Alpha Alec's Redemption - Chapter 156: Chapter 156

The evening air was cool against my skin as I sat on the porch, wrapped in one of Alec’s oversized hoodies. The material draped over my knees, its warmth comforting, carrying his scent. The forest is alive with the sounds of night — crickets chirping, leaves rustling, and the distant howl of a lone wolf.
The cold air cooled my burning skin, giving me reprieve even if it was just for a moment. I breathe in, letting the deep breath ground me. The worst of my heat had passed, and now I just felt a dull, aching pain.
I was tired of staying indoors; the pain wasn’t so bad so I thought I would come out here and just sit and relax. Feel the world around me and remind myself that I am alive. That the pain caused by the moon heat hadn't killed me.
Now that I have gone through the moon heat, I feel terrible for she-wolves. Sure, it probably isn’t that bad when you have your mate mating with you, but otherwise it’s terrible. We have to deal with both the moon heat and period cramps every single month. Then again, how many she-wolves can we say have met their mates but don’t get mated during a full moon? My case is just special and we all know the reason for that.
The door creaks open behind me, pulling me out of my thoughts, and Alec steps out, barefoot and shirtless, his hair tousled from running his hands through it. His presence fills the space. I can’t help but look up at him.
My eyes scan every inch of exposed skin. The fire is still there. Still burning. Still pushing to be satisfied. To be quenched. I acknowledge it. Acknowledge that I still crave Alec sexually, but I’m starting to feel more like myself, so that fire isn’t raging. It’s more like a small ember.
“You okay?” he asks, his voice a low rumble. His eyes search mine, concerned but gentle.
I don’t think I’ll ever get used to this side of Alec. I only used to see it from afar. Always used to wish he was directing that soft side towards me. Now that it’s happening, I don’t know what to do with it. I don’t know how to trust it when I spent years receiving his cold, distant version.
I swallow, my gaze drifting back to the moon hanging low and heavy in the sky. “Yeah,” I say, though it feels like a lie. “Just... trying to clear my head.”
Alec’s jaw clenches for a moment, and then he moves to sit beside me. His arm brushes mine, and even through the hoodie, I could feel the warmth of his skin. He looks up at the moon, his brow furrowing.
“It’s almost over,” he says softly, his thumb rubbing a slow circle over his knee. “The full moon.”
It’s funny, though, when I’m not in pain or sleeping, we haven’t talked much, but our silence is very comfortable. None of us feels the need to fill the silence. We can just sit in silence and be very okay without things feeling awkward or weird.
I nod, my throat tight. “Almost.”
Honestly, I don’t know what to feel. I should be happy that with the full moon ending, my suffering will be over, but it will also mean this cocoon between us will also end. I have never felt this close to Alec. This free. This relaxed. It’s a terrifying feeling, yes, but it also feels really amazing. Parts of me are eager to go back to normal, while the others just want to bask in the fantasy of these past few days.
There is a silence between us, heavy yet not uncomfortable. Alec’s hand shifts, moving closer to mine. His pinky brushes against my knuckles, a barely-there touch that made my heart stutter.
“Knox wants to see Nyx,” Alec mumbles, breaking the silence. “He’s... worried about her. Says she’s in pain.”
My breath gets caught in my throat, and Nyx stirs in the back of my mind, her presence stronger now than it had been all day.
“I want to see him,” Nyx whispers, her voice tinged with exhaustion and longing. “Please, Sadie. I just need to be with him, to be near him, to feel him. Give me this.”
I wouldn’t have said no, but the plea in her voice is my undoing. I have been in Alec’s arms, in his warm embrace. She deserves the same.
I swallow, glancing sideways at Alec. “Nyx wants to see him too,” I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alec’s shoulders relax slightly. “Are you sure?”
I smile at how he has to make sure that I am okay with it. Where did the brutal monster disappear to?
“Yes. I think it’ll help her.”
He gives me a small, gentle smile. “Alright. Let’s go to the clearing. More space there.”
I stand, but my knees wobble. Alec is there in an instant, his hands firm on my waist, steadying me. His warmth seeping into me.
“I’ve got you,” he murmurs, his breath warm against my temple.
