Page 1 of Second Chance By Fate

Chapter 1

Violet

This is such a bad idea.

The same words play over and over in my head as my hands tighten around the steering wheel, the urge to whip the sports car into a U-turn overwhelming me. My eyes dart back and forth between the gleaming purple sparkle of my nails to the road ahead, trying not to get distracted by the idea of going back and forgetting this quest that has consumed me for the past year.

It’s almost becoming a song now, with a beat put to music.

Such a bad idea, such a bad idea. Violet is making such a terrible choice.

It’s catchy and should steer me away, but it doesn’t. I’m too cocky for my own good.

On either side of me, flashes of the Arizona desert dart by as my foot lays heavier on the gas, my final destination tangible at long last.

Vultures spin in an ominous dance in the twilight sky to my right, undoubtedly eying some poor, dying animal. It’s another sign to get the hell out of there, to return to Miami, where I’ve been serving the past three years in exile. I don’t need the coven or a reading to spell this out for me. Bitsy’s shrill warnings keepplaying out in my head and have been all the way from home. All the signs are yelling in my face.

Turn around.

But I keep surging forward. I have to. I can’t let this go with good conscience.

Theywon’t be happy to see me, and I gave the Alphas no warning I intended to come back. Of course not. I can hear Enzo now, scolding me for disobeying his direct order. At least he’s overriding my best friend’s incessant nagging.

But is thatallhe’ll do? An exile isn’t something to be taken lightly. The Apex Alphas didn’t send me away on a whim. They didn’t trust me then, and they won’t appreciate me showing up like this now, especially without a reason.

I shudder slightly and shrug off the premonition of danger, leaning forward to adjust the settings on the radio. My hand brushes against the protective crystals dangling from the rearview mirror, a glint of light catching in the reflection as I turn up the song to distract my troubled mind. Music hasn’t worked over the past two days of driving, but it’s all I have for now.

My breath catches when I recognize the motorcycles closing in behind me. For a millisecond, I forget where I am and appreciate the beauty of the bikes zooming up around me. Then reality settles.

Shit. I’m already detected. How are they onto me so fast?

I’m in Apex territory now—but that’s stupid. Everything is Apex territory in one form or another. They can’t possibly know I’m here already… can they?

My mind races with the possibilities. Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Maybe I can talk my way out of it. Maybe I should have just turned around when I had the chance.

On all sides of my car, sleek, black bikes pull along, their leather Apex jackets giving them away even before I look at theirfaces peering out from behind their helmets. Some of the shifters carry their mates on the back, but most ride alone. I recognize their posture and their stances. I’ve ridden with them on the back of Enzo’s bike, but that feels like an eternity ago. In some ways, it was an eternity ago. That was a different life, a life when the Apex Alphas liked and respected me.

Maybe they won’t recognize me,I think with childish optimism. Right. As if I had changed so much in three years. I still bear the same purple streaks in my hair. I suddenly wish I had the foresight to make some changes to my appearance.

But I remind myself that I’m not here to fool anyone. I’m not hiding out. I’m here to help—whether they like it or not.

One rider makes a gesture for me to pull over, and for half a second, I consider speeding up, but that wouldn’t be smart. Even with all my magic, I can’t outrun the half dozen Apex shifters on motorcycles. And I can’t keep my presence in Sedona hidden forever—even if they are catching me off guard before I’m ready to present myself again. No. I have to follow orders, to play by their rules, stupid as they are.

Stifling a sigh, I do as I’m silently instructed, turning down the music, and quietly enshrouding a layer of protection around me. Although, I doubt I’m in any real danger. They’ll sooner bring me to the Alphas and have them sort me out for breaching the exile. Nothing happens in Apex territory without going through the Alphas first, particularly when my exile was under Alpha order.

All the same, I don’t want to be at the whim of some trigger-happy newbie trying to make a good impression. A shroud of protection never hurt anyone.

Dust flies as we all come to a stop on the side of the darkening highway, and I roll down my window. Instantly, I recognize the wolf shifter peering back at me, my stomach dropping slightly. There’s no way to smooth talk my way out of this one, butsimultaneously, I’m relieved. He’s not going to harm me. I’m certain of that.

Baylor peers at me in shock after doing a double take.

“It really is you!” he mutters, stepping back to shake his head in disbelief.

“You don’t look happy to see me, Bay,” I quip lightly.

“Aren’t you banished?”

I force a smile and shrug. “Nothing lasts forever, kid. How are you? How’s the family?”

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