Page 136 of Second Chance Mates

They both run towards me, paws grinding against the floor. I swerve out of the way at the last second but extend my front leg, claws flying from the tips of my paws. When I turn around, I swipe at the wolf closest to me, dragging my paw down his hind leg. Blood trickles down his fur towards his feet.

Their growls are vicious, but I act quick on my feet, ignoring their attempt at intimidation. I lunge forward to attack him again. I aim for the neck. One bite and his veins are spread across the floor with blood squirting in every direction. He stumbles back, but I’m already onto the next.

His jaw snaps in my direction, his teeth sinking into my side. I howl at the sharp twinge but kick him off with my legs. His body flies across the room. My bones sting from being in this form for the first time. I twist on my paws and dart towards him, despite my convulsing joints screaming at me for a break.

I let my canines do the damage. Blood drips everywhere, and I’m swarmed with the taste of copper. I rip and pull at his flesh, tearing his organs out one by one until there is nothing left and he takes his final breath.

My head glances around to find the three dead bodies, but I find Julia shortly after. She shoves the guy forward, and his clothes begin to rip as he shifts.

My snout twitches. Once I’ve taken him out, I’ll have her all to myself.

He races towards me, but I meet him halfway. There isn’t a single part of my mind that feels sane. My veins are overflowing with a desire for revenge, for blood, for their pain.

I’m so damn close.

We clash together and struggle on the floor. I try to press down on my legs, but his claws slip down my ribs. A pang of tenderness makes me howl. I move my paw and aim it towards his cheek, ripping off the flesh on his face with my sharp claws. My back scrapes against the uneven floor, and I kick my legs as hard as possible. He yelps when I wind him, knocking him onto his side.

My claws swipe and slash his face and neck until his eyes glass over with his expected fate. I keep going, even when his body lays still, trying to maintain the build-up of craze in my body. I step back and turn towards Julia, her perfume stronger than the stench of their rich blood.

I don’t have time to blink. She’s right behind me. Before I can claw her eyes out, she shoves her hand towards me. My gaze barely notices the reflection of the large knife in her hand. She plunges it deep in my abdomen.

Everything freezes for a long moment. The look on Julia’s face is victorious. She releases the knife that’s still deep inside me, and I stumble back. I hear my bones snap, but I’m desensitised to everything except my stomach.

My head rocks against the floor, and I groan, blood seeping out of my mouth. I shiver when I glance to find my bare human arm against the cold ground. Julia stands over me with pure hatred in her eyes.

“I wanted to wait for Jaxon,” she huffs, sticking her tongue into her lip. “But I guess this will have to do. It’ll still destroy him. You might be a wolf, but you’re not strong enough to tear me down, too.”

I raise my shaky hands to my wound and wince when she grabs onto the handle again. I stare at her as she shoves it deeper and twists. My throat closes around the blood flowing up my windpipe.

There is an urgent tapping against my head. Jaxon is trying to get in. But the torment my body has endured shut off our connection. My lips tremble, tears finally escaping my eyes. Julia bends down and smears her thumb across my cheek. “Poor baby,” she pouts. “I can’t wait to watch the light leave your eyes…and his, too.”

My body wants to let go, but I force my mind to keep fighting. Jaxon will be here soon. I know it. Even if his face is the last I see, it’ll be a sendoff worth waiting for.

46

JAXON

“Julia has her.”

“What?” Kayden’s face recoils.

I grind my teeth together so harshly the sound grates my ears. When Lucy lost Ava at the market, I went out of my damn mind, and the guards searched everywhere for her. Our mindlink connection was down, and when I heard her voice pop into my head, I wept with relief. But this is far from over.

“Julia has Ava. She said I need to go alone. She’s wanting revenge,” I state loudly. My wolf is on the edge of ripping through my skin. “Revenge for what, I don’t know, but we need to make a plan. They’re at High River Way.”

Sam and Kayden share a glance before we get to work quickly. Within minutes, we have a solidified plan that will get my mate back where she belongs.

I need everyone in the grand hall. Now! I mindlink the entire pack.

The three of us approach the hall in a flash.

When the pack starts to filter into the room with urgency, I take down a few breaths to stabilise myself before I lose control. My eyes scan the hall as Kayden and Lucy join my side.

“I need everyone to listen to me very carefully,” I bellow and watch as everyone’s attention focuses on me. The room turns deadly silent. “Ava is in trouble. Our future Luna is in trouble. Julia is alive, and she has my mate. She’s planning on hurting her, but I won’t stand for it. We need to get her to safety.”

Whispers and gasps filter across the crowd. Lucy spares me a sympathetic glance and nods in encouragement. “I need back-up. I need all of you to pull your weight. I have no idea what we’re up against, but I am bringing Ava home. Lucy, I need you to take the witches and cover our tracks and scents so we cannot be detected.”

She nods in my direction. “Of course.”

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