A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 386

Chapter 386

STONEVALE PACK

Darren didn’t knock.

+25 Points

The door to Janet’s quarters slammed open hard enough to echo down the corridor, the force of it rattling against the hinges as he stepped inside without hesitation.

“Janet!”

His voice carried–sharp and impatient–cutting through the quiet space like he owned it.

He barely took in the room.

Didn’t care to.

He was already pacing forward, tension rolling off him in waves, his jaw tight, his hands flexing like he needed something to break just to release the pressure building inside him.

“Janet!”

“I heard you the first time.”

Her voice came from behind him.

Darren turned.

Janet stood just outside the doorway now, having followed him in, her expression already set in clear disapproval. Her arms folded slowly across her chest as she stepped fully into the room, her gaze sweeping over him once–quick, assessing–before settling on his face.

“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” she asked, her tone sharpening. “Barging into my quarters in the middle of the day and shouting my name like-”

“I don’t care,” Darren cut her off immediately.

Flat and dismissive.

He didn’t even let her finish.

Her eyes narrowed slightly at that, but he didn’t pause long enough for her to respond.

“I didn’t come here to listen to you complain about manners,” he continued, his voice low but tight with something barely restrained. “I came to make sure you’re not wasting my time.”

Janet paused.

Darren stepped closer, closing the distance between them with a deliberate lack of restraint.

“After everything I just sat through,” he said, his voice dropping further, his eyes locked on hers,

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Chapter 386

after the way those council members spoke-”

His jaw clenched.

The memory alone was enough to stir the anger all over again.

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“They think I’m not ready,” he went on, the words edged now, sharper with every second. “They think I don’t deserve it. That I haven’t earned anything.”

Janet didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t react.

She just watched him.

Which only made it worse.

“And I’m supposed to sit there,” Darren continued, his voice rising slightly despite himself, “and listen to them question me like I’m some-”

He cut himself off with a sharp exhale, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration before dropping it again.

His gaze snapped back to her.

“So I came here,” he said, more controlled now but no less intense, “to confirm that you’re not playing games with me.”

Janet’s expression didn’t change.

“That your plan,” Darren continued, “your so–called ritual-‘

He stepped even closer now, his voice lowering again.

“-still stands.”

”

The silence that followed stretched just long enough to make the tension shift.

Darren didn’t move.

Didn’t look away.

“Because if I’m going to stand there and take that kind of humiliation,” he added, his tone hardening, “then there had better be something real behind all of this.”

Janet let out a slow breath.

Then finally-

She moved.

Just enough to straighten fully.

Chapter 386

“Everything,” she said calmly, “is already in motion.”

Her voice didn’t rise.

Didn’t waver.

It didn’t need to.

Darren’s eyes stayed on her, searching, measuring.

“You said that before,” he replied.

“I meant it then,” Janet said smoothly. “And I mean it now.”

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She stepped slightly to the side, moving past him just enough to create space between them.

“You’re impatient,” she added, glancing at him briefly. “Understandably so.”

Darren didn’t respond.

His silence said enough.

Janet turned to face him properly again.

“The ritual will happen,” she said. “The power you were promised will come.”

There was no hesitation in her tone.

No uncertainty.

And that-

That was what Darren needed to hear.

But it still wasn’t enough.

“Soon,” she added.

That word settled differently.

Darren’s jaw tightened again, but this time he didn’t push back immediately.

Instead, he studied her.

Carefully.

Like he was trying to decide whether to believe her or tear the answer out of her another way.

Janet held his gaze without flinching.

Then-

Her expression shifted.

Chapter 38

Slightly.

+25 Points

“And you,” she continued, her tone changing just enough to carry a warning now, “need to start thinking before you act.”

Darren’s brows drew together faintly.

“What?”

Janet gestured lightly toward the door.

“This,” she said. “You storming in here in broad daylight, raising your voice, throwing around words

you shouldn’t even be saying out loud.”

Her eyes hardened.

“Anyone could have seen you come in.”

Darren didn’t respond.

“Anyone could have heard you,” she added.

There was a brief pause.

Then-

“Do you have any idea how careless that is!

Darren let out a short breath.

“At this point,” he said flatly, “I don’t care.”

Janet’s eyes narrowed again.

Of course he didn’t.

That was becoming obvious.

“I’ve already dealt with enough today,” Darren continued, his voice tightening again, the frustration rising back to the surface. “I’m not going to stand around worrying about who might hear what.”

Janet studied him for a moment.

Longer this time.

And there was something different in her gaze now.

Something less patient.

Less accommodating.

“That kind of thinking,” she said slowly, “is exactly what gets plans like this ruined.”

Chapter 386

Darren’s expression darkened.

“Then make sure it doesn’t get ruined,” he shot back.

Janet caught it immediately.

“And if it does?” she asked, her voice quieter now.

Darren didn’t hesitate.

“Then you’ve failed me.”

The room seemed to still around that.

Janet’s gaze sharpened.

Darren stepped closer again, closing whatever space she had created between them.

+25 Points

“And if you’ve failed me,” he continued, his tone dropping, colder now, “then whatever you think you’re gaining from this-”

He paused.

“It won’t matter… you know me.”

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