Page 13 of Second Chance By Fate

Blood rushes through my ears, and I relish the feeling of power surging through me in the pseudo hunt of the Arizona forest.

Losing track of time, I let my senses guide me, the darkness blanketing me as I dart through the familiar landscape. Violet's presence under this roof is torture—her very nearness reminds me of what we had, stirring desires I've fought so hard to bury. I hate that she’s here, but the idea of letting her go is just as offensive to me.

Why the hell did she have to come back? It would have been so much better if she just stayed out of sight and out of mind… kind of.

By the time I circle back to the estate, I’m in no better mental state than I was before, and I realize I’m not going to sleep a wink. So much for being in a clearer headspace in the morning.

On a whim, I pad toward the side of the house, peering up at the second-floor balcony where Violet’s suite sits. To my surprise, the lights in her room are still on.

Jax probably went back there, that treacherous jerk,I muse with annoyance, but I wonder if I’m not jealous of his brazenness. He had no shame hooking up with her, even though we don’t trust her. He put aside all our previous wariness and let his desires take control. Just like I desperately want to do, too.

But I won’t. I can’t. Yet I can’t help myself from checking in on them now to see if my suspicions are right and if my brother ignored Enzo’s order to leave Violet alone.

Scaling the side of the trellis, I stealthily make it to the balcony and land on the second floor, pushing open the door with my nose. To my surprise, I find Violet alone in her bedroom, sitting on the center of the bed. Feeling ashamed of myself, I fall back on my haunches, ready to leave, when I hear her speak.

“I won’t say anything,” she moans. “Please, don’t hurt them.”

Blinking, I pause, cocking my head as I sniff the air around her. I sense no one else in the room, but she’s clearly communicating with someone.

Violet’s hazel eyes glow, and I realize she’s using magic to communicate. But with who?

“I haven’t said a word,” she swears. “I know what’s at stake.”

I stalk forward to make my presence known, but in the distance, I hear Enzo’s howl to action. The hairs on the back of my neck rise, the panic in my brother’s war cry familiar and deadly.

I can’t confront Violet about what I’ve seen now. We’re under attack.

Lurching off the balcony, I land on the ground gracefully and take off through the gardens, but when I look back over my shoulder, I catch a glimpse of Violet watching me from the railing of her room, her mouth agape.

She knows I’m onto her. Good. She better be worried.

I find Enzo in his office, pacing with his earbuds in. Jax leans against the wall, eying me nervously as I enter and shift back into my human form.

“What’s going on?” I demand, looking from one brother to the other.

On cue to my question, the lights explode, shattering glass everywhere in the room. The three of us raise our arms to shield our faces, and Violet races inside, gasping in horror. Glass crunches under her bare feet, and Jax instantly rushes to move her away.

“Oh, my gods!”

“Get her out of here!” I shout. “She’s doing this!”

“Shut up!” Enzo hollers at us, pointing at his ear. “I’m on the phone.”

Gritting my teeth, I lower my arms, backing away. Violet rushes to Jax to tend to his cuts, and I realize I’m bleeding from my arms.

“Where?” Enzo barks as I pick shards of glass out of my forearm.

“Let me see,” Violet urges, grabbing my hand.

I try to pull away, but she’s stronger than she looks with her tiny stature, and she waves her free hand over me. Warmth rushes through me, and the tiny cuts close under the heat of Violet’s warm eyes.

“Stop being so damn stubborn,” she mutters, releasing me. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”

“Oh, no?” I scoff. “This is all some big coincidence, is it? I heard you in your room. Just now. I heard you talking to your coven.”

She pales at my accusation and looks back at Jax, but he’s fixated on Enzo’s conversation.

“I don’t know what you thought you heard?—”

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