Page 29 of Second Chance By Fate

Oh, Violet, I’m sorry…

I glance at my brother, and his shame is just as evident as mine. Suddenly, I wouldn’t blame Violet if she did turn on us.

“You practice dark magic!” Violet scoffs, whipping her head back up. “I would never join forces with you! You’ve created nothing but havoc and chaos since you arrived in Dusty Woods!”

“Rightfully so,” Marianne replies smugly. She’s unapologetic. “And if you aren’t with us, you’re against us. That’s why we never trusted you.” She plops onto the bed and sprawls out. “But that’s okay. We’ll wait until that shield comes down.” Nodding toward one of the other servants, her smile widens. “Call Alpha Enzo and inform him that there’s an emergency here with his little house guest. If they want to see her alive again, they better get their asses back here. It’s time to end this and claim what’s ours. And with the curse we put on them, they are no match for us.”

I turn my head back toward my brother, but before either of us can communicate or move, an intense burst of wind rushes through us, knocking us both back.

Jax lunges through the door in tandem with the whirlwind of magic, surprising the witches. The mini-tornado whips through the room in a black vacuum. I barely know which way to look, but I know we need to seize the opportunity while the witches are caught off-guard.

Unable to wait another second, Steele and I rush forward, joining the chaos before our brother can be attacked, even though I’m not sure what’s happening.

“Bitsy, be careful!” Violet shouts, extending her hands. Bolts of lightning flash from Violet’s palms toward the shocked dark coven, and their bodies are collectively driven back against the wall.

Another body materializes through the cloud of smoke, her magic flashing incessantly, lashing out at the dark witches while my brothers and I jump in for the attack. It doesn’t take long to understand that the whipping wind tunnel is on our side.

Jax leaps for Marianne’s throat, the witch howling in distress as Steele and I take on the driver.

“You won’t get away with—” Marianne tries to shriek, but she’s unable to finish her sentence.

Jax’s teeth sink into her jugular as I take on one of the other servants attempting to flee. A swirl of black magic hangs over us, the clash of dark and bright light smashing around the room and destroying the walls, plaster crumbling around us.

Fur flies as I lose sight of where my brothers stand, my need to protect Violet and for vengeance overriding all else in my primal state. Through my peripheral view, I notice the golden glow of her protective shield fading away, the shroud losing its power, but the worst of the danger is under control.

More screams echo through the room until suddenly, blissfully, there is silence.

Breathing heavily, I stand back, my brothers flanking either side of me in their animal forms as we take in the scene before us. My head swivels around to look desperately for Violet, and I exhale with relief to find her unharmed, still enshrouded partially behind her shield of golden protection.

Shifting into my human form, I rush to her side.

“Are you all right?” I ask, my heart thudding wildly as I touch her.

Beads of sweat pop along my hairline, my pulse racing like I’ve never felt it before. Our eyes lock, and abruptly, I realize it has nothing to do with the exhilaration of the fight. Her gaze fixes on me, her lips parting and her eyes glowing like she’s spell casting.

As if they’re possessed, my brothers join my side, morphing back into their human bodies, too, their collective heartbeats roaring in my ears.

“Hi! I’m Bitsy,” the newcomer calls out. I can’t tear my eyes away from Violet’s face as the sky outside rumbles. Bitsy inhales sharply. “Oh.”

Comets streak the sky, their tails painting the daylight oddly, but I’m still captivated by Violet’s face, like I’m seeing it for the first time. The dull throb in my chest intensifies as I reach out through the shield to stroke her cheek, the effort easy. Electric sparks fly from my fingertips, the tightness around my ribs closing to squeeze at the pulsating glow around my heart. Blood rushes through my ears.

“It’s you!” I cry. “You’re our mate!”

A rumble of distant thunder seems to confirm my determination as Jax and Steele step to either side of her. There’s a rhythmic thump of tribal drumming from somewhere, but I can’t tell if it’s inside me or around me, a headiness overwhelming me as everything but Violet dissipates.

“Er… we’ll do intros later,” Bitsy decides. “I’ll see myself out. You’re welcome, by the way.”

Violet shakes her head in disbelief, biting on her lower lip.

“I-I can’t believe it,” she says, cocking her head toward me.

I catch her lips on mine, unable to keep myself away from her now, the pull astronomical.

The shield falls away now that she’s in no more danger, her hands reaching up to pull me closer, and I crush my mouth harder to hers, every atom of my body responding to her. She pulls back slightly to shake her head again. “The curse must have kept us?—”

I stop her with another kiss, this one longer, harder, more urgent. I’m ready for her, and she’s ready for us, like always, but there is more need now, a desire to solidify our bond. Her nipples strain against my bare chest, hardening me more.

Steele’s hand finds the flat of her stomach as I push myself closer, wanting to be inside her, a part of her in every way. I release her mouth long enough to yank her shirt up, and Jax wastes no time taking his kiss.

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