Page 101 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“That’s exactly why I asked him to take the job,” Eugene explains all of a sudden, gazing at me. “He was a part of you. I felt like I could maybe honor it that way.”

A long moment of silence surrounds us. Now that the initial surprise has worn off, it’s suddenly becoming more and more awkward. That’s when I suddenly smell him. His sweet, alluring scent fills my nostrils before he actually arrives. I don’t know how he did it, or how he managed to come here so quickly, but I am just glad he is here. With confident strides, Silas steps closer to me, with his signature smile when he acts with an unknown opponent– perfectly polite, yet slightly icy and distanced.

He stands so close to me that I can feel his body brushing against mine, and it sends a wave of comfort over me.

“Allow me to introduce Lord Silas,” I say, smiling at him. “He is my co-leader at Sunset Hills, and is leading the vampires there. He is also my mate.”

thirty-four

Old Bonds

*MARCELLUS*

From all the awkward moments in my life, this one takes the win. Silas has claimed the seat next to me, but Mom made sure to pull her chair closer, and just keeps looking at me like she is seeing a ghost. Dad pretends to be all cool, which doesn’t surprise me much, while Eugene keeps casting glances at me without saying anything.

At least Flo and Elliot are here. I thought they would be mad that I left without ever contacting them, but they don’t voice even one word of reproach. With them, it feels like I was never gone. They are both very excited to hear I have a mate.

There is a knock at the door, and by the way Eugene’s eyes light up, I don’t need to ask who is joining us. Olive steps insidethe room, looking as beautiful as she used to. To my joy, it does nothing for me to see her, literally, absolutely nothing. She is just a distant memory.

Olive, however, freezes; completely shocked to see me. “I couldn’t believe it when Eugene linked me,” she whispers. “I… I am so glad you are okay. I don’t know what else to say. I am so sorry for being awkward.”

“Finally, someone who mentions it,” Silas mutters. “You are certainly not the only awkward person here.”

“It’s just so much to take in,” Eugene says, casting me another glance. “I am really happy to see you. I… I have been looking everywhere for you from the day you left.”

I rub my temples. “I needed some time away from everything,” I say, not explaining anything further.

“Bro,” Elliot interrupts my train of thought. “This is something you need to hear. Luna Olive; she is the Alpha’s true mate.”

“No way,” I say.

“It’s true,” Eugene says quietly. “I was her second-chance mate. Though,” he pauses. “It’s a bit more complicated than that.”

My mouth drops open at that revelation. For one, I can’t believe how the goddess worked the three of us; for another, I am curious what Eugene hinted at with his last words. What turned out to be ‘complicated’?

“I don’t know much about your goddess,” Silas voices what I was thinking. “But she really fucked you three over.”

“I don’t know,” I muse. “Without her, I wouldn’t have left the pack. I want to believe my fate was always to build up Sunset Hills and meet you.”

“You would have been a great alpha here,” Mom argues.

“I am not sure. I think this was always more Eugene’s task,” I say. “I enjoy my work at Sunset Hills much more than anything else.”

“It’s clearly your calling,” Silas says, backing me up. His icy smile is back on his face again when he looks at the others. I admire him so much for having this poker face. Sometimes I forget who he is, because to me, he is my mate and my best friend, but to everyone else, he is an ancient vampire lord who is cunning and smart. “Marc has saved so many wolves and vampires, and given them a peaceful home.”

“So, it’s you who built up that pack,” Dad says all of a sudden. There is a thoughtful, yet slightly sad expression on his face. “I heard about it and wondered who the leader was. Unbelievable that the truth was so close to me. Sometimes I wanted to ask one of our fellow allies, but forgot every time.” He shakes his head. “It’s my fault,” he suddenly says.

“No, it was mine,” Eugene says shortly. “It’s been all my fault.”

“No, mine,” Olive argues.

Silas crosses his legs elegantly before driving his long fingers through his hair and pulling it back to a ponytail. “Actually, you were all pretty terrible,” he says. Then he clasps his mouth slowly, in a gesture that makes it obvious he doesn’t mean it. “Did I just say that out loud? I apologize. Where are my manners?” he asks, once more in a tone that makes it all too evident that he very much meant what he just said.

Elliot looks like he’s having a hard time not to grin, while Flo focuses on something on her phone, her lips tugging slightly.

I never knew you could be so icy,I link him.

In my defense, they are getting on my nerves.