Page 164 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Do you really believe that?”

“I’d bet my life on it.”

By the time we arrived back at the alpha house, I was drained and exhausted. The fighting hadn’t been that brutal, but it was the emotional toll that had worn me down. Seeing how far Dallas had fallen sucked what little hope I’d had for him away. That and failing at our main mission had left little emotion to help buoy me. By not getting Dallas backhere, I’d failed Ashton and Avery. That would eat at me for a long time, no matter how this all turned out.

But when the front door burst open and Avery came sprinting out, I managed to find a reservoir of energy. She looked so distraught, her eyes red and bloodshot from crying. Even then, she looked like the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen in my life. She crashed into me, clutching me tight and bunching the fabric of my shirt in her fists.

“It’s okay,” I murmured, stroking her hair. “We’re fine. We’re fine.”

Pulling away, she studied me, her hands running over me, checking for wounds or cuts. “Are you sure?”

“These guys were no match for your mate here,” Porter said, emerging from the forest beside us. “Alpha boy here whipped some ass.” He slapped my shoulder as he walked past.

“I wouldn’t say that,” I said. “I held my own.”

Avery’s eyes widened in shock. “There was a fight?”

“It wasn’t bad.” I didn’t go into detail. I could still hear the snarling, yapping, and howling of the battle, could see the teeth, claws, and blood. No reason to worry her with something that had already happened.

“What’s this?” she gasped, brushing a finger across my neck.

I touched the spot and winced. “One of them nipped me, that’s all. It’s already healing. It’ll be gone by dinner. It’s okay, seriously.”

She crossed her arms and chewed at her lower lip nervously. “I still don’t like the idea of you getting hurt. A few inches over, and he could have ripped your throat out.”

“Never would have happened,” Langston said with a grunt as he walked up, carrying the prisoner. “Cole knows his shit. I wasn’t worried about him for even a second.”

“Who the hell is that?” Avery asked, gaping at the unconscious man on Langston’s back.

With a sigh of relief, Langston dropped the guy on the ground.

“That,” he said, nudging the body with his toe, “is where we get our intel.”

“Areyouokay?” Avery asked, eyeing Langston, who nodded.

A day or two ago, her worry for him would have had my jealousy flaring. Now, I realized she was only making sure her friend was safe and unharmed. Strange how much easier it was to deal with emotions when I didn’t allow myself to dive down ridiculous rabbit holes.

“What’s the plan now?” Avery asked, turning her attention back to me.

“Hang on a second,” I said. “I need to let the guys know they can head back home to rest and recover.”

“I got it,” Trent said as he came out of the house. “You and your girl talk, I’ll tell everyone to head home.”

The seven volunteers all sat or knelt nearby. Stormy, Farrah, and Zayde handed them all bottles of water.

“Cole?” one of the volunteers said, drawing my attention.

“Yes?” I asked.

“I know things didn’t go how you wanted, and we’re sorry for that. I wish we could’ve done more for you.”

Avery stiffened, but I held her close, squeezing her arm reassuringly. I’m sure she thought I was lying about the fight and that things had been much more dangerous and bloody than I or Langston said.

“It’s fine,” I said. “We all did our best. We got ourselves a P.O.W., and we’ll go from there. You guys kicked ass. I couldn’t think of anyone I’d rather go to battle with. Thank you. For now, you need to go get some rest. This isn’t the end.”

“We’ll be waiting on your call,” the man said.

As one, all the volunteers bowed their heads in deference to me. I blinked, surprised at the formal way they treated me. Like arealalpha. Shock coursed through me.

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