Page 84 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha

*MARCELLUS*

Julianus arrives together with Alex, and I make sure to act like I don’t mind him being here. Technically, I truly don’t mind, but no one likes to have their lover’s ex strolling around close to them. He is a handsome man, I have to give him that, a bit more on the serious side, but that might be due to his major fallout with Silas years ago, and then his second fallout with psycho-brother Aloysius.

He isn’t a bad guy and has done a lot these last couple of months to help us and the vampire community, so I try to keep it civil between us.

Silas loves his fancy scarves and all, but he is not wearing one today. His beautiful neck with my mark on it is veryprominent to see. When his brother and Julianus arrive, he even demonstratively turns his head, giving a full view of his mark. A silly sense of pride and happiness fills me. That’s my mate, and he is showing off his mark!

Julianus looks surprised, and a tad shocked, which makes it so much better.

“You are marked,” Alex says, equally surprised. But then he smiles, giving Silas a swift hug. “I am happy for you, brother.”

Silas hugs him back. “Thanks, brother.”

“One of us and a werewolf,” Alex chuckles. “How the times have changed.”

“Envious?” Silas teases.

“You know, a couple of months ago in Paris, I met this beautiful, stunning and smart female lycan. She was fantastic. I was head over heels for her.”

“But?”

“Unfortunately, mated, and not to me,” Alex grins. “But you could say she piqued a certain interest in our hairy friends.”

“Yourhairy friends?” I repeat.

“No offense,” he says. “I mean that in the best way possible.”

“Yeah, sure.” I don’t know Silas’ brother well, but he is a cynical douchebag, albeit a reliable one.

“I am happy for you, too,” Julianus says all of a sudden.

Silas glances at him. “Thank you.” There is no teasing or anger in his voice. It must be hard facing his former beloved and the man who betrayed him, and maybe imagining the things that could have been. For a moment, I feel a twinge of pain, because I wasn’t there back then and even if I were, I doubt that Silas would have chosen me over Julianus.

Silas turns around to look at me, a warm smile curling his lips, making me feel like an idiot. Silas let me mark him; he gave himself willingly to me and claimed me in return. He is a man who sticks to his commitment and doesn’t half-ass things. Thereis no reason to be jealous of Julianus for what both of them once had. In fact, I am lucky to have my whole future with this man.

“What’s with the boy you saved?” Silas asks, turning his attention back to the other two men. “My nephew.”

“Alex has told you most of it already,” Julianus says. “I dug deep, really deep, to find this woman and her son.”

“How come you even found her?” Silas asks. “I have so many difficulties finding anyone Aloysius had an affair with.”

“I have a good memory,” Julianus says.

“Yeah, so do Silas and I,” Alex snorts. “So how did you do it? I am curious, too.”

“After Lord Silas left, Aloysius began to drink more,” Julianus explains. “He was a rough drunk, but he also talked more when he drank.”

“That’s not quite the explanation I was thinking of,” Alex mutters.

“Me neither,” Silas agrees.

Julianus eyes them curiously. “Why? What did you think would have happened?”

“I don’t know… I thought you might have stolen a folder or snuck around or something,” Alex says.

“We all know I am not exactly a brave man,” Julianus mutters.

“You are helping now,” Alex says. “And you found our nephew. That counts as something.”