Page 71 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

I sniffed the air. “Whatever she made, it smells fantastic.”

As we stepped inside, Avery was putting plates on the table. She glanced up at us.

“Oh, good,” she said. “I was about to call you both inside. Hope you’re hungry.”

Before I’d managed to get more than a couple steps in, my mouth watered from the scent of the food. Each plate held amassive ribeye steak cooked flatiron-style. A thick baked potato, already split and heaped with butter, sour cream, bacon, and cheese, accompanied it. In the center of the table sat a large bowl of salad and a plate of rolls and fresh butter.

“Holy shit, Avery,” I said. “This looks delicious.”

She looked at me with an apprehensive gleam in her eye. “Rare, right? Is that still how you like it?”

“Just enough to char the outside,” I said with a grin and sat down. “Bloody and breathing otherwise.”

“Glad I got it right. Dig in. Then you can both take a shower. No offense, but you guys stink.”

Unable to help myself, I stepped around the table and kissed her.

“Ugh. I’m never getting used to that,” Ashton moaned.

As we ate, most of the conversation was lost in moans of delight. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Ashton wincing and adjusting himself in his chair every few minutes.

“You okay, Ash?” I asked.

He sighed and put his cutlery down. “Really uncomfortable. It gets worse when I’m tired. It’s hurting to chew right now, too, because of these.”

Pulling up his lip, he tilted his head to show me the long canines.

Avery gasped.

“They keep popping out like this,” Ashton said.

“That does get annoying,” I said. “It’ll all be over in a few more days. It’s going to happen any time now. If your canines aretrying to pop out, that’s the first sign of a shift coming. The wolf within is trying to come out. Be strong, and it’ll all be okay.”

“Yeah.” He rubbed his temples. “I hope so. I can’t wait until this is all over.”

“I remember that feeling,” I said with a chuckle.

After dinner, Avery served us ice cream for dessert, which was welcome after the sweaty fighting Ashton and I had done outside. Ashton finished and shuffled to the bathroom, dead on his feet.

“Is he going to be okay?” Avery asked as I helped her with dishes.

“Yeah. It’s all part of it. He had a rough day. Basketball with friends for three or four hours, then the stress of what happened at Farrah’s, followed by a few hours with me? On top of all that, he’s days away from his first shift. I’m surprised he didn’t fall asleep in the middle of dinner.”

“True,” she replied. “You go ahead and shower. I’ll finish the dishes.”

“You sure? I’m happy to help.”

“You’ve done enough for tonight. I promise.” Then she gave me a weird look, like she was worried or embarrassed about something.

‘What’s wrong?”

She shrugged, her focus on the pan she was scrubbing. “I’m just trying to think of how I can thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“No thanks necessary,” I said, kissing the side of her head. “I’m going to take that shower. You’re right. I do smell.”

“Told ya,” she said.

Digging in the gym bag I’d brought in from my truck, I found a change of clothes and headed to the bathroom. By the time I’d finished my shower and dressed in a T-shirt and boxers for bed, Ashton’s bedroom door was closed and the lights were off. Kid must have passed out already.

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