Page 100 of Second Chance Mates

Good. Don’t let go of them for a single second.

Never. I’m looking forward to making them pay.

The room quietens down, and I hear the last breaths some of these low lives will ever take. I prowl down the hall, checking to make sure they’re all dead.

A noise behind me pricks my ears, and I whip my head to the sound. I focus my eyes on the royal blue curtain that is fluttering slightly. A soft whimper erupts into the room. I move forward until I rip the fabric away to find a young boy cowering in the corner, knees drawn up to his chest as he sobs.

His terrified blue eyes move towards mine. He flinches from my presence and pushes himself into the wall desperately. My gaze holds on his face—he’s nothing but a kid. “Please,” he trembles. “Please, just make it quick.”

My wolf growls inside me, but I keep myself still. He doesn’t look like the other men we slaughtered. He’s a teenager.

“Jaxon,” I hear Sebastian’s voice behind me. “I’ve got a couple of girls outside. They’re humans. We’re going to take them to the nearest hospital.”

I nod. Good.

Sebastian’s eyes flick to the boy hiding away. “Another?”

I’m not sure. Ask him who he is.

“Who are you?” Sebastian demands, and he jumps at the echo of his voice.

“E-Evan. I’m Evan.”

“They hurt you like the girls?”

Tears cloud his eyes. “Lucien is my brother,” he whispers. “B-but I am not like him. I could never be like him.”

I glance at Sebastian, who merely nods. Let’s take him with us.

“Got it. Come on, Evan. Let’s go.”

His eyes flash with white fear. “Where are you taking me?”

“I’ll answer your questions later.”

I study them as Sebastian guides Evan out of the blood-splattered hall. I take a moment to glance around at the lifeless bodies. I wish I could have taken my time with each and every one of them, but at least I have the Alpha and Beta to myself. I can’t wait for their torturous nightmare to begin.

It’s into the early hours when we get home, and all I’ve been thinking about is how desperate I am to see Ava. To hold her in my arms and never leave her for another night. I had a mission to uphold, and as much as our bond was tugging due to our distance, I had to keep focused.

My hand gently presses against my bedroom door to find Ava asleep in my bed. A strange sensation washes over my chest, sharp but bright. I study her sleeping face and steady breath. I wish for nothing more than to crawl in beside her and wrap her up in my arms, but I’m a mess.

I stare down at the dirt and blood on my body, silently draw the door shut, and walk towards the guest shower. I scrub every inch of my body three times. I don’t want any of their scents lingering on my skin. Ava shouldn’t have to endure that possibility.

When I return to my bedroom after getting dressed, I peel back the duvet and wrap my arms around Ava from behind. She jolts when I touch her.

“It’s okay,” I whisper in her ear. “It’s only me. I’m home, baby. I’m home.”

She instantly rolls in my arms to look at me. Those pretty eyes are tired and begging for sleep, but it’s replaced with relief when she sees my face.

“You’re back,” she murmurs.

I kiss her forehead with a nod. “Yeah, I’m home. Are you okay?”

“What happened?” she asks, avoiding my question.

“We can talk about it when the sun rises. Get some sleep.”

Ava shakes her head. “I won’t be able to—not now. Please, tell me what happened. Are they dead?”

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