Page 224 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Well,” Stormy began with a sigh, and it was all I could do not to grab her shoulders and shake her to give me the information quicker. “We were talking, and it came up. Pretty sure she realized she was possibly pregnant. She ran outside and had Porter drive her to the drugstore. That’s the last I heard from her. I actually tried calling her about ten minutes ago, but there was no answer.”

“Where was she going after that?” I demanded.

“God, Cole, you’re being a bit of a dick right now. Did you guys have another fight or?—”

“Avery’s missing,” I blurted. “She won’t answer her phone, and neither will Porter. So, for the love of God, tell me anything you know, Stormy.”

Her face went deathly pale. She shook her head faintly. “Missing? I don’t know, Cole, honestly. My best guess is that she went to her house after the drugstore.”

That was what I’d thought, too. Where else could she be at this point? She was home. That made the most sense. Maybe taking a nap on her couch with her phone off. Possibly thinking of how to tell me she might be pregnant.

Jesus, could thatreallybe true? A baby?

Before I could run to my truck, my phone rang. Thinking it might be Avery, I yanked it out and answered without checking the ID.

“Cole,” Langston said, “have you found Porter yet? Zayde told me he’s not answering.”

“No,” I growled. “No sign.”

“Zayde and I are on our way to Avery’s place right now. Maybe he’s there.”

“I’m on my way,” I said. Hurrying back to my truck, I called over my shoulder, “I’ll let you know what we find out, Stormy.”

As I pulled out, tires squealing, I glanced in the rearview mirror. Stormy was leaning against the doorframe as if it was the only thing keeping her upright. Slamming my foot down, the truck rocketed down the road, barreling toward Avery’s house.

I got there before Langston did. My tires screeched as I slammed the truck into park before it had even come to a full stop. I leapt out and ran toward her house. I spotted Porter’s truck across the street. A good sign. Sprinting up the steps, I crashed through the front door, nearly tearing it from the hinges.

“Avery!” I bellowed.

No answer.

I rushed through the house, checking every room, even finding three unused pregnancy tests on the sink in the guest bathroom. She was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Porter. But his truck was outside.

I hurried back out and crossed the road. The driver-side door was open. Rounding the hood slowly, I froze when I saw the blood on the door handle.

“Oh, God,” I whispered.

In the distance, I could hear the roar of an engine approaching. With feet that moved as though trudging through mud, I walked around the truck. On the ground was a spattering of blood. Terror flooded through me as I leaned over, pulled the door wide, and peered inside. I nearly vomited at the sight.

Porter lay crumpled on the floorboard. Wide, sightless eyes stared up at me. Arms and legs tangled in an unnatural position. A bullet hole, neat and round, on the left side of his neck, and on the right, a gaping exit wound. His throat was slashed as well.

Whoever had done this had made damn sure the man was dead. There was no way to tell which injury had happened first. The interior of the truck was an abattoir of blood. There were finger smears across the console and armrests, and puddles of blood in the floorboard where he lay. A thick glob of semi-dried blood clung to his beard.

My wolf growled at the sight, the horror of it piercing deeply into both of us. The growl slowly gave way to a moaning howl, and Ithrew my head back, letting it out until there was no air left in my lungs.

Behind me, a truck pulled up. Horror shot through me. I’d grown to like this man in the short time I’d known him. I’d begun to think of him as a friend. But Langston and Zayde? Porter was like family to them.

Forcing myself to move, I ran toward the men as they got out of their truck.

“Porter?” Langston shouted.

“Stop,” I said, the word thick with emotion. “Don’t.”

He and Zayde stared me down hard.

“What do you mean,stop?” Zayde demanded, pressing against me, chest-to-chest. “What happened?”

“You… you don’t want to see it,” I said, that familiar burn of tears at the back of my eyes again.

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