He was here again.

Alec, my nephew by marriage, had shown up unexpectedly and completely unnonounced to my place of work, just like he had a few months prior. But something was different this time.

Alec was differen.

His previous visit at the Milk & Cream had startled, even frightened me. I'd been sure he'd come to toy with me, to make me look the fool and embarass me in front of my colleagues and the patrons at the cafe.

He'd been enigmatic, yet intimidating, voice silky, yet dangerous, his pale eyes gleaming, setting me on edge. The position he was currently in - sitting by the bar, leaning his face against the palm of his hand - was an exact replica of the one before, and yet...

And yet.

I'd seen him with Ollie.

I'd seen him try at the meeting with the Bullets.

I'd heard about him thanking Everett afterwards.

None of those things were actions Alec from back then would've taken. Even the way he moved seemed less predatory now, his gaze somehow softer.

"When are Everett and Ollie coming over?" I asked, pushing a milkshake towards him. It was a blend of vanilla, honey and cinnamon - the same I'd made for him before and that he'd thoroughly enjoyed.

"Tomorrow." Alec took a sip through the plastic straw, a tiny smile playing on his face at the prospect of seeing his baby brother.

"Happy?" I couldn't help but mirror his expression.

"Yeah."

His straightforward answer surprised me. His tone wasn't lighthearted by any means, but it was an admission of something other than boredom and that fact only contributed to the notion of how much Alec had changed.

Would I ever get used to this new Alec?

I wouldn't have much of a chance to, not unless he became a regular at the Milk & Cream or he managed to make the Bullets change their minds about him.

My attention was stolen by a string of other customers and by the time I got back to Alec some fifteen or twenty minutes later, he'd already finished his drink. I inclined my head in question to his empty glass and receiving a nod, made him a second milkshake.

"Is Vika going to be there tomorrow?" I returned us to the topic of his relations' visit the following day.

"She wanted to, but she had to leave. Work-related," he added, volunteering the information without me asking, yet another show of his transformation. I must've shaken my head or given another subconscious signal at my surprise, as he spoke again, with a question of his own:

"Why do you look so confused?"

"You're so different from when we first met," I admitted and once again, Alec took an unexpected direction. Instead of teasing me about how I'd freaked out on that night, he simply shrugged and let it go.

"Is it all Ollie?" I couldn't help myself. "Or is there another reason for the change?"

"I get bored easily. Maybe I was bored of the old me," he offered, but after a brief musing, I shook my head.

"I don't think that's it."

"Oh?" Alec tilted his head sideways, a hint of a predatory glimmer finally appearing in his eyes. I wasn't scared though; I could tell he was simply curious. "How so?"

"If you were bored with yourself, you'd turn yourself into someone you'd enjoy being. That's not the case. You..." A moment of hesitation, then I continued: "You're conflicted. You do things you don't want to do because you should. Because they are right. You don't just want to become someone for a change of pace; you want to become someone better, even if it's difficult to get there."

Alec watched me for a full minute before giving me another shrug.

"If you say so." He sucked a long gulp from the sweet liquid in his glass, closing himself off. Not entirely, but shielding himself somewhere in the middle of his old and new self.

"And speaking of doing what's right..." He lightly placed the half-full glass on the bar between us. "It's kind of why I'm here today."

It was my turn to utter a questioning "Oh?", mine perplexed.

"I was talking to a friend of mine..."

My eyebrows rose up involuntarily. A tiny, amused smirk appeared on his lips.

"Yes, Riley, I happen to have a friend or two."

I felt my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. Muttering a sorry, I took a clean cloth and began wiping the bar as Alec continued:

"So, I was talking with this friend about what happened at the Bullets' territory and he suggested I issue a few apologies. Said to make a list with three people and apologize to them first, then make another list with three people and so on."

"Okay..." I slowly pronounced, confusion overtaking me again.

Not only did Alec have a friend - other than Vika, not only had he shared about the pack meeting - good for him, but he was also thinking of apologizing to someone?

And how did I fit in that picture?

Did he want me to help him come up with the three names?

Him asking me for help sounded ridiculous enough even if we actually had any common acquaintances other than the Bullets.

"What does that have to do with me?" I asked.

"You're on the list."

My hand stopped running circles over the surface of the bar, my mouth hanging open.

"Me... Me?"

I blinked at him. He stood still.

"Why me?"

"Apart from the toying, sexually suggestive comments and intentionally scaring you pretty much every time we saw each other... I suppose I should apologize for those too," he added, more to himself before focusing back on me. "It's for a certain incident last summer in the woods."

Oh.

That.

Saying that was an incident was putting it mildly.

Back then, newly introduced to the world of the supernatural, I didn't understand the full scope of the situation. Even so, I'd seen - no, felt - the horror radiating from the Bullets as they desperately tried to get a hold of their loved ones and make sure none of their family had been ripped to shreds in a most gruesome and grotesque manner.

