Page 126 of Second Chance Mates

“Can I ask you a question?” she asks.

We both start walking back to the house, the sun glittering through the trees. “You don’t need to ask.” I laugh softly.

“Oh, well.” Her throat tenses. “I know you’ve told me briefly before, but to officially be Luna, we need to mate with each other?”

“Technically, yes. But together, we can decide what it truly means.”

She licks her lips. “And the mating process, we have to–”

The words die in her throat as she speaks, and I slip my hand into hers, gripping onto her fingers tightly. “Whenever you’re ready. There is no rush. And if you don’t want to, then we won’t.”

“And you mark me?”

“Yes.”

“Like actually biting into my neck with your teeth?” Her eyes widen.

I release a low chuckle. “Yes.”

Ava runs a hand along her neck, touching the delicate skin. “Really?”

“It’s normally incredibly pleasurable. You would mark me, too.”

She turns towards me as we continue walking. “How can I mark you if I’m not a wolf?”

“I don’t know,” I admit. “But we can work something out, I promise. I’ll do my research and make sure whatever we do, it’s safe for you. I would never want to put you in danger. I don’t know how your human body would take a mark from a wolf, and I don’t want to put you at any kind of risk.”

“I know. I trust you.”

Those three words set my world alight in the best way. I give her fingers a squeeze before bringing them up to my lips for a kiss. “Good,” I whisper against her skin with a smile.

Once we get closer to the pack house, I spot Evan sitting outside with his two guards. He’s staring down at the patio floor with his shoulders slumped. “There’s Evan,” Ava comments, spotting him at the same time. “How’s he settling in?”

I shrug. “I don’t know.”

Ava shoots me a look. “What do you mean you don’t know?”

“I told the guards to look after him. I’ve got more important things to deal with.”

She walks ahead of me. “Let’s invite him for lunch.”

“Ava,” I call out to her as she looks over her shoulder at me.

“I’m capable of making my own choices, Jax,” she murmurs. “I owe him my life. I want to get to know him better.”

Before I can protest, she approaches him and invites him inside for some food. At first, he’s concerned by the offer, but soon accepts and they walk into the kitchen.

I follow and glance at the situation. “Come take a seat, Evan.” Ava pats one of the stools. His emotionless blue eyes flick to her hand before he sits down hesitantly. “How are you today?”

“I’m okay, thanks.” He looks lost as his hands fumble in his lap.

Ava’s eyes cut to mine and widen subtly. I sigh and turn to the guards before dismissing them while he’s having lunch with us. If it makes Ava happy, then I guess I’ll have to deal with it.

“I know what happened with your pack…but do you have any other family?” she asks him.

Evan shakes his head slowly. “I don’t.”

Ava’s lips curve downwards. “I’m sorry for what happened to them.”

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