A Second Chance With My Tribrid Alpha King

AUDREY’S POV

“254, 255, 256, 257, 258….”

“Audrey, that’s enough.”

I didn’t need anyone to tell me who it was.

“Denver, I do not appreciate your interruption.” I threw him a glare, breathing so hard.

“Well, that interruption was very necessary!”

“I enjoy my sit-ups. It helps me clear my head.”

“Audrey, it’s been 8 months! You can’t keep hiding behind the sit-ups and extreme exercises.”

“Oh?” I asked, as calm as could be. I was actually annoyed. “8 months ago, you gave me a royal order to take on the position of chief commander, and I did. Regardless of how difficult it was for me to go into the midst of people who detested me, and lead them. I couldn’t defy the king’s order now, could I? For 8 whole months, I’ve been trying my hardest to win over a team that doesn’t see any good in me.”

“Audrey, I…” He started, but I was quick to cut him short.

“Denver, this is my only escape.” I ground my teeth, knowing I had gone past that era of crying. It never really solved anything, did it? “Everyday, I come into this field to train an army that only obey my commands because they do not want to incure the wrath of yourself or the king’s father.” I sighed, standing up from my laid back position. “This is what I want from them, Denver. I want them to respect me because they think I’m deserving. I’m working really hard to be.” I could feel the heat within and outside my body, and all my mind screamed was a cold bath.

Picking my bag from the base of the large tree behind us, I began walking away.

“Really? You want to walk back home without me now?” He called after me.

“We both aren’t going the same way after all.” I muttered and kept walking.

After I had been appointed as chief commander, Denver had also been required to move into the pack house with his family, as the new Alpha. I insisted on staying back at their old house, because that was the period I needed self evaluation the most. A personal space was the best thing I could get at that point.

“Come oooonnnn!” He groaned. “But I always walk you home, don’t I? Today is no different.” I continued walking away nontheless. “Audrey, talk to me.” He ran up to me from behind.

“We both know that all I said to you a few seconds back, is the most I’ve said in months. Stop trying to milk the opportunity whenever you hear me talk more than normal.”

“Stop sounding cold.” He mumbled.

“I’m sorry.” I sighed, feeling too exhausted to have a back and forth with him. He suddenly took my hand in his, and I gave a sad smile. He knew I couldn’t push him away.

In the last months, that simple gesture of his had contributed to giving me the confidence I needed to be out in the midst of others. I have found comfort and solace in that little gesture whenever we were out in public. He’d hold my hand, silently telling me that he would always stand by me no matter what anyone thought of me.

On days that Leah was out with us, he would hold both of us with both his hands. At some point, it started to get awkward because a lot of pack members were definitely thinking I wasn’t giving Denver and his mate the space that they needed.

That was part of the reasons I was thankful for my decision not to move into the pack house with them. If reversed was the case, the pack gossips would be much worse. But then, Leah always made it a habit to reassure me that she had no issues with the bond I shared with her mate. And because she really understood that bond, she loved me too.

To be very honest, I was slowly getting used to this new life, to the hate. But then again, it just didn’t feel right for these people to hate me. It was weird I found myself bothered by that. I had always been a lone wolf, even up until now.

But the difference between myself then and now, is the fact that then, I thought others weren’t qualified to be around me. I always felt like I was too important to be mixed with other ordinary wolves. They never really impressed me, which is why I never cared if they hated me. Now, it’s different. I still liked my space, but I loved the idea of making the people around me better. Before, I detested the thought of being normal and weak. But now, I felt responsible to make a change in the lives of these normal and weak wolves. To help them see the best in themselves. To make them access their highest potentials.

I guess that was the main reason I accepted to lead as the pack’s army chief commander, after all. I thought I was going to be able to make a change. I still do, and that is why I’m working so hard to be dedicated to this position. Even if it may take a lot of time before it happens, I hope to eventually win the trust and respect of the soldiers under my command.

“A penny for your thoughts?” Denver asked, intruding in my thoughts. Just then, a couple of wolves passed by and greeted us. I was so sure I heard one of them whisper my brother’s name.

A lot of that had been happening the whole week, and I was convinced something was up with Andrew. I just didn’t have an idea what it was.

“What’s going on with my brother?” I asked Denver, who seemed quite tongue tied for a moment. Oh, something was definitely wrong!

“Uhhhmm…. Audrey, I think you should speak with him yourself.”

“You know I can’t.” I ground my teeth in inner turmoil. “I haven’t laid eyes on him for the past 6 months. I don’t even know where he lives now.”

After Denver had moved into the pack house as the new Alpha, Andrew found a new house to occupy with his mate. The fact that I didn’t even know what she looked like, was really saddening.

“You have to mend things with Andrew. No matter how much you think he hates you, you’re still his sister. And he is very much aware of that.”

