Page 35 of Second Chance Mates

Ava’s mouth falls open. “How do you build the connection?”

“By being around each other, talking, touching.”

“Oh–”

“But we don’t have to do any of that. Only what you’re comfortable with.”

Ava’s eyes dart to my hands and she chews down on her lip as if she’s in deep thought. “What if you held my hand again? Would it do it, then?”

I nod when she glances up. “It will.”

Silence washes over us for a long moment until she meets my gaze and hesitates. “C-can we–”

“You want me to hold your hand?”

“Uh–”

“How about you hold my hand?” I suggest.

Ava’s head moves, but she fixates on my palms. “Okay.”

She doesn’t move at first, but after a few minutes, she leans over and holds her fingers above the centre of my hand. We don’t even need to touch to feel the electricity that courses through my veins. I glance up at Ava. She doesn’t seem to feel it the same way I do, but I know my wolf's senses are heightened.

After another minute, she drops her finger to mine and loops them together. Relief and comfort crash over my body like a wave. I close my lids for a moment before snapping them open to watch. She fights her eyes to stay open as she squeezes her finger around mine.

But to my surprise, she stretches her other fingers out and laces them through my own. Fireworks explode in my mind at the small connection. It’s intensified by a million because she’s the one who initiated it—I have a very small portion of her trust.

A sharp breath escapes when she slides her hand against my palm. A shiver trails down my spine. Her cheeks begin to heat to a rosy pink, and her pouty lips part as she explores my hand with her own.

“Wow,” she exhales. “This is…”

She can’t even finish her sentence, but I know exactly what she means.

“Beautiful?”

“Refreshing.”

My lips curl into a smile, and our eyes meet. Her fingers pause on my palm, and she reluctantly pulls away. I’m met with coldness, but my wolf is happy to be in her presence.

“Thank you,” she whispers.

“For what?”

“For letting me do it on my own and reminding me that I can.”

13

JAXON

I’ve had an early morning of sifting through piles of more work I’ve ignored over the last few months. This is the third morning in a row—which often drags into the afternoon. Kayden’s thoughts buzz around my head. You’re going to overwork yourself.

Maybe I’m heading that way, but I won’t stop until it’s done.

Once I’ve cleared my backlog, I’ll be able to focus on calculating a plan to take down Lucien’s pack. I don’t want to make any mistakes. I want to wipe him and anyone who has ever touched Ava from this world. I don’t care what their excuses are; I want them to pay for what they’ve done to her. I want her to be at peace, knowing they no longer exist in the world.

I head downstairs once I’ve completed as much work as I can before my head explodes. I need to call a meeting soon to pitch my ideas and see where the plan can lead us.

When I reach the kitchen, I’m surprised to see Lucy standing outside on the patio, trimming the plants she’s been growing. I never took her for the type to have a green thumb, but she’s done well not to kill them.

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