Page 104 of Second Chance Mates

Jaxon takes off his jacket. “Here,” he murmurs, noticing my distress. He begins wiping at the blood with the material, but my skin is stained. I watch him ruin his jacket for me, but I’ve never felt more relieved. “Is that better?”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

We sit amongst the leaves for a while until I pull myself together. Jaxon studies me carefully. “Come with me.”

He slides his hands under my arms and tugs me onto my wobbly legs. I wipe my face. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere to release all this anger.” He threads his fingers through mine, and we begin walking deeper into the woods. “It might help.”

Once we reach a large boulder, he bends down. I stare at him with a raised brow. “What are we doing?”

“I’ll boost you up.”

I don’t protest. He hooks his hands together, and I wedge my shoe into his palms before he hoists me up without a struggle. I claw my way to the top, and he joins me the next second.

“Now what?”

“Scream.”

“What?”

“Scream,” he states again. “Let it out. All of your negative emotions. To the top of your lungs.”

I blink once. My eyes scan the trees and the deserted forest. No one is out here.

With one last determined nod, my lips part, and I scream so loud that my ears almost burst. I clench my fists at my sides and let everything out until I need to take a breath. My body is vibrating when I turn to Jaxon with a wide gaze.

“Feel good?”

“Yes,” I admit with a pant. Holy. That felt…incredible.

“Again.”

I scream and scream until the birds flap from the trees.

The next time I do it, Jaxon joins in with me, and our choir of chaotic voices fill the air. I imagine every breath is a wave of my anxiety I’m removing from my life.

I won’t let them take control anymore. I’m in control.

My throat burns but in a satisfied way. I slump back, letting my shoulders droop. I never knew something so loud could help me in this moment.

“It makes me feel alive,” I admit.

“I read up on scream therapy.”

“I’ve never heard of it, but I approve.”

Jaxon offers me a simple smile that calms the blood in my veins. But everything is far from normal. They’re still here…and Evan. My heart twitches, and I close my eyes. He shouldn’t be here. He’s the only reason I’m alive. I owe him everything.

“You captured Evan,” I murmur. “Please don’t hurt him. He didn’t do anything to me.”

His expression hardens. “He’s Lucien’s brother, Ava.”

“He’s not like them. I promise you. He got me out. He probably got hurt because of me. He deserves better. He’s only a kid. Please, Jaxon.”

“I’ll focus on him later,” he dismisses my pleas. “He’s not a priority. You are.”

I swallow back the lump in my throat. “I’m okay.”

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