A Warrior’s Second Chance novel Chapter 177

By the time Alexander got to the chamber, the soft sound of movement reached his ears–clothes shifting. drawers closing in the closet. He guessed Faye was probably getting dressed.

He was right. A few seconds later, she stepped out of the closet, fully dressed, her hair loosely tied back, and greeted him casually.

“Hi,” she said, her tone even, polite–but too neutral.

Alexander smiled faintly and closed the distance between them, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. “Hi.”

For a moment, he expected her to linger like she usually did…leaning into him, teasing him for sneaking up on her, or at least offering that small, warm smile that always softened her face. But this time, she didn’t. She slipped out of his arms in that quiet, detached way that didn’t seem intentional but still stung.

He didn’t comment on it. “How are you feeling?” he asked instead, keeping his tone gentle.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, her voice light but unconvincing. She adjusted the strap of her bag like she was more focused on that than the conversation.

He studied her for a moment. There was something distant in her eyes–something she was trying to hide behind the calm tone. Alexander wanted to ask more, to tell her what Irene had said, to ask what was really going on, but her posture told him everything: she wasn’t ready to talk. Not yet.

Still, he tried, even if just a little. “I was wondering if we could talk-”

“About what?” she interrupted lightly, still not meeting his gaze.

He exhaled quietly. “Nothing in particular. Just… talk.”

She forced a small smile. “Maybe later, okay?”

That was Faye’s way of saying no.

He let it go. “Fine. Where are you going?”

She hesitated only slightly before answering. “Nowhere, really. I just want to get some fresh air.”

That made him look at her properly. Faye didn’t just go out to get fresh air–not fully dressed like that. Not when her head was clear. It was her way of saying she needed space to think, that something was weighing on her more than she wanted to admit.

Alexander took a step closer, his tone soft. “You know if something’s bothering you, you can tell me, right?”

Faye froze for a fraction of a second, then looked up at him with a faint, almost defensive smile. “Who

said something’s bothering me?”

Her voice was calm, but he could hear the tension beneath it. He wanted to press, but he also knew pushing too hard would only make her retreat further.

When the call connected, his voice was calm as he spoke. “The Luna just drove out,” he said. “Follow her- discreetly. I don’t want her to know she’s being tailed. Just make sure she’s safe and let me know where she goes.”

He ended the call and stood to his feet. He stood there for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on the door she’d just walked through.

FAYE

I didn’t even know where I was going. I just drove. The farther I got from the pack house, the easier it was to breathe–or at least, that’s what I kept telling myself. My hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than they should have.

I wasn’t angry at Alexander. Not really. But the way he’d looked at me…concerned, careful, almost too gentle…had somehow made me feel trapped. Like if I stayed in that room a second longer, I’d suffocate. I hated that I’d snapped at him. The look in his eyes when I said I needed space… it wasn’t disappointmorg exactly, it was hurt. Quiet, understanding hurt. That somehow made it worse

The truth was, I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Lately, everything just felt off. My head, my heart…even my own skin felt strange, like I didn’t fit in it anymore. And then there was my wolf…or rather the absence of her.

I hadn’t heard her voice in days. No whisper at the back of my mind, no instinct guiding me, no comforting warmth in my chest when I needed grounding. It was like someone had turned off a switch inside me, leaving nothing but silence. That silence scared me more than I wanted to admit.

The road blurred past as I drove through the outskirts of the city. My thoughts kept looping, circling the same things I didn’t want to face. I’d tried to train, hoping the physical exertion would wake her up. But it hadn’t worked.

I sighed, leaning back into the seat, watching the familiar landmarks go by without really seeing them. I had no destination in mind, but when the city park came into view, I found myself pulling over. Maybe some air would help. Maybe I’d finally be able to think.