Why I don’t Hate Alden
I don’t hate Alden because that short story was just proving he cares for Keefe in an interesting way. I say that because he’s been through the heartbreak of unrequited love and losing the friendships of that unknown couple. He really believes that Sophie and Fitz are perfect for each other and just wants to help and warn Keefe about the heartbreak he is going to endure. That doesn’t mean it is right, but he just wants Keefe to know he’s been through a similar situation and that it might not end well, and he just wants to protect him from further problems Keefe may face.
Remember, Alden was the on Sophie went to for pretty much everything and that he asked Biana and to befriend Sophie and asked Fitz to go befriend Keefe because of the way he saw them treated. From Alden’s point of view, Fitz and Sophie are prefect for each other and he doesn’t want another to go down the path heartbreak and to keep those friends in his life when Alden wasn’t able to keep the Sophie and Fitz in his situation.
He does see Keefe as a son, remember when he let Keefe tag along with Biana and Fitz to meet Silvney in EXILE? When he let Keefe stay with his family during the Aurenflare? Especially when after the Dex, Sophie, Fitz, Biana, and him were saying goodbye to leave to the Black Swan in NEVERSEEN after Keefe was talking about hiding Lord Cassuis’ cape, Alden said something nice to him that made him tear up happily. Alden just wants Keefe to be happy but doesn’t believe him to be happy with Sophie.
Alden asking Keefe to help clear away Fitz’s anger at Sophie is wrong but he just thinks that Fitz will stop once Fitz confesses and that this is so he can help them and he tells Keefe that he wants Sophie and Fitz to be happy. Keefe does want his best friend and the girl he likes maybe even loves to be happy, so he agrees.
In conclusion, Alden wants Keefe to be happy, but just thinks that Fitz and Sophie are meant to be and that they will be happy together and that he just wants Keefe to not go down the same road he did in love.