Page 55 of Second Chance Mates

“Ava–” Jaxon’s voice floats into the room. “Did you touch her?”

“What? No,” Kayden defends himself. “I don’t know what’s wrong. I came in, and she started looking real pale, like she was about to faint. I didn’t do anything.”

Jaxon steps to my side, and I focus on his handsome face. The deep concern on his expression makes my heart beat out of time. As he moves closer, the bond wraps around my lungs and widens them, giving me a chance to breathe properly since Kayden walked into the kitchen.

“Are you feeling okay?” Jaxon asks, flicking his eyes between mine slowly.

I merely nod. My tongue extends to drag along my bottom lip.

“Gemma,” I blurt out.

“What?”

“Gemma. I want to see Gemma.”

Jaxon nods his head once. “Let me take you there.”

I hop off the stool, trusting my legs a little too early. My knees literally cave, and Jaxon grabs my arm gently to stabilise my balance before I hit the floor and make a fool out of myself.

“It’s alright,” he murmurs when I stare up at him with embarrassment. “I got you.”

His hand remains on mine for a moment. All that warmth spreads down my limbs with attention and care. His reflex was so quick I didn’t even see his arm shoot out to catch me.

I shake it off and walk out of the kitchen without sparing another look at Kayden. My feet automatically carry me towards the infirmary. I’ve been here a fair few times now, it's like muscle memory.

My knuckles rise to knock on Gemma’s door. A few seconds later, it opens, and she stares at me with a small smile. “Hi, Ava. How are you?”

“C-can I have a session?” I exhale before my chest holds my intentions a secret. “I really need one.”

Gemma bows her head and steps out of the way. “Of course. Come in, Ava.”

I take one step forward and then glance back at Jaxon, who is smiling at me with support. “I’ll wait for you out here.”

My eyes don’t leave his as I stall for a moment. “Ava?” Gemma says.

“Do you want to come in with me?” I ask Jaxon.

He blinks at my request. “Sure.” He nods. “You definitely want me to?”

“If it’s too much for you, then you don’t have to.”

“No.” He steps forward immediately. “I want to. I want to be there for you.”

I nod and clear my throat. “Okay.”

When I turn back to Gemma, she’s beaming at Jaxon as I walk inside her office. Jaxon waits for me to take a seat, but he doesn’t know I don’t like to sit down. I don’t like being confined. I express myself better when I’m walking around because it helps my blood flow. It also reminds me I can leave whenever I want. If I sit down, I know my entire body will cramp up from the nightmares of my past.

“Jaxon, please sit.” Gemma points at any of the available chairs.

I stand near the window and pace slowly. All the air I suck down fills my lungs. When Gemma casually leans against her desk, legs in front of her with her hands on her thighs, I realise I am in the limelight.

Jaxon sits on the chair directly opposite me and rests his forearms over his knees.

“Ava, why did you want to see me today?” Gemma asks.

I twiddle with my fingers as I stare at the walls covered in quotes and art. Usually, I focus on one and take it in, but today, I’m conscious of Jaxon being here, even though I invited him.

“When I see Kayden, I feel everything inside me freeze,” I exhale and close my eyes. “I don’t want to associate him with the Beta from–”

---