Page 51 of Second Chance Mates

I glance at my hands and snarl at my own audacity. That is not how you treat your mate. I wasn’t respectful of her wishes.

My legs carry me from the bed to the chair. I’m vibrating, and my wolf refuses to calm down. She was in so much mental pain that she chose to hurt herself again. The static in the room is crying out for me to comfort her, but I’ve learned my lesson the hard way. I need her consent. I refuse to have another situation like this.

A few minutes pass until she finally wakes up, and I shuffle to the edge of my seat, resting my elbows over my knees with my hands entwined.

“Hi,” I exhale.

Her droopy eyes flick around the room before they land on mine. I expect her gaze to light up with fear, but today, I don’t see that; instead, I see a tsunami of sadness, and that cuts even deeper.

Ava releases an uncomfortable whine as she attempts to push herself up from the bed and grabs onto the cardigan to wrap it around her body. “How are you feeling?”

All she can do is shake her head. I frown instantly.

“Take a drink.” I gesture to the water on the nightstand. “I know you’re thirsty.”

Those lifeless eyes move to the bottle, and she leans over with shaky hands to take it. I watch her crack the lid slowly and draw it to her lips, letting droplets roll down her jaw as she consumes it. “Easy,” I tell her.

She gasps for a breath before placing it back down. “How is your back feeling?”

Her nose scrunches at the question. “Fine.”

Far from it. The instincts from her mind channel towards my own.

“Gemma asked for you to go down and see her when you wake up,” I explain. “That’s if you want to.”

“No,” she snaps. “I don’t want to.”

My lips twist downwards. “Okay, that’s fine.”

Ava’s shoulders droop, and her arms stay firmly over her chest. “I don’t need you here.”

I sigh. “Alright. You want me to go?”

“Yes.”

No.

“You want to be alone?”

“Yes.”

No. No. No.

The words make my brain twitch. Goddess. How am I meant to leave when she won’t even tell me the truth? She doesn’t want to be alone but is too terrified to admit it.

“Can I ask you one question before I go, Ava?”

She doesn’t nod or answer; instead, she stares back at me.

I lower my head along with my heavy heart.

“Is there anything I can do to help you through this? Because I feel utterly useless standing by and doing nothing.”

She blinks at my question. A gleam reflects in her eyes as she shakes her head once before pausing and then shaking it again. Every inch of me deflates in defeat.

“Okay.” I stand from the chair and walk towards the door. Her eyes stalk my every step. “If you need me, you can mindlink me, or I’ll be downstairs, okay? If you’re not feeling right and can’t talk to me, please at least talk to Gemma or Lucy. They are more than willing to be there when you need them.”

My eyes are tight when they roam across her face. I offer her a small smile before I open the door and step outside.

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