Page 314 of Alpha Mates

I’m not sure I even want the answer to this question when it scares me more than anything else in the world, but I need to hear it. Alex opens and closes his mouth while his heart hammers before it settles into a flat line that stokes my fears.

“I—”he takes a deep breath before bringing his eyes to mine. “Yes. I want to, and I know that I will. I just … I don’t know how, Max.”

“We can figure that out together,” I promise as an avalanche of relief crashes through me. I close the space between us until I can take his hands in mine. “Let me fix us.”

“It’s not that simple, Max.” He tries to step back, but I keep my grip on him firm. I wouldn’t allow him to leave, not now.

“It is,” I say, pressing my forehead to his. I close my eyes as our bond flickers to life, threatening to burn the way it’s meant to. “Let me fix us. Baby, just give me a chance, even if it’s just for this week. I’ll show you how much I truly love you.” I press a kiss to his forehead. “Treasure you.” I lay the next one on his cheek, making him whimper as he leans into me. “Needyou.”

I trace my lips over his skin, moving slowly, letting devotion guide the way until they brush against his lips, and Alex shudders as he sucks in a sharp breath.

“Sweetheart, I love you, and I’m sorry,” I whisper as I open my eyes to meet his. “Give me a chance to show you that I mean it.”

Those familiar eyes shine with unshed tears and hesitant love as they stare back at me.

“Okay,” he mumbles, quietly at first, before he swallows and adds, “We can try.”

“Really?” I breathe, afraid to hope.

He nods, a small smile tugging at his lips. “It doesn’t have to be just this week … We can try for real, Max.”

The world seems to stop around me as I peer at my mate, not quite believing my ears.

I stare at him, not blinking until the tears that fill my eyes force me to.

“Oh, Max,” he whispers as he takes my face in his hands, and Goddess help me … the touch is so sweet.

“I thought I lost you,” I admit in a broken sob. “I didn’t think that we’d ever—you only asked me for one thing, and I let you down.”

Alex’s eyes swim with tears as he looks at me, and I know he’s hurting in ways I can’t even imagine, and yet he’s still giving me a chance.

“I’m so sorry, Alex.”

“I know you are, Max,” he whispers while his thumbs swipe away my tears. A shaky smile forces his lips apart. “And we’ll be okay. I … I don’t know how, but we’ll find a way. Iwantto forgive you, and Iwill,because more than anything … I still love you.”

I stare at Alex, wondering if this is a fever dream or a cruel hex Katerina put on me, but when he hugs me, he feels real—warm and soft like only myAlex could be. I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his shoulder as relief drowns me with my own tears.

Alex presses a gentle kiss atop my mark, and I shatter.

“I—I love you, too,” I whisper when I eventually find my words again.

Alex chuckles as he draws back and nudges my head up. “Good. Now, stop crying. You look like a big baby.”

I chuckle, but it’s a snotty mess that Alex cleans up without a care. He scolds me for my blubbering, but there’s still a smile on his face that lights me up from the inside because it’sreal.

“I’ll make this better,” I vow, and Alex nods, trusting me to do just that.

I pull him into my arms, hugging him for dear life before lifting him off the ground and spinning us around until he’s giggling. I look up at his elated face and make it my mission to keep it this way for the rest of my life, and I’d show him that I could.

I’ll show him that he can trust me, and eventually, we’ll be okay again.

Chapter 62

Julian

“There is only one thing an alpha truly dreads, and that’s calling his people to fight when he knows it’s a death sentence for some.”

Of all the lessons my father hounded into me, that is the one that stuck, and the one that returns with a vengeance now, as I stare at the missive in front of me and Aiden. I don’t want to be pessimistic and assume that’s what it is, but dread wells up in my stomach as my eyes linger on the Council’s broken seal.