Page 20 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

“You will know,” he reassures me, before approaching and pulling me into a hug. “Forgiveness goes a long way,” he mutters. “You do things on your terms, at your pace. But promise me you won’t harden your heart. You were born a leader, Marc.”

Once more, I am at a loss for words, but he doesn’t seem to expect an answer. Just squeezes my shoulder and leaves.

eight

Fate

*MARCELLUS*

Idon’t have it in me to leave without saying goodbye. Mom has supported me so much and has always tried to have my back, so she deserves at least some words of goodbye. I write her the longest letter, making sure to emphasize I am going to be okay and that this is the path I need to take, and that I love her. I also write one for Dad, much shorter.

As for my brother… I debated with myself for hours, but then decided I didn’t have the heart not to leave him a line. I might not have it in me to forgive him, but I want him to do well for the pack. It’s only a short note I leave him, about how I want him to do his best.

I put all the letters away for now, before grabbing the book that’s lying there, deciding to kill some more time. It’s the one I’ve been reading recently. Eugene must have brought it here during his last visit before I asked that he not come anymore. He is the only one who knows what I’m reading, and also the only one I admitted to that, while I joined the book club just to piss off Dad, I actually I enjoyed books.

The realization that I won’t be able to share my secrets and my innermost worries with him anymore makes my heart break all over again.

The minutes drip by slowly. I do as Floyd ordered me to, and am a very obedient and good patient, telling the nurses I tripped and ripped the IV out by accident. Fortunately, they decide to believe me, or probably think I had a nervous breakdown or something. Whatever they believe, they don’t question me.

I keep wondering what kind of clue Floyd is going to give me for me to leave, when there is a subtle knock on my window. Opening it, I stare right into the face of one of my friends.

“Flo!” I whisper.

The doctor strictly prohibited anyone from visiting me aside from my parents, to keep my stress levels low, and I was relieved about that. But now, face to face with Flo, I realize how happy I am to see someone from my life, with whom I don’t share a strained bond.

She climbs into the room and pulls me into a hug, her hands clinging to me.

“Are you crying?” I ask.

“You idiot, how could you worry me like that?” she asks, pulling away to look at me. “Goddess, Marc, you look horrible.”

“Well, thank you,” I try to lighten the mood by joking. “Quite the catch, huh?”

Flo just looks sad. “It’s all my fault,” she mutters. “I sent you the photo. I… I should have thought of something better, but it felt wrong not to tell you. I am so sorry.”

“No, I won’t accept any apology from you,” I say sharply. “Flo, you were the only one showing me some respect. I am eternally grateful to your honesty.”

“Listen, Marc,” she says quietly. “When you joined the book club and flirted with me, I used to have a crush on Eugene. You know that. Because he is that nice, popular high school heartthrob, but it was just a crush. Nothing more. I don’t feel anything for him anymore, and I haven’t for a long while. Truth is, had you asked me out again later, I would have said yes to you. I just want you to know that not everyone prefers Eugene over you. As a matter of fact, you are my best friend now, and I prefer you miles over your brother.”

I swallow thickly at her words. “Thanks for telling me, Flo, that means a lot to me.”

She hands me a backpack. “Everything you need is inside, including your phone, money, a charger and your documents. There are also some clothes, a second pair of shoes, and I made sure to put a book inside. Can’t let you ditch the book club completely. Don’t ask me how I got everything. It’s a secret I obviously can’t talk about.”

“You… you are the cue.”

She nods

“Is this truly okay? Aren’t you in danger?”

“It is okay. Beta Floyd will protect me in case something happens. But I doubt it will. They will suspect Elliot or one of the other guys, but not me.”

“Just pretend you are crushing on Eugene when they do, and they won’t question you further,” I say. “They don’t want any more drama surrounding his love life.”

“I will.”

“Flo, I don’t know when I can contact you again,” I admit. “When everything has calmed down, tell Elliot I am sorry, and that I would have loved to have him as my beta.”

“I will tell him, but he knows what happened-“