Page 29 of Second Chance Mates

I follow her into the empty kitchen. I’m relieved Jaxon has private areas for his family. “Remind me to tidy up after lunch,” Lucy murmurs. “Bash was almost banned from coming in here this morning.”

“Why?”

Lucy glances at me. “Because Jaxon cannot stand mess. He likes everything tidy, the sides wiped down, and no plates lying around. He takes it pretty seriously, especially in his private kitchen.”

“Doesn’t everyone want that?”

She snorts. “Not in the way Jaxon does. He sees a crumb and loses his head.”

“Where is he today?”

“He’s still out,” she says as she walks towards the fridge. “Did you need him?”

I shake my head. “Just curious.”

“He’ll be back soon.”

“Okay,” I whisper as I settle on the stool by the counter.

My eyes follow Lucy as she walks around the kitchen, preparing food for our lunch. “How are things?” she asks.

“They’re okay,” I admit. Nothing more or less than okay. I guess I’m just surviving right now.

After my episode in Jaxon’s office, I haven’t stopped thinking about the way he knew how to calm me down. I’ve never come around so quickly. It’s like the sound of his voice was an antidote to all the fears that echoed in my head.

Then I remember the picture frame I smashed.

“Lucy,” I breathe. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Mmm,” she nods. “Sure can.”

I let my mouth hang open as I find the words. The question is simple, and I’m not sure why I care—my curiosity is getting the better of me. “Who is the woman in the picture with Jaxon in his office?

She stops what she’s doing immediately and looks at me. “I–” she starts. “Uh. I want to tell you, Ava, but it should come from Jaxon. He wants to tell you, and he will, but he wants the time to be right, for him and for you.”

For him and for me?

“I haven’t seen her around,” I blurt.

“Because she’s not,” Lucy sighs. “I don’t want to say any more. It’s Jaxon’s story to tell.”

“Okay.”

Lucy’s head moves awkwardly, and she scratches the back of her head. “Actually, Ava, I have something I need to admit to you.”

My eyes flick between hers as she moves closer. “You do?”

The heat across my body spikes. “I’m not just a werewolf.” She runs her tongue across her lip. “I’m also a witch. I have the ability to see into people’s pasts. I can usually control it, but other times, I can’t.”

I stay silent as guilt washes over her eyes. Tightness forms in my throat.

“The day we brought you here, I couldn’t control my powers. I saw things I shouldn’t have seen, and I’m sorry. I carry so much guilt with me.” Her voice heaves, and tears sting my eyes. “I didn’t tell anyone else what I saw. I only mentioned to Jaxon a name because we wanted you to be safe. I’m so sorry.”

My entire body shakes. She saw. She saw what I went through.

Lucy steps closer, but she doesn’t touch me or suffocate my space. “I know it was a complete invasion of privacy. If I could change it, I would.”

“Y-you saw?”

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