Page 127 of Second Chance Mates

“He deserved it. They deserved it. You don’t need to apologise. What they did was unforgivable, and they belong in hell.” His words are sharp.

“I know,” Ava whispers. “But he was still your family.”

His mouth presses together, but he doesn’t say anything more. “I’m glad I’m not there with him anymore, but at the same time, I have nothing.”

“You have us now, Evan.” Ava offers.

I turn to her with a puzzled look. What are you doing?

Her face falls into a frown, but she still doesn’t look at me. He saved my life, Jaxon. The least we can do is help him. Did you not hear him? He has nothing, no one. He’s innocent. I know you’re playing the protective mate, but he is not dangerous.

I’m not playing anything. I am the protective mate. I’m sorry if it comes across as overbearing, but I can’t dissociate him from his brother as easily as you expect me, I shoot back, and she finally meets my gaze.

“That’s a nice thing to say, Ava, but I don’t want to be a burden.” He forces a sorrowful smile.

Her head shakes. “You would never be a burden. Where would you even go?”

Evan shrugs after thinking for a moment. His home is destroyed. He has nothing. A pang of guilt hits my chest, but I still have my walls up just in case. I’m not taking any chances.

“How old are you, Evan?”

“Seventeen.”

I merely nod before joining Ava at the counter. We start preparing lunch as I listen to Ava make small talk with Evan, but he’s quiet and doesn’t say much back. I imagine myself in his shoes—the isolation, loneliness, and fear of not knowing where you belong.

Ava places down a sandwich in front of him as we sit around the kitchen counter. Talk to him, she urges me.

I sigh and chew on my food. And what would I say?

I dunno. Guy stuff?

My brow quirks in her direction. Guy stuff, huh? And what would that entail?

I don’t know. Make something up. Please.

She stares me down, but I smile back at her with amusement.

“So, Evan,” I say, my voice catching both of them by surprise. “Do you have a mate?”

“No. I don’t.”

I study his face and glum expression. “Oh. That’s a shame. I’m sure she’ll come along soon.”

Evan clears his throat and looks to Ava. “Actually, I–” He pauses and pinches the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “I don’t want to be mated to a girl.”

“What?”

“I’m–” he sighs as if he can’t get the words out. “I’m gay.”

Oh, Goddess. I’m hit with a wave of regret for assuming.

“Oh,” I murmur quickly.

“Yeah…” he trails off and itches the back of his head. “I hope that’s okay with you guys. I never told Lucien because I knew what they would have done to me, but things are different here, and I don’t want to hide anymore. I’m tired of pretending to be someone I’m not.”

Tears glisten in his eyes, and Ava leans over to take his hand. “We support everyone and anyone here. Whoever they like, love, want to be with, that’s none of anyone else’s business,” Ava states with sincere eyes. “Thank you for feeling comfortable enough to share it with us.”

“This is completely different to the hellhole you saved me from,” he sniffles. “I know I have restrictions here, but I’ve never felt freer.”

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