We move through the trees, the moon casting long shadows over the ground. Alec keeps his hand on my lower back, a steadying presence, so much so that I find myself leaning into it more and more. Nothing registers as we walk except for the man next to me. It’s like when I am with him, the whole world disappears.
When we reach the clearing, the moonlight pours down, painting the grass in silver. Alec stops beside me, his hand still on my waist, his thumb making small, soothing strokes.
“You ready?” he asks, his eyes holding mine.
I take a deep breath and nod. “Ready.”
Alec steps back, his eyes darkening, and then he shifts. One moment he is Alec, the next he is Knox — massive, imposing, his dark fur glistening under the moon. His amber eyes fixed on me.
Nyx surges forward, taking control. The shift is quick, and when it is over, She shakes herself out, her sleek white coat catching the moonlight.
Knox steps forward, his gaze softening as he lowers his head to nuzzle Nyx’s cheek. Nyx lets out a soft whine, pressing into him, her body sagging against his.
“My queen,” Knox rumbles, his voice a soothing vibration.
It’s a sight to behold. Who would have thought that Knox could be a gentle beast? Yet again both Alec and Knox surprise me. Their gentleness clearly communicated their feelings. Feelings that I can no longer ignore.
Nyx’s eyes flutter closed as Knox licks behind her ear, a slow, deliberate stroke that made her sigh.
“I’ve been dying to meet you, you know,” Nyx says, her voice weak. “But I have to say, both you and Alec are idiots. How could you let another woman trick you into thinking she’s your mate?”
I stifle my laugh, knowing that Nyx has been waiting for this for a long time. If it weren’t for the fact that the moon heat weakened us, she would have taken a swipe at him.
Knox huffs softly, his nose brushing along her jaw. “I admit that we were dumb, but at least we didn’t mark her, and it’s not too late.”
“Men are stupid sometimes.”
Knox gives her a wolfish grin. “I couldn’t agree more, my beautiful mate.”
He then nudges her gently, guiding her to lie down in the soft grass. Nyx obeys, her legs folding beneath her. That leaves me surprised. Nyx doesn’t obey anyone. The fact that she did means that she’s either too tired to bother or she’s slowly warming up to him.
Knox moves behind her, circling her before curling his massive body around hers. Nyx let out a small, contented whine as Knox wraps himself around her, his warmth enveloping her completely.
His head rests over hers, his large paw drapes protectively over her side. Nyx leans into him, her body melting against his.
“I was so tired,” Nyx admits, her eyes drooping. “The pain...”
Knox’s chest rumbles, and the sound reverberates through her. “I know. But it’s over now. Just rest. I’ve got you.”
Nyx closes her eyes, her breathing slowing as Knox nuzzles her neck, his tongue tracing slow, soothing strokes over her fur.
“You’re my mate,” Knox whispers, his words wrapping around her like a lullaby. “I’ll always protect you, Nyx. Always.”
Nyx sighs, her entire body going lax as she nestles closer to him. The moonlight bathes them in a soft glow, and for the first time in days, Nyx feels at peace. The moment she fell asleep, so did I. I couldn’t escape the warm cocoon Alec and Knox had built around us.
Hours later, when the moon was high in the sky and the night air had cooled, Nyx stirred, her eyes fluttering open. Knox was still there, his massive body curved around hers like a shield.
I felt myself surface, my mind mingling with Nyx’s as she took in the feeling of being cradled so completely. Knox’s warmth, his scent, the steady rhythm of his breathing — it was a cocoon of safety she hadn’t known she needed.
Alec’s voice broke through the haze, soft and hesitant. “Sadie?”
“Yeah?” I whisper, her eyes heavy.
“Are you okay?”
I smile, feeling a little lighter than I have felt in days. “Yeah. I’m... better. I think Nyx is too.”
Knox lets out a soft whine, his muzzle brushing against Nyx’s ear. Nyx sighs, pressing into him.
I feel tears prick my eyes. It is such a simple, intimate moment — one I hadn’t thought we’d ever get to experience and one that was ripping through the walls I had over my heart.
Knox nuzzled her once more, giving a soft huff of breath against her fur. Nyx let out a low, contented growl, the last of her tension finally dissipating.