Page 109 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“How did the pack take it?” I ask instead.

“Not well,” Mom explains.

“They were shocked when you left, and even more shocked about the fallout with Eugene. Eugene wanted to come clean to everyone and tell the whole pack the truth, but I had to keep thedetails hidden,” he pauses. “I know this decision sounds cruel and like I betrayed my whole family.”

“You did it for the pack,” I say. “After it had gone that far, it was all you could do to ensure the pack would remain stable.”

He smiles at Mom. “It was just thanks to your mother that things eventually calmed down.”

“It was good to throw myself into work,” she admits. “Eugene was completely distraught for almost a year. He and Olive barely talked, although they happened to be mates, and your father and I didn’t have too much of a good time with each other, either.”

“What the fuck were you all doing?” I exclaim. “I get that it was a terrible situation, but that would have been the time to stick together and not argue even more!”

“True,” Dad says. “But without you lightening the situation like you usually did, things suddenly felt much more difficult to handle.”

Mom nods. “Good thing Floyd was there to be the voice of reason. He also built up Elliot as his successor, who happened to be another good voice of reason, despite obviously despising Eugene. I still can’t believe how lucky we were that he took the job.”

I know he did it out of loyalty to me and for the pack to remain stable. “I am glad it turned out fine in the end,” I say. “I loved this pack and would have never wanted it to suffer. For that, I am glad that Eugene pulled himself together and stepped up in his work.”

Before anyone can answer, there is a subtle knock at the door. “That’s Florence,” Mom says. “Come in, honey.”

Flo enters, smiling at Mom. It’s good to see that Mom still knows how to connect to the pack members and that she is still well-liked, even by someone like Florence, who had probably struggled with trusting her after I left.

“I hate to interrupt anything,” Flo says. “But it’s getting late, and we still need to make sure our wards can travel safely. They also still need to meet Marc. I mean, Alpha Marcellus.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I snort. “Keep calling me Marc, please.”

She smiles.

“Florence is right,” Dad says reluctantly. “It’s really getting late, especially when you want to travel back tonight?”

He looks at me almost hopefully, but that’s a kind of wish I can’t fulfill. “We will travel home tonight.”

“Everything is set,” Flo tells me.

“Alright,” I say, relief flooding me that I can finally move on with my task and stop talking about the past. I feel the usual joy and motivation flood me when I realize I can go and do the work I love so much, for the pack I love and with the mate I love.

“Are you happy?” Mom asks me before I can leave the room, her gaze serious and slightly anxious.

“I am,” I say. “I amreallyhappy with where I am and what I am doing.”

At that, her head perks up. “Then I am happy, too,” she says. “I will never force anything on you ever again.”

“Your mother is right,” Dad says. “You’ve done a tremendous job, the last few years, and made some strong allies, all thanks to your hard work and your talents. It’s truly something to be proud of.”

I feel relieved at their words. I wouldn’t have an issue standing up against my parents and defending my decisions, but it’s so much easier to know they finally support me.

Also, Dad’s words flood me with relief. It’s the first time he has so openly praised me for something and acknowledged my work.

Are you close by?Silas links me.I am so done with talking to your brother! Come and save your damsel in distress like the white knight you are.

I have to hold back a laugh at his sultry comment.Don’t worry, I will save you anytime.

thirty-six

New Connections

*MARCELLUS*