Chapter 334 – Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)

Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)

Alexander clenched his jaw and gripped the phone in his hand so tightly it the plastic case began to crack.

He took a deep breath through his nose and slowly pushed it between his lips.

“How is it that I am just hearing about this,” he said with an underlying tone of anger.

Galen sighed on the other end of the line.

“I am sorry. I know I overstepped.”

“You think so?” Alexander growled.

“Knowing how Selene–” Galen started to reply but thought better of it, “how our Luna feels about the topic of Alice and any potential connection to her. I wanted to confirm some of the information before I presented it to you.”

Alexander sighed. Galen wasn’t wrong about how Selene would react.

“I apologize, my Alpha,” Galen said.

Alexander could practically hear him lowering his head on the other side of the call. He felt a pang of guilt in his chest.

“That’s enough,” Alexander sighed. “I understand. You were trying to keep me from being put in a difficult position. But that is not your call to make. I hope I won’t need to remind you of that in the future.”

“Of course not,” Galen replied.

“So,” Alexander said. “Were you able to confirm it? Was the information she provided us real?”

“The things I was able to check on, yes. There are details about Autumn that aren’t possible for us to know if they are true or not, but it seems likely,” Galen replied. “It’s all on a flash drive for your review. I spoke with Nessa and asked her to put it together and give you a report this afternoon.”.

Alexander sighed again.

“Nessa…” he whispered.

“Yea…” Galen replied.

“She’s clearly skilled and generally likable,” Alexander said.

“And one of our newest and most supportive allies’ daughters….” Galen added.

“And Clara’s mate.”

“Yep.”

“Don’t suppose she’ll just behave from now on, do you?” Alexander asked, pinching the bridge of his nose, trying to fight off the headache that was beginning to form.

“I want to say yes,” Galen said. “But chances are… no.”

Both men sighed.

“She’s got a thing for Alice,” Galen said. “Not like a crush, I mean, she seems to admire her? Maybe?”

“Alice…” Alexander said softly, thinking about the things he had learned from Sofia. “She’s a popular topic these days.”

“Well, Nessa taught herself most of her computer knowledge. And our techs are far more… straight and narrow. I think Nessa feels a connection to Alice, like a hacker sister bond or something,” Galen said.

“That makes sense, but I wasn’t referring to Nessa.”

“Who else?” Galen asked.

“I learned some interesting things about Alice in Burning Ember. Or at least… I was told some things, but they could be lies or games she is playing.”

“What kinds of things?” Galen asked quietly. As he felt an uneasiness, wondering if someone had found out about Axel’s connection to her.

Alexander sat down in his chair and took a deep breath.

“Where to begin…” he sighed.

Alexander told Galen about his conversation with Sofia, how Alice had called herself a doll, and the rumors that she was a new person everywhere she went.

Galen listened without saying a word.

“Everything that Sofia said could be true,” Alexander said. “Alice could have been a victim of this torture and manipulation since she was a child.”

Alexander paused.

“You don’t believe it?” Galen asked.

“I don’t know,” Alexander replied honestly. “It’s just as likely that she’s simply really good at manipulating people into trusting her.”

Galen chewed his bottom lip, thinking, considering. Then, finally, he took a deep breath and decided.

“It’s true,” he said.

“What?” Alexander asked, leaning forward in his chair in his surprise. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, it’s true, what Sofia told you,” Galen said. “Alice has been treated with Bitter Night since she was a child. Spring uses her as their doll, programming and sending her out, then rewriting her, so she doesn’t remember.”

Alexander leaned his head back as he absorbed what he was hearing.

“How do you know?” he asked.

“Someone I trust who wouldn’t lie told me very recently,” Galen said. “I can’t tell you who. I promised to keep that information to myself.”

He closed his eyes. In truth, he had hoped it was a lie. Not just because it would make things easier for him, but because of the idea that a child had been treated in such a way… that she was still being treated like that, it disgusted and enraged him.

