A Warrior's Second Chance (Faye and Alexander) novel Chapter 471

Chapter 471

THIRD POV

The corridor leading to Janet’s chambers always felt the same to Darren like the air itself knew not to

linger.

He didn’t slow down as he approached the doors. No hesitation, no announcement. He pushed straight

Janet was just there.

Seated.

As if she had simply placed the moment on hold until he arrived.

Darren stopped just inside the room.

“I have good news,” he said flatly.

That alone made Janet’s gaze lift.

Darren didn’t waste time easing into it. “The bearer of the mark is here. Exactly as you said she would be.”

A faint shift passed through Janet’s expression–not surprise, not excitement. More like confirmation of something already accounted for.

She leaned back slightly.

“So she arrived,” Janet said calmly.

Darren exhaled through his nose, irritated despite himself. “You act like you’re in doubt.”

Janet’s attention remained steady on him.

“I’m not,” she replied simply.

That was it. No celebration. No visible satisfaction in her tone.

Darren didn’t like how calm she was about it, like everything had already been sealed long before anyone else caught up.

Janet rose from her seat, adjusting her posture with deliberate ease.

Darren continued, “It’s exactly as planned. She’s inside Stonevale, she’s using the mark as proof, and she’s asking for the healer. It’s already guiding her forward.”

Janet gave a small nod, as though each detail was expected rather than new.

“Good,” she said.

The single word landed clean and final.

Darren’s jaw tightened slightly. “You said tonight. Make sure it stays tonight.”

Janer’s gaze flicked briefly toward him,

“” will ”

There was no negotiation in her tone. No room for doubt or urgency Just structure, like the night itself

was already arranged into place and everyone else was simply moving through it.

Darren studied her for a beat longer, then get out a quiet scoff

“Bring her to me,” Janet said

Darren turned slightly toward the door.

Janet’s voice stopped him–not loudly, not sharply. Just enough to anchor him in place.

“Darren.”

He paused but didn’t turn fully.

Her tone didn’t change when she continued.

“Do not forget what you agreed to.”

A brief silence followed.

Darren’s expression tightened, but only faintly.

Janet stepped closer, her presence calm but absolute.

“When this is over,” she said, “you don’t get to decide how far this reaches.”

Darren finally turned his head just enough to look at her.

“I don’t need reminders,” he said.

Janet’s expression didn’t shift.

“I’m not reminding you,” she replied. “I’m warning you.”

The room felt still after that.

Darren held her gaze for a second longer, then gave a short, dismissive breath.

“Just make sure your part works,” he said.

Then he left.

No second glance.

Janet remained where she stood, watching the door close.

And only then did the faintest trace of satisfaction settle across her face.

FAYE

I waited longer than I expected to

1 hated waiting But waiting was the only thing left to do for the moment.

This place had its own rhythms, and I was already inside it now–past the point where hesitation meant anything Everything from here onward was just steps leading to something I had already accepres

My phone was still in my hand

I opened the message thread with Alexander

For a second, I just looked at his name.

There was a strange kind of calm in it now.

I typed slowly.

I met Darren. I’m inside the pack house. They’re taking me to the healer now.

I didn’t need to explain more than that. He already understood what “healer” meant in this place. What it really meant.

I pressed send.

Almost immediately, his reply came through.

Where are you now?

I glanced around the hall before responding.

Something like a waiting chamber. Darren said she’ll/see me soon.

There was a pause,

Then: Stay calm. Everything is in place.

I read it once.

Then again.

Everything is in place.

That was what I needed to hear.

I typed back: You don’t need to worry about me once I’m inside. Focus on what comes after

A longer pause followed this time.

Then: Faye…

Just my name

No instruction after it. No command. Just that

I stared at it for a moment, then replied anyway

1

4 Chapter 4

It has to happen this way, Alexander.

Because it did.

+25+ints

There was no version of survival that didn’t pass through this point. The sickness in my body wasn’t something that could be managed anymore–it had already spread too far. Helen had said it clearly The only way it could be separated from me was if I was taken through the ritual completely.

Death wasn’t the end of it.

It was part of the process.

A necessary transition.

And then there was Roman.

The binding wasn’t just theory anymore. It had been created. It meant that even if I crossed that line, there

was still something tethering me back.

A chance. A thread.

A possibility.

That was enough.

Alexander didn’t reply immediately.

I imagined him somewhere on the other side of all of this, already preparing for what came after me-

because that was his role. He didn’t get to walk into Stonevale first.

I placed the phone back into my pocket.

That was when footsteps approached.

I looked up.

Darren.

He didn’t rush. He walked slowly, like he had all day.

He stopped a short distance away, studying me briefly like I was something he was still trying to

understand.

“It’s time,” he said. “She’ll see you now.”

I nodded

No resistance… no hesitation

I stood up smoothly.

Darren turned without waiting, expecting me to follow.

And I did.

Chapter 4

+25 Points

We moved through the corridor in silence.

Every step felt deliberate. I was aware of how carefully everything had been arranged to bring me here. Aware of how many decisions had already been made on my behalf long before I arrived.

And aware that I had accepted all of it.

Not under pressure.

Not unknowingly.

But fully.

The further we walked, the quieter it became.

Like the entire pack was holding its breath without realizing it.

Darren finally spoke again as we approached the next corridor.

“Janet is a great healer,” he said.

I nodded once. “So that was her name.”

I don’t know about healing, but she was definitely good at what she does.

Everything from the mark to the sickness to the timing had been shaped around expectation. Around

belief. Around the idea that I had to come here seeking help I couldn’t find anywhere else.

And in a way, that part wasn’t even false.

I had come here for answers.

Just not the kind they thought I was looking for.

We stopped in front of the doors.

Darren pushed them open.

And I stepped forward without hesitation, knowing exactly what was walking into.

Just the next stage of a plan that required me to go all the way through it before anything else could begin

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