A Warrior’s Second Chance novel Chapter 246

ALEXANDER

I barely lowered the phone before Cole was already watching me, his earlier annoyance completely gone.

“What’s going on?” he asked, serious now.

“Irene,” I said. “She just landed. Mom was supposed to pick her up… but her phone is off.”

Cole frowned. “Helen doesn’t turn her phone off.”

“No,” I agreed quietly. “She doesn’t.”

I didn’t want to jump to conclusions. I never did–panic without confirmation was sloppy, and

I hated being sloppy. But instinct was already stirring, sharp and insistent at the back of my mind.

“I’m going to check on her myself,” I added.

Cole blinked. “I thought you would send someone… maybe Derek, since he’s closer.”

“Not yet,” I said. “If it’s nothing, I don’t want to turn it into a scene. No police, no pack alarms. Not until I know.”

He studied me for a moment. “You think she’s in trouble.”

I exhaled slowly. “I think it’s possible.”

That was all it took.

Cole leaned back against the wall, folding his arms. “Because of Brad.”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

Ever since the talk with Derek, it had been sitting in my head like a loaded weapon. Everything Helen had told me. Everything she hadn’t. The way she’d insisted on handling things herself.

“They already tried to get to Faye,” I continued. “And they failed.”

Cole’s jaw tightened.

“If Shadow Fang was willing to move that boldly,” I went on, “they won’t stop just because it didn’t work the first time. They’ll pivot.”

“To Helen,” Cole said grimly.

I nodded. “She’s easier to reach. Less guarded. And she’s already compromised emotionally- whether she wants to admit that or not.”

Cole shook his head. “And she told you not to get involved.”

“She did,” I said. “Which is exactly why this worries me.”

I pulled my phone back out and tried her number again.

Straight to voicemail.

My chest tightened.

“That’s it,” I muttered. “I’m going.”

I didn’t bother waiting for Cole’s response. I turned and headed for the exit, the weight in my chest growing heavier with every step.

“Wait,” Cole called, already following me. “I’m coming with you.”

I glanced back briefly. “I didn’t ask-”

“You don’t need to,” he cut in.

I didn’t argue.

We moved quickly through the corridors, my mind already racing ahead. Every scenario. Every possible mistake I’d made by letting Helen handle things on her own.

I hoped she was safe.

By the time we reached the main house, I was already pulling my phone out again, this time dialing Irene’s number to send her pickup details–only to remember I still needed to arrange that.

I pushed open the office door.

Faye was inside, sitting on the couch with her laptop open, papers spread around her. She looked up immediately, surprise flashing across her face when she saw me.

“Alexander?” she said. “What’s wrong?”

I didn’t slow down. I grabbed my sweat jacket from the chair and slipped it on as I spoke.

“I need to go to Helen’s house,” I said. “Her phone is off. Irene couldn’t reach her, I can’t reach her.”

Faye was already on her feet. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’m going to check.”

I paused, then added, “And I need to send someone to pick Irene up from the airport.”

“I’ll do it,” Faye said immediately.

I turned to her. “No. I’ll send-”

“I can,” she insisted gently. “It’s fine, Alexander. I was done here anyway.”

I hesitated. My instinct was to refuse–to put distance between her and anything that could spiral–but the look in her eyes stopped me. She just wanted to help.

“All right. Don’t take her to Mom’s. Bring her straight to the pack house.”

She nodded. “Understood.”

I stepped closer and cupped her face, pressing a quick but lingering kiss to her lips- grounding myself in the familiar warmth of her before everything else could pull me away.

“Please be careful,” I said quietly. “Both of you.”

“I will,” she promised. “Go check on your mom.”

I nodded once, already backing toward the door.

“I’ll update you as soon as I know anything,” I said.

Then I turned and walked out of the office.

FAYE

I hugged her back carefully but warmly, inhaling the familiar scent of her perfume. She felt like home in a different way.

“Welcome back,” I said, smiling.

She pulled away just enough to look me over, eyes dropping briefly to my belly as usual before lighting up. “You look good… glowing. Definitely glowing.”

I rolled my eyes. “You say that like I have a choice.”

She laughed, then gestured toward the mountain of luggage behind her. “Help me with these before my arms fall off.”

I turned to look–and froze.

“Irene,” I said slowly, staring at the suitcases. “Were you relocating?”

She burst out laughing. “Oh, please. This is light packing.”

“For a few days?” I asked skeptically.

She shrugged unapologetically. “You know I like everything organized. Options matter.”

I helped her load the bags into the trunk, still shaking my head. “You wanted Helen to pick you up because of this, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” she said cheerfully. “I didn’t want some random driver messing up my things.”

Her smile softened just a little. “But then Mom went missing in action.”

I kept my expression easy, my tone light. “At least I’m here, right?”

She nodded, satisfied. “True. I was happy when Alexander told me you were coming.”

She climbed into the passenger seat, then paused, frowning slightly as she buckled up. Though… I didn’t understand why he said you’d be taking me to the pack house instead of Mom’s place. That’s where I was supposed to go.”

I slid into the driver’s seat, my heart giving a small, careful beat.

I shrugged casually. “Plans changed. I’m sure he has a good reason.”

She studied me for half a second–just long enough to make me wonder if she’d sensed something–but then she relaxed back into her seat.

“Well,” she said, “I trust you. If you say pack house, then pack house it is.”

I smiled, grateful.

“I promise,” I added smoothly, “you’re in luck anyway. They’re preparing something special for lunch today.”

Her eyes brightened. “Really?”

“Really. Though,” I continued, “if you’d rather eat out first, I know a place near the highway. We could stop before heading back.”

She considered it, tapping her fingers lightly against her knee. “Honestly? I’d prefer a home–cooked meal. I ate out so much on this trip, I’m sick of restaurant food.”

“That makes two of us,” I said.

I adjusted my mirrors, placed my hands on the steering wheel, and started driving.