Page 99 of A Chance at Redemption for the Alpha
“Awesome!” Benji says.
Sheila casts me a worried gaze. She and Micah are one of the few who know my history. I was reluctant to share it with anyone at first, even during our time as rogues, but eventually I came clean to them. They deserved to know the truth. I just nod at her now.Don’t worry. It was my decision, Sheila.
She smiles.That’s why you are our alpha.
Because I am not running away anymore?
No, because you are you, and put your pack before your own needs. That’s why we all love and respect you.
I smile at her.Thank you.
“Are you okay back there?” I ask Lori and Benjamin.
“We are fine,” Lori reassures us. “Thank you for bringing me along.”
“I am really glad you joined us,” Benjamin says, gazing at her through his lovesick puppy eyes. Goddess, do I look like that when I am with Silas?
“I was distressed at first,” Lori says. “But now it feels like an honor to join you.”
“How is your project going, Lori?” Sheila asks, as I maneuver the jeep away from the pack grounds and towards the road that will lead me to my home pack.
“I made a list of how I could renovate the pack house and the group homes for now,” she says. “And there are a few cottages deeper into the forest that have been deserted for a while.”
“Yeah, they were like that when we arrived,” I admit. “Pretty much completely abandoned by the person who owned the area before. They are really derelict, though.”
“I think I could work on them,” Lori says. “They are located at a beautiful spot, and maybe it could be for future pack members who enjoy the quietness.”
“We are happy with anything you’d contribute,” I say. “How about you meet Silas and me for an actual business meeting nextweek. You can present us with your plans, and we’ll see how we can budget them and what to prioritize.”
Lori seems to glow at my suggestion, her eyes beaming. “I would love that. Thank you!”
The closer we get to my old pack, the more silent I become. Sheila takes over the conversation, engaging with Benjamin and Lori, and I am thankful for her doing that. My own thoughts are running way too wild to contribute anything to this discussion.
Blue River Pack still looks the same as I remember. When we pass the borders, I am met with the familiar view of the mountains and the river alongside them. The closer we get, though, the more evident it becomes that there have been some changes. The buildings look more modern, and I spot some new ones that look like some pack members are working in. The road is a lot better, and from what I can see, the guards have upped their equipment as well. Seems like Eugene really worked hard over the last few of years.
I halt the jeep in front of the pack house, taking a deep breath. Sheila frowns at me.Are you okay?
No,I reply.But there is no time for doubt and anxiety now. Let’s get out.
Sheila and I exit the car at the same time, Benjamin and Lori following suit. I take in the familiar scent of the pack where I spent so many years. My whole childhood. Not all memories are bad, I have a lot of good ones, too.
I have no plan for how to deal with this. I have no idea what to say or do. Until a couple of hours ago, I thought that Silas would be coming here, giving me time to prepare for the inevitable – for my name to resurface again and my family discovering my whereabouts.
I notice the door to the packhouse opening and Eugene stepping outside with my old friend Elliot. Right behind him are Mom, Dad, and Floyd, the former beta, who I thought hated me,until he became the one to save me. I easily take up the familiar scent of my family and wonder if they do also. More pack members join us, some out of curiosity and some to help us with our task at hand. I recognize a lot of faces.
It takes a while for them to recognize me, though. When I left the pack, I was a teen, and since I left, I have bulked up, trained a lot, grown out a beard, and my hair is more unruly. Eugene halts in tracks, his eyes meeting mine, and he just stares.
Goddess, give me strength.
“No way!” Mom whispers. “It’s… impossible…” She chuckles, but it’s not an amused laugh, but sounds more hysterical. Dad takes her hand, squeezing it lightly.
Before anyone can react, though, I hear a squeal from the crowd, and a young woman pushes through. “Goddess,” she yells, instantly pulling me into a hug. “It’s you, Marc! And you look fine and healthy. I am so happy to see you.”
“Flo!” I blurt out. “Man, look at you! You look amazing!”
She draws back, her eyes widening while she stares at my neck. “And you are marked. I mean, this is a mark, right? It has to be.” Yeah, the way Silas marked me looks different, but the spot at my neck is too obvious for it to be anything other than a mark. She turns to Sheila. “I am sorry, I didn’t mean to jump your mate. It’s just-“
“It’s not like that,” Sheila assures her. “I am just here to help with the victims. Alpha Marcellus asked me to come along.” She emphasizes the word alpha.
