Page 115 of A Chance at Love for the Twin Alphas

“I hid it well,” I admit. “I know how to manipulate the bond between us.”

“Still…” Henry’s voice trails off.

“True,” Arlo grumbles. “I was shit for not noticing you were gone, but fuck Lys, that was not okay.”

“I know.” Lys lets his head hang down. He looks at me. “I didn’t mean to leave you,” he mutters. “I felt your pain and wanted to reach out to you, but I couldn’t.”

“Did you hear me call for you?” I mutter.

“I did,” he admits quietly. It doesn’t make the fact that he ignored me better, but at least he is honest. “But I just couldn’t. It was like I was caught underwater and couldn’t move out of it.”

“Yes, until we met our second chance,” I say bitterly. Every time I go back to thinking about my issues with Lys, I can’t help but realize he never returned for me. He only did when he knew we had a second chance mate.

“No, I was about to pick myself up again around that time,” he says. “I know I will never be able to prove this to you, but it’s the truth.” He looks at me with sad eyes. “I’m so happy we met our second chance, but without feeling you through our bond, it just isn’t the same.”

I sigh a bit, eye to eye with him. It’s hard to stay stubborn. I approach him, patting his head a bit. “Give me a while before I go back to normal,” I mutter. “I can’t just shove all my feelings aside. You left me alone while I had to pick up all the pieces of the mess left behind.”

He looks at me sadly. “I know. You truly proved to be a good mate to Corinne even after her death, while I failed the both of you.”

“You did,” I say. “But everyone deserves a second chance.”

“Are you talking to me again?” He beams happily.

“Let’s not turn it into endless chats, though, for now,” I mutter.

“That’s more than I expected.” Lysander bumps his head against my chest in joy, almost knocking me over.

Elden raises his brows. “It’s also more than I expected.”

He nudges Henry a bit to join us. Henry puts an arm around my shoulder while Arlo bumps his head softly against Lysander’s side and then licks my face. I snort a bit. All that lycan slobber. Elden lets the four of us reconcile for a bit before he approaches us again.

“We should return,” he says. “You are not used to meditating that long, and you will want a rest.” He pauses before he looks at Lysander. “Promise me you won’t break his trust again?”

“I promise,” Lysander answers instantly.

“Good,” Elden sighs. “Nothing but troubles with the pups.”

“That’s what I always say,” Regis grumbles. “And one of your young ones is already waiting for us.”

“How is it exclusivelymypup all of a sudden?” Elden asks, amused.

“He wants something,” Regis argues. “So he is yours for now. If he wants to play, spar, or go hiking, he is mine!”

Elden raises his brows. “I bet he either needs money or wants to go to a party.”

“I bet it’s the first,” Regis says.

“My bet is on the second.” Elden frowns. “It’s close to the weekend.”

I smile a bit while I hear them talk. Maybe one day Dalila and I will have pups, and then Lys and I will be dads, too. Maybe. I’m not ready to fully reconcile with him, but I’m glad we took the first step. Without my lycan, I just feel so lonely and empty. It’s time to give him a second chance.

I turn my head a bit, watching how Lys and Arlo trot back towards the forest. Lys raises his head slightly, our eyes meeting. He nods at me.

When I blink again, I’m back in the room Elden led us to. “Goddess,” I groan, trying to move my limbs. My legs are so stiff I can barely move them. Henry drops to his back while moving his limbs carefully. “What time is it?”

“We spent almost three hours in your mind,” Elden tells me, to my shock.

“Then it’s no surprise I can barely move my legs,” Henry groans.

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