I looked about and once I made sure no one was within hearing distance, I leaned towards Alec.

"Why did you do it?" I asked quietly. "Why did you let me see you and start all that mayhem? You're smart; there's no way you wouldn't have known how that would affect the pack."

Something akin to guilt flashed in his eyes. His reply was just as low.

"I'm not sure anymore. I just felt like it, I guess. And I didn't care for the consequences."

"You know that that was the final straw for them, right? That the Bullets would've forgiven you the rest, but this... Alec, they thought you were there to kill them. That they'd die, that their loved ones would die. You can't just say sorry and expect them to forgive you."

"I know. Now," he added, the last word oozing irritation.

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to start with my list. I'm going to apologize to you..."

"Didn't you already do that?" I asked, straightening up.

Alec's lips quirked up.

"No, I just said that it's what I'm here to do."

"Oh." The blush threatened to return, but the heat on my face was less severe than before.

"So..." Alec paused to take a breath. "I'm not good at this, but given your easy attitude and low expectations, I'm guessing it would work..."

I waited for him to continue dancing around the topic.

"Sorry."

Short.

Simple.

Said with a clench of the jaw that expressed awkward sincerity.

"Okay. What are you going to do next?"

Alec chuckled.

"You just contradicted yourself. You said people wouldn't forgive me with just a simple sorry."

"It didn't look simple for you to say it. And I said the Bullets wouldn't; as in the majority of them. I'm in the minority. So, what's next?"

"A bunch of other apologies. My offer for financial support also stands and I'm ready to make certain promises concerning my behavior, but given how few trust my word, I'm not sure if the pack would be interested in that."

"You should still try," I attempted to encourage him. Ollie would want to grow up around his big brother and Everett would be ecstatic if Alec was allowed access to pack grounds once more, especially now that the son had extended an olive branch. Jackie and Tom would enjoy having both their grandsons around, Kennedy would love to challenge his older nephew, and Rhys would be happy to see everyone get along. I suspected Keri was also fond of the idea and while I couldn't say that it would make my day, it was something I wanted to see. The Flemings family - my family - together.

"Who are the other two people on your list?" I asked, putting away the cloth.

"One was the friend I mentioned. The other you'll find out about soon."

"A Bullet?"

"A Bullet." He confirmed.

I pondered on who it could be.

I didn't think it was Everett as things were still too complicated between them and they had a long way to go before sitting down to share their regrets and ask each other for forgiveness.

Could it be Keri?

She seemed like the most likely choice as Alec had already built a closer relationship with her than with any other Bullet.

Perhaps it was Kennedy.

I could see Alec apologizing to the kid, pretending that he was messing about, and Kennedy teasing good-naturedly to show that he accepted the apology.

Yes, those two seemed like the most likely choices. What would Alec apologize to them for?

Something other than the white wolf incident, that was.

He had tried to half-heartedly blackmail Keri at one point, so maybe that.

A loud, sucking sound made me concentrate on the guy before me again.

Alec finished off his drink and got up, leaving me another generous tip.

"I'm off. Got to baby proof the rest of the penthouse for tomorrow."

I chuckled.

"Aren't you a responsible brother?"

"I might be a dead one by the morning. Luca doesn't seem to approve the changes. He's been giving me the stink eye since the morning. I think he's considering clawing my throat in my sleep."

"If Rhys was here, he'd say something amongst the lines of 'that's why I don't like cats'."

"That's why if Luca meets him, he'll be all up in Rhys' face just to show Rhys who's boss."

Alec winked at me, the gesture lacking any flicker of seduction, before turning around.

"Hey!" I called after him and he swirled to face me once more. "I've made up my mind."

"About?"

"Last time you were here, you asked me what coffee art I'd make for you if you'd ordered coffee. I said that I didn't know, but maybe a bat since you're closer to that side of the family."

I smiled at him.

"I'd draw you a wolf now."

I asked you if you wanted Riley's POV and since you seemed interested: here it is!

Now: do you agree with Riley that the white wolf incident is the only thing that the Bullets wouldn't forgive Alec?

Did you expect Riley to forgive him?

Do you think Keri or Kennedy would be on Alec's next list and why?

Who do you think would be on Alec's To Apologize To list?

Should Alec wait to add Everett to it?

What do you think about Riley deciding to draw a wolf on Alec's coffee?

Please support this chapter with a VOTE if you enjoyed it!

Would Alec live to see another day and have Everett and Ollie at his penthouse or will Luca have his revenge for Alec baby proofing their living space?

Find out in the next chapter!

PS: Can't remember the first time Alec went to see Riley at the Milk & Cream? You can find that one-shot in my Dogs, Bats & Monkeys Series: EXTRAS. Link in the first comment and as external link.