A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 469

Chapter 469

STONEVALE PACK

THIRD POV

The closer Faye and James got to the Stonevale pack house, the more the atmosphere changed around

them.

What started as scattered signs of settlement gradually became unmistakably pack territory.

Warriors.

Training grounds.

Watch points hidden between the trees.

Even the roads became more maintained the closer they drove inward, though the place still lacked the organized strength Blood Crescent carried naturally.

There was structure here… but it obviously lacked stability.

Faye noticed it almost immediately.

Even from inside the vehicle, she could feel it.

Stonevale felt divided somehow.

Like a territory trying hard to look united while cracks/spread beneath the surface.

Any experienced leader could see the holes.

The large gates finally came into view ahead.

Massive iron structures reinforced with thick wood and guarded heavily on both sides by armed wolves.

James slowed the car immediately.

Several guards stepped forward the moment they approached.

Alert.

Suspicious.

One of them lifted a hand sharply, signaling for the vehicle to stop completely.

James obeyed.

The engine remained running as one of the guards approached the driver’s side while another moved toward Faye’s side cautiously.

Neither looked welcoming.

Faye remained calm.

=

The guard beside James bent slightly toward the window.

“State your business.”

James didn’t answer immediately.

That part belonged to Faye.

Faye slowly opened her door before stepping out herself.

Instantly, several guards visibly stiffened.

Their attention shifted fully toward her now.

She could practically feel them trying to assess whether she was a threat or not.

One of them narrowed his eyes slightly.

“You can’t enter the pack house grounds without authorization,” he said firmly. “Outsiders only enter by

appointment.”

Faye kept her expression neutral.

Technically, she could end this conversation immediately.

All she had to do was introduce herself properly.

Luna Faye of Blood Crescent.

Mate to Alpha Alexander Blackwell.

The guards would panic instantly and probably escort her directly inside, believing it was some diplomatic

matter.

But that would ruin everything.

The entire point was making Stonevale believe she came here vulnerable.

Desperate.

Alone.

Not protected by Blood Crescent authority.

Not backed by someone like Alexander.

So instead of introducing herself, Faye calmly shifted her jacket sleeve slightly upward.

Then she raised her wrist.

The mark of Stonevale immediately became visible.

Glowing against her skin.

Unnatural.

The ragtag was immediate

The guards froze

Every single one of them

Confusion flashed across their faces almost instantly.

Not confusion over what the mark was-

But confusion over why she had it.

Several of them exchanged quick looks with each other.

Faye held her wrist out calmly

“How about now?” she asked quietly.

Silence.

One of the guards stepped closer cautiously, as though he needed to confirm what he was seeing.

His eyes widened faintly afterward

Then he immediately looked toward another guard.

Neither spoke aloud.

But something silently passed between them.

Recognition

Faye noticed it instantly.

Good

That meant the mark mattered here exactly the way she hoped it would.

One of the guards straightened quickly afterward before stepping aside from the gate.

“You may enter”

Just like that.

No further questions.

No appointment needed anymore.

Interesting.

Faye slowly lowered her sleeve back into place.

Then she glanced toward James briefly.

“You can head back home,” she said casually enough for the guards nearby to hear clearly. “Or find somewhere to relax. I’ll call you when I need you.”

25 Pints

James immediately turned toward her sharply.

For half a second, he genuinely looked like he was about to argue.

And honestly-

Under normal circumstances, he absolutely would have

There was no universe where Alexander sent him here just to abandon Faye inside unfamiliar territory

alone

But then-

Something clicked behind his eyes.

Faye saw the exact moment he understood what she was doing.

She wasn’t dismissing him.

She was creating distance publicly.

Making it appear as though he was irrelevant.

Like she truly came here carelessly and without any arrangements.

The guards were watching closely.

Faye could feel it.

If James hovered too protectively around her, suspicion would rise immediately.

So instead, she held his gaze steadily for one brief second.

And that was enough.

James understood.

The look in Faye’s eyes said the rest clearly.

Stay nearby.

Stay alert.

But don’t draw attention.

His expression settled almost inmediately afterward.

Then he simply nodded once.

“Yes, of course.”

The guards visibly relaxed slightly after that.

Exactly what Faye wanted.

James got back into the vehicle without another word.

+25 nits

A second later, the car slowly turned around and drove away from the entrance.

Faye resisted the urge to look back at it for too long.

Because she knew dames wasn’t actually leaving.

No chance.

Alexander would probably skin him alive personally if he did. –

One of the guards finally gestured toward the compound ahead.

“This way.”

Faye nodded once.

Then, without hesitation, she began walking forward as the guard fèd her deeper into the Stonevale pack

house.

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