Alpha alec's redemption (Sadie) novel Chapter 265

“It’s what a mate does,” he says simply, his voice steady. “And it’s what I wanted to do.”

I meet his gaze, and the sincerity there steals my breath. For a moment, neither of us speaks. The air feels heavy, weighted with words neither of us seems ready to say.

I can't even begin to express how I am feeling or how I have felt these past few days. He has been there, both Knox and him. They helped us in ways I can't be able to understand. They didn't run. They didn't force their need on us. Instead they were patient and stayed by our side. That is something I can't get over.

Finally, Alec breaks the silence. “You slept for a while,” he says, picking up his coffee and taking a slow sip. “How are you really feeling?”

I exhale, pressing my palm to my forehead. “Like I was hit by a truck. But… I don’t feel like my insides are burning anymore, so that's a plus.”

He nods, his jaw tightening. “I hated seeing you like that,” he admits, his voice rough. “Knowing you were in pain and not being able to do anything about it…” He drags a hand through his hair, the tension returning to his shoulders. He didn't finish the sentence, but I got what he was saying.

Seeing your mate suffer and not being able to do anything about it must be a different kind of torture. Especially for an Alpha male like Alec.

I stare at him, something heavy pressing down on my chest. There’s a vulnerability in him I haven’t seen before, and it makes something inside me crack open.

“What about you?” I ask, my voice soft. “Are you… okay?”

Alec looks at me like I’ve surprised him, like he wasn’t expecting me to ask. He leans back in his chair, his fingers tapping against the table. “I’m fine,” he says, but it’s too quick, too tight.

I tilt my head, studying him. “Really?”

Alec’s jaw works, and for a moment, I think he’s going to brush me off. But then he sighs, running a hand over his face. “Honestly? It was… hard. Harder than I expected.”

I had been so focused on me and my pain, that I didn't pay attention to him. Instead I just took all the strength from him without wondering how this was for him. Now, it made me feel like a complete asshole.