Page 55 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Is it uncomfortable yet?” I asked, remembering how Cole had been the days leading up to his first shift.

Ashton nodded his head and looked at me as if he was trying to find the right words. “It’s sort of like I always knew it was there. Like when someone is standing over your shoulder, you know?”

“I do.” That description made sense for a human like me.

“It was always at the back of my mind, but now it’s more physical. Like I canfeelhim inside me. Kinda like we’re both fighting over my body, trying to see who’s going to be in charge. My joints are a little achy, and I get these headaches, too. Not bad enough to be miserable, but it’s there.”

“Do you want some Tylenol or something?” I asked, jumping at the chance to help him in some way. “It probably won’t help much. I could call Cole if you want to talk to him about it.”

“I’m fine, Mom. My shift is coming soon. I can feel it. But it won’t be tonight. I’m not gonna wolf out on you before bed.”

“That’s good,” I joked. “Do you think your wolf will be house-trained? I don’t want a pile of poop or puddles of pee around here if it happens.”

“Gross.” He laughed and tossed a piece of crust at me. “That’s nasty.”

“It’s not my wolf who’s peeing all over my grandmother’s house.”

“Whatever,” he said, and picked up another slice of pizza.

After a few more minutes of eating in silence, he spoke in what I could only call a bad attempt at nonchalance.

“So, uh, are you and Cole gonna get back together?”

That question didn’t surprise me. I’d expected it. I was actually surprised that it had taken him so long to ask. I’d assumed he’d be trying to pry an answer out of me as soon as Cole left. I put my pizza down and wiped my hands before looking at him.

“Here’s what I can tell you. No matter what Cole and I decide on the future, nothing will change the relationship you’re building with your father. I can tell you guys are getting close, and I think it’s great. I don’t want to mess that up. All I know is that Cole and I are working on our relationship, and I’m doing my best to forgive him.”

“That’s good,” he said with a nod. “I really hope it works out. I want to see you happy.”

I rounded the counter and put an arm around him, shocked at his size. It seemed like only yesterday I’d rocked him to sleep in my arms, and now he was almost big enough to rockmein his arms. I planted a kiss on top of his head.

“You worry about me too much,” I said. “You know teenagers are supposed to be a little self-centered, right? It’s only normal.”

“I love you, Mom. Why wouldn’t I worry about you?”

Blinking back tears, I ruffled his hair. “Yeah. I love you, too.” I stepped back and looked at him, my hand still on his shoulder. “You know, you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

He rolled his eyes, but his cheeks flushed. “Don’t get all mushy.”

“Mushy is my job,” I said, hugging him again.

After finishing dinner, we put away the leftovers—Ashton would probably devour them later—and he headed to his room.

“I’m gonna read a graphic novel and go to bed. It’s early, but I’m worn out,” he said.

I could see the exhaustion in his face. The first shift was draining him, and his exhaustion and pain would keep getting worse until the day or night that it finally happened.

“Good night, sweetie,” I said. “Love you.”

“Love you,” he called over his shoulder as he walked down the hallway to his room.

When I finally got into bed a couple hours later, my heart felt heavy. Questions and possibilities bounced around my mind like ping-pong balls. When I drifted off to sleep, it was to dreams of Cole.

My alarm blared early the next morning, rousing me from a deep sleep. The early alarm was necessary. I was way behind on work and needed to send inan article before my ten o’clock deadline. The sun wasn’t even up when I rolled from bed and shuffled down the hall to make coffee. Soft snores came from Ashton’s room as I returned to mine with a steaming cup in my hand.

After finishing up the article and doing a quick edit, I sent it to my editor along with an invoice. By the time that was all done, it was nearly nine in the morning. My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen. My eyes widened in surprise. Gaige Parker, an old friend from where we’d lived before returning to Harbor Mills. He was the alpha shifter of a nearby pack who had worked as sort of a surrogate for Ashton as he grew up, even though it hadn’t really taken—not the way we’d all wanted it to, anyway. He was also a realtor, and I’d tasked him with selling my old home.

“Gaige?” I answered. “It’s early. Is everything okay?”

---