A Warrior’s Second Chance novel Chapter 234

ALEXANDER

My office felt smaller than usual.

Not physically–but the air was thick, pressing in around me, buzzing with unfinished thoughts and instincts that refused to stay quiet. I could hardly concentrate on work.

I could still picture the moment I saw Faye standing in my mother’s house, shaken but alive…even though she was a little bit shaken.

But she was alive.

That single fact was the only reason I was still holding myself together.

Then my phone rang, and jumped to me feet.

I stood by the window, phone pressed to my ear, fingers drumming once against the glass before stilling. Derek’s voice came through the line, clipped and professional as always–but there was an edge to it now. A note I didn’t like.

“We got something, Alpha,” he said.

My shoulders tightened. “Talk to me.”

“One of the men you asked me to look into,” Derek continued. “The men who helped your mother clean up the scene, Brad… He’s Shadow Fang.”

The words landed heavy.

For a moment, I said nothing. Somewhere deep in my chest, something cold settled into place- not shock, exactly. More like grim confirmation.

Shadow Fang. The northern mountain wolves… Supposed allies.

Supposed.

My father’s voice surfaced in my mind without warning, calm and almost casual the way it always was when he spoke about danger.

Watch the wolves from the mountains, Alexander. They smile easily, but they never show their teeth until it’s already too late… I always kept those words in mind.

I exhaled slowly.

“So it’s confirmed. Are you sure?” I asked.

“Confirmed,” Derek replied. “Deep enough ties that there’s no question. He’s one of theirs.”

I closed my eyes briefly, jaw tightening.

I couldn’t say I was surprised. Uneasy, yes. Angry–absolutely. But surprised? No.

Not after everything.

Shadow Fang didn’t do coincidences. They didn’t make friendly visits or form harmless connections. They played long games… Quiet ones. The kind where you didn’t realize you were being watched until the knife was already at your throat.

Or at your mate’s.

My hand curled into a fist.

There was a pause on the other end of the line.

“That part,” Derek said carefully, “I can’t tell yet.”

That was the problem, wasn’t it?

Because either possibility was bad.

If my mother knew exactly who Brad was and still allowed him into her home–into her inner circle -then she was hiding something far bigger than I’d first suspected.

And if she didn’t know?

Then thistle Brad had done exactly what Shadow Fang wolves did best.

He’d wormed his way in. Gained trust…access.

Position.

I opened my eyes again, I didn’t like what was going on.

“This isn’t random,” I said flatly. “None of it is.”

Derek didn’t argue. “I agree.”

“The attack on Faye,” I continued. “The timing.

The fact that Brad just happened to be close enough to help clean the scene before I arrived.”

“I know,” Derek said. “Which is why I think the next step has to come from you.”

I leaned back into my chair slowly, the leather creaking beneath me. “You’re saying I should talk to her.”

“Yes,” he said.

I let out a humorless chuckle. “She won’t appreciate that.”

“She doesn’t have to,” Derek replied evenly.

“But she’s your mother. If she knows something–or suspects something–you’re the only one she might tell.”

Or the only one she’d lie to convincingly.

Still.

Derek was right.

If Helen was being manipulated, she deserved to know.

And if she wasn’t–if she was hiding something deliberately–then I needed to hear it from her own mouth.

“I can’t officially question her,” Derek continued. “But you can confront her. Ask the questions I can’t.”

He was right. No one was above the law…but in this case, he needed my authorization to take my mother in for questioning. I knew the implication of giving such permission.

I took a deep breath.

Shadow Fang.

Nothing about this was simple anymore.

“Alright,” I said at last. If this was what I suspected, all hell was about to break lose.

Derek exhaled softly, like he’d expected resistance. “Alright?”

“I’ll talk to my mother,” I said.