Page 12 of Second Chance Mates

Her fist clenches the bottle, and the plastic cracks. “D-don’t leave me with him.”

“Ava,” Lucy says, moving closer to her. “I promise you, no one here is going to hurt you. You’re safe.”

I nod at her answer. “She's right. I don’t have to come into the room at all. I can stand out here and wait until Lucy gets back. Would that make you feel better?”

Ava stares at me cautiously, and I step back to make my point clear.

“I’ll be back in ten minutes,” Lucy promises. Ava looks to her for reassurance. “I know you find it hard to trust anyone right now, but we want to help.”

After a few moments, Ava nods, and I move further back to give her space. If she wants to slam the door in my face, fine. I won’t take it personally. But instead of doing so, she stares back at me, holding onto the door with shaky fingers.

“Once you’ve eaten, would you like to shower and get changed into some fresh clothes?” I ask as she fiddles with the hem of her dirty T-shirt.

She doesn’t say anything. She just analyses me.

“I’m sure Lucy can lend you some clean clothes. Get you into something more comfortable and warm,” I suggest.

I don’t expect her to reply, but when I hear, “Please,” I shatter.

Her voice is quiet like a mouse and drained of energy.

“How old are you, Ava?”

Her brows furrow as she thinks. The murderous thoughts in my head worsen. “I-I’m not sure,” she admits through a whisper. “Twenty… maybe.”

“You’re safe here, okay? No one is going to hurt you again.”

“D-do you know him?”

I tilt my head slowly. “Who?”

“Him.”

“I don’t know who you’re talking about, Ava.”

Her glassy eyes flick between mine rapidly. “L-Lucien. His name is Lucien.”

“No,” I admit. “I don’t know a Lucien.”

Ava sways, and I lean forward to stabilise her. I shouldn’t touch her, and I hate myself for doing it, but I don’t want her hitting the floor. The electrifying bond shoots down my hand and into my body at the touch of her skin. Guilt rides me like a wave. Her lips part, and she slowly looks up at me with conflicting expressions.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper and guide her to the bed before she hurts herself.

Her eyes search my own for a sense of meaning as her skin tingles against mine. Blood rushes to my ears as zaps of energy erupt around our gentle embrace. I remove my arms from her the next second.

“You could be bad like him.” Her lips quiver. “You could be lying to me.”

I grit my jaw and nod. “I want you to understand that, yes, there are bad people in the world. But not everyone is bad, and I know that’s difficult for you to believe right now. All I want is to make sure that you’re okay.”

I don’t know what rushes past her eyes, but it looks like she’s trying to find hope in my words. “Why are you doing this?” Her voice sounds stronger than before.

Because you’re our mate, my wolf whimpers inside my head.

But I refuse to add fuel to the fire. That should be saved for another day.

“Because you deserve better, and I want you to find your family, your friends.”

She closes her eyes for a brief moment and says nothing more. I take a step back, respecting her space.

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