Page 18 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

I close my eyes, feeling how Amos, despite being heartbroken for losing his fated mate, gives me the strength I need. “I accept your rejection.”

The bond snaps into pieces, making the air leave my lungs from the pain. Olive doubles over, but obviously, the fact thatshedidn’t almost die a couple of days ago helps her through it, whileI am weakened. She reaches out her hand to me. “No,” I blurt out. “Go!”

“But-“

“Fuck, Olive!” I hiss, not minding anymore if I hurt her feelings or anyone else’s. “I don’t want to see you right now. Please just go!”

She scrambles to her feet. “I… I am sorry,” she whispers before dashing out of the room.

It’s finally quiet, but the pain I feel is excruciating. Fuck Olive, fuck Eugene, fuck me. I can barely form a straight thought when Dad suddenly runs into the room. “You need to breathe through it,” he tells me, helping me in a sitting position. “Breathe through it.”

“Because that’s so easy,” I snarl.

“Focus on something else,” he says. “Focus on your wolf. He is in it with you, support each other.”

I close my eyes, deciding to give it a shot. He is right. Amos is devastated, lying on his side. He raises his head when he catches my attention. That’s when I know it. Despite everything that happened, he is still here, and he has my back. We are in deep shit, but we are going to be alright… somehow, one day.

When the pain subsides, I feel empty. So empty. Where there was the mate bond, there is nothing now. And where there once was the tight bond to my brother, I feel a void also. Finally, I realize that my father is still here, making me wonder why the hell he is around in the first place.

“You heard what I said, didn’t you?” I ask. “Are you here to tell me off and say that’s not a way to talk to my brother’s chosen mate?”

“No,” Dad says quietly. “I actually agree with what you said.”

“Excuse me?”

“Things didn’t go as planned,” he says sadly. “And you are right, she will be luna. As luna she will have to support Eugene, and she hasn’t been doing a good job recently.”

“She is just young,” I point out. “She has time to grow into it.”

“Maybe,” he says quietly.

Part of me is glad he is being so honest with me, instead of sugarcoating the changes around me. “Good thing Eugene is really popular in the pack, much more than I am. They will come around. What did you tell them? By now, they must have realized the fight happened. I didn’t tap out and am still alive.”

“That Eugene was bound by the bond between both of you,” he says. “And I believe that’s true. He couldn’t do it. However, it’s not true that you aren’t popular. Most pack members expected you both to reign. This change of news came as a shock to them.”

“Eugene will need all the help he can get.”

“I will make sure to support him,” Dad mutters. “I failed you. I’m not failing another son.” He sighs. “Listen, Marc. I raised my hand to you. My lowest point ever. I am sorry for that, and for not believing in you. I know you think I’ve preferred your brother over you-”

“You did,” I say. “You do.”

“I wasn’t aware,” he admits quietly. “You and I are so similar, and I didn’t listen to your mother when she told me I was hurting you. I didn’t believe her. I should have.”

I am not sure what to say, so I stay silent, and Dad doesn’t push me.

“Mom wants me to become Eugene’s Beta,” I say instead. “What do you think?”

He looks at me. “I think you are not made to be beta,” he says. “You are too much of a leader.”

“Dad,” I say. “Promise me you will watch out for my brother, and for Mom.”

He nods. “I promise.”

“Can you leave me alone?” I ask. “I need to think. I don’t want to have any more visitors today.”

“Of course,” he says. “Let’s talk later.”

I watch him leave before taking a deep breath and trying to sit up further. I am still attached to an IV drip, and some bandages are wrapped around my torso. I ignore my pain and pull myself up until I’m standing on my shaky feet. The first couple of steps are the worst. It’s as if my legs don’t belong to me anymore, while I try to drag myself to the bathroom. One glance at the mirror makes me flinch. I look horrible. Amos was focusing on healing my internal bleeding, so clearly, he didn’t pay much attention to my outer wounds. My face looks like I was punched several times, and it’s bruised and swollen. My skin looks almost grayish.