Filed To Story: Destined Bond with My Forbidden Alpha Novel (Alpha Alexander & Selene)
“And you?” she asked. “This was your reason as well?”
Galen swallowed but didn’t respond.
“Alexander…!” she cried out. “It’s really you…!”
15:08
Alexander moved closer, reaching out and pulling his mother into his arms. Immediately, Fiona began to “I remember that I told you about how I could be Alpha… at first, you seemed almost to agree… but then you changed your mind. You pushed to take the role, and when I wouldn’t agree, you told me there was no hope.”
Galen looked away but nodded.
“I… wanted to agree. Because, at the time, it would have been easier,” he said softly, “But, I realized at that time that agreeing to let you be Alpha… was like agreeing to your suicide.”
He sniffled and looked back at Fiona.
Fiona felt a rush of emotions. Guilt, understanding, frustration. She was surprised that her anger was no longer at the top of the list. Part of her wanted to be angry, feeling as though they were calling her weak. But the truth was, she had been relieved by Galen’s bid for Alpha.
“I am sorry that I lied,” he said. “But I didn’t know how to stop you from pushing yourself any more than you already had, and I wasn’t willing to lose you too.”
Galen moved in front of Fiona. He reached down and took her hands in his.
“I understand why you’re angry,” Galen said. “And I deserve it, so please, don’t blame Landon. Don’t blame anyone else. He didn’t do anything wrong, and neither did you. I’m the only one that you should be angry at. Just me.”
Fiona felt tears running down her cheeks. She swallowed and sniffled, unsure of how to feel. Her anger was almost gone. How could she hold on to it any longer? These men did all they could to protect her. And she had no doubt that the boy in front of her, her sweet boy, had been punishing himself ever since.
“If you have to be angry at anyone…” a familiar voice called behind her. One that she hadn’t heard in five years. “It should really be me.”
Galen’s eyes widened as he stared toward the doorway behind her and let go of her hands.
Fiona’s heart thudded loudly in her ears as she paused at this moment between the present, where Alexander was still gone, and the future, where he just might be waiting for her to turn around.
Slowly, Fiona turned, each second that passed longer than the last. Finally, she faced the door. And staring back at her was a man as tall as he was, with the same auburn hair he had and his same icy grey eyes.
It was hard for her to breathe. Each breath felt short and shallow.
“Alexander…?” she asked in a whisper.
A smile spread over his lips, the same smile that he wore when she chastised his impatience for his cocoa. The same smile he wore whenever he wanted to melt her heart. His smile.
“Hey, Mom,” he whispered.
Fiona gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.
“Alexander…!” she cried out. “It’s really you…!”
Alexander moved closer, reaching out and pulling his mother into his arms. Immediately, Fiona began to cry, holding him tightly as she did so.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, kissing her head. “I got lost for a while, but I’m back now. I’m here.”
763 Let Me Do This Properly
Fiona sobbed in Alexander’s arms, squeezing her arms around him to confirm he was real. He chuckled and held her tight.
“I promise,” he whispered, “I’m real.”
She squeezed her eyes tight and patted his back weakly. Relief, sorrow, and joy all overlapped in her heart and mind.
It was him. It was really him.
“Shh,” Alexander whispered soothingly as he gently stroked her hair. “It’s all right. I’m not going anywhere.”
Fiona nodded and tried to reign in her emotions, calm her tears, and take a deep breath. It took several minutes, but finally, she could place her hands on Alexander’s arms and gently pull away to look up at him.
“You look exactly the same,” she whispered, reaching her hand up and touching his cheek. “As though hardly a day had passed since we said goodbye.”
Alexander smiled and leaned into her hand.
“I know,” he whispered. “I’m sorry you had to go through all this. If I could have come back sooner… I swear, I would have.”
Fiona smiled, and then her smile shook. She swallowed as the emotions welled in her heart again.
“I truly thought I had lost you,” she said in a pained whisper.
Alexander’s smile fell, and he pulled her close again, hugging and squeezing her tight.
“I know…” he said.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears falling once more.
“No,” Alexander replied, shaking his head. “No, there is nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“I failed you,” she cried into his shoulder, “I failed you, Alexander.”
“No,” Alexander whispered, shaking his head and continuing to hug her. “Never, you never failed me.”
“Yes, I did,” she insisted. “I should have waited. I never should have stopped believing you were coming home!”
Alexander shook his head.
“No,” he said. “No, Mom… I never wanted you to stop living for me… never.”
Fiona pulled back and looked up at him. Her eyes were red from the strain of her tears. The expression on her face filled with guilt and fear. It gave Alexander a painful feeling in his chest.
He reached his hand up and touched her cheek tenderly.
“Mom,” Alexander whispered. “There’s a lot for us to talk about, a lot of time to make for… but it doesn’t have to happen right now.”
He smiled lovingly at her.
“You’ve had quite a shock,” he said. “And honestly, I just flew straight here with little sleep myself. I think we both need some rest. But I’m not going anywhere, I promise.”
Fiona was hesitant to let go of him. She knew he was right. Her body felt weak, and her head was spinning. But she was afraid to go to sleep and wake up to realize this was just another dream. Another hopeful nightmare.
“Trust me,” Alexander said. “We have time.”
She looked up at him again, and suddenly, it wasn’t just Alexander she saw. It was Cain, his reassuring smile, and the warmth of his eyes. Feeling that connection between them released the last bit of tension that tied her stomach in knots. Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she smiled and nodded.
“We have time…” she whispered.
Alexander smiled and squeezed her shoulders affectionately as he nodded.
Fiona took a shaky step back. Landon had already moved behind her, ready to offer whatever she needed. She looked back at him and allowed him to put his hands on her hip and arm to support her.
Alexander raised his brow as he watched his mother move into the young Alpha’s arms. Landon glanced up, catching Alexander’s eye.
“I will take her to rest,” Landon said.
Alexander nodded. Landon began leading Fiona away but stopped just as they passed Alexander.
“I am happy you’re back, Alexander,” he said. “I hope we can find time to get to know each other better soon.”
One side of Alexander’s mouth lifted into a grin.
“Oh, you can count on it,” he said.
In return, Landon gave a slight smirk and nodded before leading Fiona out of the room.
Alexander watched curiously as Landon led his mother away, the half grin never leaving his face as they disappeared into the hall.
“Well…” he began, turning back toward the one person in the room. “That was a little weird.”
Alexander chuckled as he looked at Galen.
Galen stood in the same spot he had been when Alexander entered the room. His expression still held the shock from seeing his long-lost brother.
“I guess you must be used to it by now,” Alexander continued warmly. “Selene says it’s been almost two years?”
Galen still didn’t respond. Alexander cleared his throat and moved toward his brother. He smiled and opened his arms, preparing to hug Galen and reassure him that he was still him.
But, to Alexander’s surprise, before he got close enough to touch him, Galen dropped to his knees before Alexander.
Alexander furrowed his brow and dropped his arms.
“What are you—?” Alexander began to ask.
“I’m sorry,” Galen whispered, dropping his head.
Alexander looked down at his best friend, his brother. Kneeling before him with his head hung in shame. He thought of his mother, begging for forgiveness.
Alexander took a deep breath.
15:10
He squatted down in front of Galen.
He had seen Selene’s pain over his disappearance, and he knew his family had missed him. But he had never expected this. His mother and brother groveling apologies toward him as if anything that had happened was their fault.
“I’m sorry,” Galen whispered again. His voice shook, and his entire body trembled under the weight of his guilt. “I never wanted to take anything from you… I never wanted to give up… I swear.”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?