“It seems more and more likely, that Alice really has been trying to help us,” Galen said. “As much as she is able.”

“Yea…” Alexander sighed. “I still don’t think Selene is going to see it that way. Not without proof.”

“I’m not really sure how we would get that without Alice herself.”

Alexander grunted in agreement.

The men were silent for a long time.

“Thank you,” Alexander finally said. “For trying to help me to avoid an argument with my wife.”

Galen chuckled softly.

“No one wants their wife mad at them,” he said. Then, gathering his nerve, he added, “or their best friend.”

Alexander paused and sighed.

“No,” he said. “It’s not a pleasant feeling.”

“Alexander, listen, please, I just want to say–”

“Galen,” Alexander interrupted. “I know.”

Galen quieted.

“I’m trying to move past it. Selene, mom, they’ve got your back,” he scoffed gently. “They’ve told me that I have no reason to be angry with you, that they would have done the same thing.”

Alexander paused, swallowing down the painful feeling.

“I know I probably would have, too,” he said. “But I can’t stop seeing you holding the dagger above her.

“In my heart, I have forgiven you. I know you’re a good man, my best friend. My brother. But the thought that you put the woman I love in danger….”

Alexander paused as his voice began to crack, and angry tears filled his eyes. He took a long deep breath through his nose.

“Just give me a little time,” he whispered.

“I understand,” Galen replied sadly. “I’ll take whatever I can get. Just know if you need me, I’m here. Always.”

Alexander sniffled and then forced a laugh.

“Yea, all the way in Winter,” he said, trying to make a joke. “Did you run away to hide behind your wife just because I was a little mad?”

Galen chuckled.

“I wish that was the reason,” he sighed. “Alexander, I didn’t come home to Bell just because of the baby or because I missed her.”

“What’s going on?” Alexander asked, leaning forward on his desk as he suddenly grew concerned.

“Bell’s mate knows she’s alive,” Galen said. “He’s looking for her.”

“Fuck,” Alexander sighed.

“Yea.”

“What can I do?” Alexander asked.

“Nothing right now,” Galen said. “According to Alice, he left the country. It sounds like she did something to make him believe that Bell was in Europe.”

“Alice… again…” Alexander sighed.

“Believe me, I know,” Galen laughed. “I was convinced it was all a setup, and she was plotting something, but… she’s not.”

Alexander shook his head, wishing it were that easy to just accept and move on.

“So this is the reason for the full defense update of Winter,” Alexander said. “Mom just assumed you were being a very paranoid father-to-be.”

“I mean… two birds, one stone, right?” Galen replied.

The two brothers laughed together.

“I hear everything’s been approved for the defense upgrades in Winter,” Selene said as she watched Alexander getting ready for his day.

“Yep. And Galen is eagerly awaiting the delivery. Very eagerly,” Alexander groaned. “He has asked for an update three times today alone.”

Selene giggled.

“Can you blame him?” she asked, sitting up in bed. “Getting these defenses up is the first step to making sure that Bell and Ren are safe from the monster that hurt her.”

Alexander nodded as he worked on fastening the buttons of his shirt.

“I understand. I just wish he would understand when I say, ‘I will let you know when the transport is on its way.’ He doesn’t need to keep asking about it.”

Selene laughed again.

“Please, you wouldn’t have even called if it were you. Instead, you would have driven here and carried the supplies back in your arms,” she smiled.

Alexander turned to look at her with a cocked brow.

“So, in this scenario,” he said, turning his body toward her as he finished the last button of his shirt. “I am trying to protect my wife… and child?”

“I was just saying, if. If you were Galen, that’s what you would do.”

“Yes,” he said, moving toward the bed. “If I was Galen, and if you were Bell.”

“Mmhmm,” Selene replied.

Alexander kneeled on the bed, and Selene couldn’t help but smile as he moved with the grace and focus of a wolf stalking his prey.

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