Page 16 of Second Chance Mates

“No sleep over Ava, huh?” Lucy’s voice echoes around the kitchen as she walks by me. Sebastian follows and gives me a slow nod.

“I have every right to be worried about her,” I grumble under my breath. “And were you guys born in a fucking barn? Every damn morning there are dirty mugs and plates everywhere. Put. Them. In. The. Dishwasher.”

Sebastian and Lucy share a glance before laughing quietly. I don’t even want to know what that means. “Oops.” My sister continues to smile. “Our bad. I’ll do it now.”

“I’ve cut off this section of the house for family only,” I state as I pause by the counter. “Until Ava feels comfortable. So if you see anyone around here, tell them to leave. The guards already know.”

“Sounds fair,” Sebastian comments. “It’s your private annexe, anyway. I’m sure the pack will understand when everything is explained to them.”

Lucy glances at someone behind me. I turn hoping that it’s Ava, but deep down, I know she wouldn’t show her face. Not without being coaxed out by Lucy, which has only happened once and never since.

“Good morning, Kayden,” she greets brightly.

“Morning.” He smiles at both of them and then cuts his brown eyes to me. “You good, Jaxon?”

His hand slaps my shoulder gently. It’s rare that we call each other by our titles when we're together as a family, but if I’m with the pack, then I expect people to call me Alpha out of respect.

“What’s been happening the last week?” he asks.

I glance at Lucy, and she shrugs back. “I’m surprised gossip hasn’t spread around this pack like wildfire.”

Kayden pauses by the fridge and tenses for a moment before glancing at me. “I mean,” he starts. “Yeah…it has, but I wanted to hear it from you. Rumours are rumours. Right?”

“And the rumours are?”

“That you found a second-chance mate.”

Lucy and Sebastian freeze. “Then, I guess the rumours are true.”

Kayden’s brows hit his hairline. “Wow–” He pulls his head back. “I…I don’t even know what to say. I mean, it’s a shock. Congratulations? That doesn’t even sound right. Eh. How?”

“Trust me, I don’t know what to say either.” I hunch over the counter.

“You get two mates, and I can’t even find one,” Kayden murmurs under his breath and throws his arms in the air. “How the hell is that fair?”

Lucy grips his hand supportively. “She’ll turn up soon. I guarantee it.”

“Goddess. The fifth wheel really is a fun job.” He shakes his head. “I’m happy for you, Jaxon, I am. But I’m ready for it to be my turn now. I’m starting to think I’ve done something to piss off the deities, and I’m being punished. The Moon Goddess hates me.”

“She’ll probably turn up when you least expect i–”

My voice is cut off when a burning sensation spreads across my back like I’ve been set on fire. I release a groan and press a hand to the centre of my spine as it grows in intensity.

“Jaxon?” Kayden is at my side. “What’s happening?”

The pain eases up, and I take a shallow breath. “I’m fine.”

My hand raises to wipe the sweat beading on my forehead, but this time, I flinch when the pain continues to spread over my back. It’s ten times hotter than before. My eyes water at the pressure.

What the fuck is happening?

Then, realisation suddenly hits.

“Ava!”

My body moves faster than I can blink. I sprint out of the kitchen and up the stairs, unable to control the primal desire to protect my mate from whatever she’s experiencing. I knew it was Ava’s pain. She’s hurting herself, and I’m experiencing it through the bond.

Kayden and Lucy instantly run after me, their footsteps echoing in my clouded head. The way my chest heaves has all of the blood in my veins vibrating.

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