Page 166 of Second Chance Mates

“That may be true.” She smooths her thumb across my cheek. “But you are surrounded by people who will go to the ends of this universe to support you.”

My lips curl. “I know.”

“You might feel at one with your body, but it’s not the first time you’ve met.”

My brows crease. “Met who…My wolf?” All she does is nod, and I stare back at her with uncertainty. “I don’t remember.”

“No. But you will.”

“Okay.”

“You might look different to the rest, but this is my blessing to you.”

My lips purse. “My blessing?”

“An apology for not helping sooner. I know this won’t make up for anything, but now your heart of gold will shine from the inside out. You possess your own strength, but this will only intensify it.”

I stare at the beautiful woman in wonder.

“This is your home now. This has always been your home. I’m happy to see you thriving in the way you always should have been. I wish to take away your past pain, but I would never meddle with the healing you’ve given to yourself. You are the strongest wolf I know. Even if you don’t believe it, you will soon. I’ll make sure of it.” Her misty eyes twinkle at me. “Now, go and live. This life will cherish you.”

The second her hands leave my face, the sky transforms into a show of shooting stars. I take it all in. My mouth falls open in surprise. I smile up at the universe and take in her words.

This life will cherish me in the same way I’ll cherish this second chance at living.

A gasp leaves my lips as I sit up. The bedsheets fall around my waist, and I press a hand to my pounding chest. Jaxon stirs beside me. He rubs his eyes as I sink back into the headboard. “What’s the matter?” His voice is groggy but alarmed. “Nightmare?”

I shake my head and calm my rapid heartbeat. “Something else.”

His eyes roam my face carefully before his arm slings around my shoulder and brings me towards him. “You’re safe,” he whispers against my head. “With me.”

My eyes close, and I picture her face. I play back everything she said to me. Don’t forget. Don’t forget. I snap my gaze open as something tightens around my throat.

“Ava–”

“I remember,” I blurt.

“Remember what?”

My eyes flick over the duvet in the darkness as I wrack my brain for all the details of that day. The reason the other wolves were slaughtered was because of…me. I turn to Jaxon and he stares back at me with a concerned expression.

“What do you remember?” his fingers stroke my arm.

“The night with Julia. When they took me back to the warehouse. She was taunting me about you, saying things to get under my skin, and I snapped. I shifted. I killed those wolves.” I clap a hand over my mouth, and my stomach clenches. “Oh, God. I killed those wolves.”

Jaxon tugs me onto his lap as soon as he senses my panic brewing. “Breathe,” he states. “Breathe, Ava.”

I inhale sharply as harsh emotion slashes at my sternum. I accept his comfort through the bond. I’m a murderer. I murdered people.

“Baby.” He brushes back my hair. “You did all you could to survive. You did what you did to protect yourself. I know this might be a bittersweet moment, but I am so proud of you for taking out those wolves who hurt you.”

My lungs suck in air, and I shake my head. “I know they were bad people, but they were still people. I took away their lives.”

He offers me a soft, sympathetic smile. “It’s not easy to kill, but when we’re brought into these impossible situations, we have to. I remember the first time I killed another wolf, it didn’t feel good, but I knew it had to be done. The wolves I kill now deserve to be killed, and I don’t let guilt swarm me.”

“It’s hard to accept,” I hiccup. “I literally have their blood on my hands, even if they deserved to die.”

Jaxon kisses my cheek softly. “Don’t let any guilt sit with you, Ava. You killed them so you could get out of there and get to safety. It was a natural instinct from you and your wolf. It’s who we are, Ava. We’re natural born killers, and I know that’s probably not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth, and it’ll never change.”

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