Page 134 of Second Chance Mates

My lips tremble. I wish he was here now. Yes.

I tilt my head towards her. “It’s done.”

A look of triumph covers her face before she grabs me by the throat and shoves me. My skull hits the pillar behind with a loud whack. I breathe through my nose, but I don’t release a sound. She studies my face and then pouts before standing up, her fingers pressing to her mouth as she whistles.

The two men from the market step in, followed by two more. I flick my weary gaze between the five of them. “Let’s roughen her up.” Julia taps a finger against her lips. “We want Jaxon to be in the worst pain possible.”

My throat clenches in fear as they crowd around me. The first punch knocks me onto my side, and I feel the coldness of the ground scraping against my cheek. All of the adrenaline in my body masks the pain, but when the next blow comes, I wheeze in misery.

I despise the sound of Julia’s heinous laugh. She stands back and watches the show with her arms folded over her chest, those dark eyes lighting up with amusement. I spit blood from my mouth onto the ground only to be punched in the stomach.

My body folds over, and I groan, tears releasing from my eyes.

I take hit after hit until I’m numb and non-responsive to their violence. Julia whistles again, and they back away. I shudder and glance up at the wicked woman through hazy eyes.

“Think that’ll do.” She smirks. “For now.”

My ribs ache when I attempt to move, and blood invades my tastebuds. Bruises are already forming across my arms and legs. “Aw, come on,” the largest man grumbles. “We barely got a chance to see her break.”

Julia rolls her eyes. “She’s human, Pike. If we do any more damage now, we risk killing the pathetic being. We’ve still got the main act to come. I know you’re hungry for some real blood.”

“Bones and limbs more like.” Pike flashes her a grin through his tangled beard. “This better be worth it.”

“Don’t worry.” Julia pats his shoulder before focusing her eyes on mine. “It’ll be worth all of your precious time. Jaxon losing everything twice? It’s like music to my ears.”

45

AVA

Blood drips down my lips and over my chin, and my throat tenses like I’m breathing through a straw. Pike glares at me from across the dimly lit room, his fingers itching to get in another punch, but Julia wants to keep me alive.

The past few minutes have felt like hours, but I know Jaxon should be here any second. He won’t let me down—not after his declaration. But by the looks of these five evil wolves, I fear he won’t make it out either. What if he comes alone and she hurts him? I didn’t want him to get into this—not when I can take the fall.

Julia releases a long sigh at the ceiling. “How long does it take?”

I pray he’s making a plan, stalling. He wouldn’t be careless about this situation; he'd think it through like a headstrong Alpha. I know he cares about my safety, but if he makes one mistake it could cost us both our lives.

There is a warmth in my brain, wrapping around my aching nerves in a soothing motion. I smile down at the ground, trying to conceal it before Julia sees. Jaxon can feel my pain, and he’s taking it away. He’s silently reminding me he’s here, and I’m not alone. Tears swim in my eyes, but it’s not from what I’ve endured; it’s from knowing our bond is strong enough to coax me through this nightmare.

“Why don’t we see if we can make her cry again?” Pike flashes another devilish grin.

Julia rolls her eyes and swats her hand into his broad chest. “No. Stop getting ahead of yourself. This is my plan. No one else’s. Don’t ruin it before it’s even begun. What did I promise you all?”

My gaze follows Pike’s as his shoulders dip and he nods. “I remember.”

She walks towards me in long, purposeful strides before I look up at her through my blackened eyes and blood-smeared face. My pain is numbed, but that’s because Jaxon is here with me mentally.

“I wonder,” she slides her sharp nail over her lips, “how much would it take to break you? If you survived Lucien, then your fight must be better than I imagined.”

My eye twitches at the mention of his name. Julia’s face brightens, and I despise myself for reacting. “Oh…” She trails off. “Is that a trigger for you? Lucien?”

“No,” I spit.

“What did they do to you? Hmm, poor little Ava. I knew exactly what that man was capable of, and I directed you straight to him. It’s amazing what a little magic can cause.”

My nostrils flare at the tone of her imperious voice. “They taught me to build resilience against people like you.”

Julia releases a loud laugh. “Did you build resilience when they raped and abused you?”

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