Page 59 of Second Chance Mates

Ava stares at me for a long moment before a wave of anxiety crawls through my sternum, and I frown at the intrusion of her emotions.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just–” she sighs and finds the words. “Being the only human is a little isolating.”

My brows bunch together as I study her for a moment. “Just because you’re human doesn’t mean you’re any different than us.”

“I feel like I am.”

The room falls to silence for a few seconds. Ava’s hand points to the desk where there is an empty spot. “You didn’t get a new frame for the picture I smashed?”

“I never got around to it,” I say, but she eyes me suspiciously.

“Why? Julia was your mate, too. You don’t need to hide her from me if that’s what you’re doing. I know you loved her, and you still do. That’s never going to go away.”

Her name is like an unexpected spear to the chest.

“Yeah,” I rasp. “I guess I haven’t had time to do it.”

“I see.”

My lips press together as Ava’s eyes begin to roam my office, paying attention to a large map on the wall.

“I might still have love for Julia, but she’s not here anymore, and I can’t keep chasing ghosts. I know she’d want me to be happy; she’d want me to find my peace.”

Ava offers me a small smile. “Everyone deserves to find their own peace.”

“Including you.”

“Yes.”

I stare back at her for a long moment. The girl she was when she came here is barely a fraction of who she is now. Pride and warmth burn through my chest like a flickering candle.

“Can I ask you something?” My arms fold over my chest as I lean back against the edge of my desk.

Ava nods.

“Does the name Russell Vale ring a bell for you?”

Her eyelids flutter gently, and she pulls back her head. “Russell Vale?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Does that mean anything?”

She twists to the wall and presses a hand into her hair, spreading it through the strands softly. “I–” she cuts herself off. “Uhh–”

“If it doesn’t, it’s okay,” I reassure her.

I want nothing more than for her to remember herself rather than ambush her with all this information. I don’t want to take this achievement away from her—not when she’s been trying so hard with Gemma in her sessions.

“Maybe,” she exhales with a disorientated expression. “Should it? I can’t find a place for it in my head.”

My heartbeat pounds in my throat. “It’s a popular human town in the north. I was wondering if it meant anything to you. Only a question.”

“Oh, okay.”

“Do you want to go outside and watch their training session?”

Ava nods in agreement. “I’d like that. I need to get out of this house for a bit.”

---