A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 396

Chapter 396

ALEXANDER

As I turned into the driveway, I saw her immediately.

Helen was already outside.

Standing just beyond the front steps, one hand loosely clasped over the other, her gaze fixed

on the car as I drove in.

For a moment, it caught me off guard.

There was a time when that sight would have meant something entirely different.

A smirk.

At least a teasing comment about how long it had taken me to visit.

But things weren’t like that anymore.

Not between us.

Not after everything.

Our relationship had gotten worse, which is why there was a high chance that this visit might be a waste of time.

The car rolled to a stop, and I stepped out slowly, my eyes lifting to meet hers.

She didn’t smile.

Didn’t speak.

She only looked at me for a moment, and then turned and walked back inside.

I let out a slow breath.

I knew what this was.

The silence before the conversation.

The unspoken reminder that we were no longer mother and son meeting in comfort.

We were two people standing on opposite sides of something much bigger.

Still-

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<Chapter 396

I followed her in.

Whatever this talk became, it would be worth it if I left with answers.

The moment I stepped into the house, the familiar scent met me.

Tea.

Freshly brewed.

For some weird reason, it pulled something old from memory before I could stop it

How many times had I come home to that smell?

I moved into the sitting room and lowered myself into the chair, my mind already bracing for

whatever was coming.

A moment later, I heard her footsteps.

Then the soft clink of porcelain.

Helen came in carrying two cups, steam rising from both.

She placed one in front of me with the same familiar grace she always had.

I looked up at her.

“Hello, Mom.”

For the first time since I arrived, her expression softened.

She smiled.

Not brightly.

But enough to remind me that I was welcome.

“Hello, Alexander.”

I took a deep breath.

“I appreciate you making time to see me on such short notice,” I said.

The words felt formal the moment they left my mouth, but I didn’t take them back.

Helen didn’t respond immediately.

She simply lifted her tea.

:

< Chapter 396

“Drink.”

Of course.

I almost exhaled.

Some things didn’t change.

+25 Polms

No matter the situation, no matter the reason for the visit–there was always tea or food first. It wasn’t a suggestion.

Under normal circumstances, I would have taken the cup without a second thought.

But today-

“I’m not in the mood for tea,” I said.

Her hand paused mid–motion.

Then slowly, she looked up at me.

And smirked.

It was small.

“Has it gotten to the point,” she asked lightly, “where you believe your own mother might poison you?”

I rolled my eyes, leaning back slightly in my seat.

“That’s not what I said.”

Her brow arched.

“Then what are you saying?”

I exhaled slowly, dragging a hand briefly over the back of my neck.

“I’ve been on the road for hours,” I said. “The sun is already up. I’m not exactly in the mood for something hot.”

She studied me for a second.

Then gave a small nod.

“Fair point.”

And just like that, the moment passed.

< Chapter 396

“More for me, then,” Helen said.

I didn’t respond.

I just watched her.

Watched the way she moved–unhurried, composed, like nothing in the world could disturb

her rhythm.

Even now.

Even with me sitting here.

She lifted the cup and took a slow sip.

I waited.

Didn’t rush her.

Didn’t push.

Because I knew how this worked.

She would speak when she wanted to.

Not a second before.

And right on cue-

“It’s about Faye, isn’t it?” she asked.

I gave a slight nod.

“Yes.”

Her lips curved faintly, like that answer amused her more than it should have.

“Of course it is,” she said. “My son doesn’t just come down from his high horse and step into my home for no good reason.”

She took another sip of her tea.

“I knew it had to be about your mate.”

I ignored that trap.

Focused on why I was here.

“Something is wrong with her.” I went straight to the point.

Chapter 396

That got her attention.

The slight stillness.

The shift in her eyes.

“At first,” I continued, “it was her powers.”

I leaned forward slightly, resting my forearms against my thighs.

“They started acting up. Unpredictable.”

Helen said nothing.

She just watched.

“She began that’s

things at random,” I went on. “Not like before… hallucinations. At least-

like.”

aintly.

e anger.”

art sat heavier.

is isn’t normal anger, I added. “It’s

I paused briefly, choosing my word

“Stronger. She loses control, I

The memory flickered brief

The look in Faye’s eyes

I pushed it aside.

“And yesterda Yesterday

rent.”

ully.

id when she does–she could actually hurt someone.”

admitted she wanted to hurt me.

owly, my hand dragging thro… bath.”

The Aike’s Hese

We s

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