted slightly, elbows resting loosely on his knees as if he’d been watching over me for a

while. The room was dim, still wrapped in the quiet of early morning. I

glanced at the clock, surprised to see how late–or early–it was.

“I didn’t know you came back,” I murmured, pushing myself upright.

He smiled softly, the kind of smile he only ever showed when he wasn’t

wearing his alpha mask. “I came in during the night. You were sleeping. I

didn’t want to wake you.”

There was something in his tone–gentle, almost tender–that made my heart skip.

“How was everything at home? How’s Cole?” I asked.

He exhaled, leaning back a little. “Not much tension, since the person was

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caught,” he said. “However…”

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I could see the stress all over him. I didn’t let him finish. I’d already heard the

most important part. I stood immediately and walked over to him, placing a