Page 106 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“Yes,” I say, stunned. “It meant something to me that he apologized, but it’s still… he and I are still where we were yesterday, maybe a step closer to each other. But it didn’tmagically make all the pain and disappointment go away. How did you know that this is exactly how I feel?”

“Experience,” Silas admits. “That’s how I feel with Durant.”

“And how do you handle it?”

“I give it time,” he says. “No relationship can heal overnight, that is, if it even heals and if you want it to heal. It’s up to you now. You have the control over your decisions. If you want to keep Eugene at arm’s length, it’s fine. If you want to rekindle with him, it’s fine too, and I will pretend to enjoy his presence.”

I laugh. “You would never be able to pretend that. You would totally freeze him out.”

Silas smirks. “Oh, would I?”

“Give it time, huh?”

“Yes, you don’t need to decide anything today or tomorrow. You can decide when you feel like it, and if you want to reach out a hand to him, you can do that on your terms, at your pace.”

I nod thoughtfully. “This makes me feel a little lighter.” My thoughts go back to what Eugene told me. “He said that Olive wanted to break up with him.”

“Your friend Florence told me the same,” Silas admits. “All this is just an explanation, though, not a real excuse. It doesn’t make me like Olive or your brother any.”

“I get that. I don’t think I like them much either, at the moment.” Maybe it sounds silly, but it just feels good to have someone in my corner, fighting for me and being angry for my sake when I can’t.

“And your parents?” Silas asks.

“I don’t know. It’s awkward even with Mom. I feel like they will want to continue where we stopped five years ago, but that’s impossible. Too much has changed.”

Silas nods, understanding in his eyes. “Give it time. Just like with Eugene.”

“Okay.” I sigh. “We have been hiding here for long enough, and there is a ton of paperwork waiting for us.”

Silas reaches out his hand, taking mine. “Let’s go.”

Silas and Eugene go through the necessary paperwork for our new pack members. Eugene is professional, I have to give him that, and he really put effort into saving the poor wolves. I will try to remember that at least. Nothing is all black and white. There are nuances, and maybe these are his.

However, I don’t need to be scared to soften up too much because whenever Silas and Eugene’s eyes meet, Silas looks like he wants to stab him with his pen.

Funny.

I can empathize with his reaction so much. Whenever Durant is around Silas, smiling and being friendly like he didn’t almost get him killed only five years ago, I want to stab him, too.

Meanwhile, I tackle the nth awkward moment today; they are uncountable by now. I am talking to Dad. He knows quite some things about the pack these wolves are from, and I need to know the details. Liam and I always make sure to get the whole story, so that we can investigate properly and ensure that the other pack members there are safe.

“It’s good to see that you are still you, while also having grown,” Floyd’s voice reaches me after Dad has left the room briefly. Floyd has returned from his own task to join our talk.

“You know, I guess I understand you much better now.”

Floyd blinks. “How come?”

“My beta, a high-ranking vampire, keeps knocking everyone about during training as well. Guess it’s in your nature.”

Floyd snorts. “Couldn’t resist the subtle dig, huh?”

“Not at all.”

He smiles. “It’s good to see you. I… I was hoping you would eventually return again, at least for a visit.”

“You never reached out to your friend?” I lower my voice to a murmur only he can hear.

He shakes his head.