“Bu…”Property © NôvelDrama.Org.

“No ‘buts’, Audrey.” Denver sighed, affectionately squeezing my hand. “I shouldn’t be the only one allowed to touch you. Andrew should as well.”

About that… I found it difficult to let others have close physical contact with me. I guess it was posing a great challenge with training the wolves, because they probably thought I was still stuck up. I usually gave my training orders from a reasonable distance, and never sparred with anyone of them. I only watched them spar amongst themselves, and made notable corrections when neccessary. I really wanted to work on that part of me, but I just couldn’t. And I had no idea why I had that phobia in the first place. It just didn’t make any sense.

“Stop thinking about it.” Denver chuckled, clearly having read my mind. “Maybe it’s a part of your healing and readjusting process.” He shrugged.

“Maybe.” I muttered.

“Don’t think too much on it, and don’t force it either. It would go away with time. That’s why I feel you should fix up things with Andrew. He is family, and I doubt you would be repulsed by his physical closeness. Maybe getting physically familiar with him, would help you slowly deal with the problem.”

“Physically familiar with him?” I chuckled dryly. “Let’s not go faster than ourselves, Denver. I’m not even sure he would forgive me, talk more of hugging me or holding my hands.”

“We would never know, if we don’t try.” Denver shrugged. “Moreover, aren’t you worried he isn’t fine?” His last question made me so sure that something was up. I also found it unusual, how Denver was convincing me to straighten things out with Drew. Don’t get me wrong, Denver talks about it every once in a while for the past 8 months. But he has never seemed so positively convinced about the outcome of going to see Andrew. “He needs you now, more than ever.” At his last words, I felt my heart do a flip.

“Andrew isn’t fine.” I deduced. “For how long?” I asked, making firm on my promise to never cry again.

“A while now.”

“Let’s go.” I muttered, making up my mind to overcome my fears.

“What?” Denver asked, sounding unsure.

“I want to see my brother. Let’s go now.” I repeated, feeling fresh sweat break on my forehead.

“This way.” Denver pointed to a different pathway, going left. Not waiting for an extra second, I began walking in that direction. I knew wasting any more time would weaken my resolve to go see him.

Night was fast approaching, and with each step we took closer to Andrew’s home, the greater the temptation to cry. All the way, my mind continued to remind me that he was my brother. The only immediate family I had left. What was going to happen to me if he died? Would my heart be able to take it? What exactly was wrong with him? Did he get injured while on a hunt? Did he have any contact with wolfsbane?

I knew these were questions I was supposed to ask Denver, but I was too disturbed to say a word.

Eventually, we came to a stop at a decent looking apartment. The only problem was the fact that it was a bit too far in the woods, and pretty much secluded from other houses in the pack. Why would Andrew decide to live in a place this lonely? He was always the ‘people pleaser’ kind of guy. So I expected he would try mixing up with others as much as he could.

Denver walked up to the front porch, and I followed behind. Save for the single security light by the side of the apartment, everywhere was dark. And unnervingly quiet.

Denver gave the first light knock, but we got no answer. He gave a second one, and a third, and a fourth. Yet, no answer. Just as he raised his hand to knock for a fifth time, we heard a loud scream. Oh goddess! Was my brother okay? Without further thoughts, I aggressively turned the knob of the door and suprisingly, the door went open. So it had been open all the while?! That was the least of my problems though.

Luckily, inside the house had sufficient lighting, making it easy for me to navigate my way through the living room to a short hallway, certainly leading to the bedrooms.

Denver came up behind me and with slow steps, we walked through the hallway. Just a couple of steps in, I began to hear whispers. Whispers that sounded like someone pleading. I was confused and scared, unsure of what to expect when I open the door that the sounds were most definitely coming from.

My curiosity had conquered every other emotions I felt, because the next thing I knew, I was pushing open the door.

What I had seen behind those closed doors, made a wave of heat hit me hard.

There in the middle of the room, was a lady on the floor. It seemed to have been that she just received a slap which still resounded in the room, making her full and curly brown mane cover her face. Immediately, I recognized the man in front of her, who slowly turned towards me. He had been clearly shocked to see me there, but almost immediately, the look of shock on his face turned into a bitter smirk. I could literally feel the goosebumps on my skin at the sight of that. No one had to tell me that he had been busy inflicting hurt upon the lady who finally looked up at me.

Our eyes locked, and the tears in her eyes didn’t anger me as much as the bruises on her face, and the open injury on her forehead did.

“Rosaline.” Denver muttered behind me, and I felt my inner walls crumble at the realization that this was my brother’s mate. She released a strangled cry and I looked down to see the so much blood trailing down her thighs and soaking the yellow gown she wore.

“Oh no!” Her lips quivered in fear, when she looked down at her thighs, tears pouring down her face. “My baby!”