Page 12 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“Marcellus?” Floyd calls towards me. “Are you coming?”

“Yes, sorry.” I decide to shove these thoughts aside and instead focus on my training with Floyd.

five

The Bond

*MARCELLUS*

Things are not looking up, not even a couple of days later. In fact, I feel my body getting weaker every day. Obviously, I’m still an alpha’s son, so on the outside, I still look strong, but I can feel the change. What surprises me is how much the mate bond weakens me. I know staying away from one’s mate without a rejection sucks out our strength, but that fast?

No, something is going on.

It’s Flo, who writes to me and brings light to the situation. The pack only knows the basics of what’s happened; my parents did their best to keep the severity of the situation hidden. I’m actually thankful for that, because the last thing I need is even more drama and maybe pitiful gazes.

Flo, however, knows and has my back.

It’s a simple message she sends me.Marc, I am so sorry for what’s going on. I contemplated staying quiet, but I can’t. You deserve to know the truth.

Attached, she sends me a picture of Eugene and Olive, dated yesterday.

They are meeting?

They promised they would stay apart from each other until we have discussed everything. Eugene promised, and Olive agreed. Fuck! Maybe it was a coincidence? I can’t believe my twin brother and closest friend would betray me like that.

The pain we felt,Amos says, appearing in my mind. His eyes are angry.It was them, meeting.

Did they sleep with each other?

No, we would have felt that a lot stronger,he says.We still felt the betrayal, though. That’s why I am so weak.He growls, prancing around in my mind. He is a strong wolf, very similar to my father’s beast, which is why Floyd and I have been so worried about his weakened state. But it makes sense now.Follow them,he commands.

Are you sure?I ask.You might not like what we find out.

We need to know, we deserve the truth!

You are right,I agree.

I know the truth already, even without spying on them, but I want to see it with my own eyes. I need the proof, or I will continue to lie to myself. I don’t know what will happen once Iknowwhat’s going on, but keeping things as they are now is no option. Eugene and I have avoided each other. I didn’t seek him out, but he didn’t seek me out either. He was the one who lied about me, and part of me – the proud and stubborn part – wanted him to approach me first. Maybe that was a mistake.

I don’t know anymore.

I have no idea what’s right or wrong. I don’t know what I would have done in Eugene’s shoes. He loves Olive, I know he does. He said she is the one for him. If roles were reversed, I don’t know how I would have reacted, but I want to believe that I would have at least sought out my brother before burning that bridge.

The photo Flo sent me is from a small garden behind the pack house. It’s an old one, and hardly anyone visits it. A perfect place for a secret date. Maybe that’s their regular meeting spot? I make sure to hide somewhere close to it, watching who comes and goes, from far enough away so that neither Olive nor Eugene will be able to take up my scent.

I don’t know how long I wait, and am close to giving up, when I spot Olive walking through the small gate. Half an hour later, Eugene arrives. They aren’t even sneaky. No surprise Flo caught them.

Well, makes it easier for me. I get up from my spot and approach the garden. The ache in my chest gets stronger again, meaning whenever I felt it, they were probably together.

From the distance, Amos’s sharp ears pick up their voices.

“We shouldn’t do this,” Eugene mutters.

“I know,” Olive says sadly.

“Olive, you are my brother’s mate,” he says. “What do you really want?”

“I don’t want him,” she admits. “I don’t want to hurt him. He has always been so nice to me. And I know we share the bond, but I… I love you. I can’t help it!”