Page 30 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

Silas told me that Micah was the one who planned the gardens and the fields, and worked on plans for how to maintain everything, so that for the first two years the pack was self-sustainable. Even now that it’s getting bigger, he still oversees the process.

“Maybe I could learn some things from you,” I muse.

“I don’t mind showing you some tricks,” Micah says. “But I disagree with mentoring you.”

My chest clenches. “Why?” I ask. “Because I-“

“Because you were born an alpha,” he says. “Your talents lie elsewhere, Benji. Marc knows that, which is why he opposed letting you work full-time for me.”

I didn’t know that. Marcellus and Silas pay everyone who works for the pack a salary, so that’s pretty cool. For now, I am mostly helping out Micah, and sometimes Sheila. “What does he want me to do?” I ask.

“He wants you to train, build the bond to your wolf and become a warrior or guard,” Micah explains.

“He thinks I have that in me?”

“He does. He told me so just last week,” Micah says.

Something about this fills me with pride. I have spent years looking down on the lesser pack members, or those my father deemed lesser, but training and polishing my fighting skills to learn to protect my current pack… That sounds like an amazing way topartlymake up for past mistakes.

Our last stop is a small, witch coven that sells spices and defensive potions. This order comes from Marcellus and Silas personally.

“Oh, I want to buy something for Maddie,” I say.

“You don’t need to, Benji,” Micah says.

“But I want to. I’ve saved some money.” I pause. “Well… at first I didn’t want to use it, because it was my dad’s.” When Dad got killed and the pack was freed from his reign, a lot of the money remained in the pack. But Alpha Elden and Alpha Liam, who made sure I was saved and brought to Sunset Hills, also made sure that my father’s private assets became his property. They said it’s my inheritance and that I should have it. I originally wanted to hand most of it to Alpha Finn, the new alpha of my old pack, but he politely declined, claiming he wants me to have a fresh start to his new life.

Now, I’m stuck with money I don’t want. Silas advised me to save it and wait until I wanted to make an investment, maybe something for my future.

“You are spoiling her so much,” Micah chuckles.

“As if you and the others don’t,” I say.

Micah laughs. “You aren’t wrong. The witches have some crocheted animals that serve as good luck charms. I think she would like one of those.”

“That’s a good idea,” I beam.

Madelyn is Sheila’s adoptive daughter. They were both two of the original members of the pack, helping to build it up with Marcellus, Silas and Micah. Maddie is the cutest. She is only fiveyears old, but she is already so smart! She is like the little sister I never had.

Micah talks to the witch who is currently attending the shop, while I look around and pick a crocheted wolf. Maddie is currently obsessed with wolves, which is no surprise, seeing how she lives in a pack. I pay for my purchase and grab two of the boxes the witch had prepared. “I’ll taking these to the truck,” I tell Micah.

“Thank you,” he says. “You can wait outside, if you want to. I am almost done.”

I nod, carefully carrying the boxes to the truck and placing them on the bed, securing them so that they can’t get squashed or broken. It’s when I climb down the truck, that I can take in the slightest hint of cocoa. I sniff the air. Where does that alluring scent come from?

There is something nudging me forward, so I take a couple of steps around the shop, surprised to see a group of young men and women, probably college kids. I am still debating what to do when they spot me, and wave for me to come closer.

“Haven’t seen you around,” one of them says. “You are a fellow wolf.”

There is a girl with blonde hair, who keeps staring at me like she’s seen a ghost. Even with my wolf dormant, I recognize her for what she is.

My beautiful, angelic mate.

“I am Benjamin,” I say, trying to sound confident. “From Sunset Hills.”

“Sunset Hills?” One of the guys scrunches his nose.

“I’ve heard about you,” one of the other girls says. “You are that alpha’s son, from the north, right?”