Page 4 of Second Chance By Fate

“Just come home. Nothing good will come of this, Violet. They banished you and didn’t lift that ban. You’re asking for trouble.”

“Love you. Bye,” I sing, giving into the temptation and disconnecting the call. I grab my purse and head inside to book a room, turning off my phone before anyone else can call to harass me about my poor life choices.

To my surprise, the human receptionist is alert and nervous, his eyes darting around as soon as I enter. I’ve never walked into a motel lobby and seen such a wide-awake receptionist before. I’m too exhausted to take real note of it.

“Hey… need a room?” he asks, twitching slightly.

I arch an eyebrow and nod, my senses heightened as I look around. We seem to be alone, but I get the feeling he’s expecting someone.

Maybe his dealer,I muse, gaging by the way he’s acting.

Without asking me for a credit card or ID, he slaps a key on the counter. “Room 202.”

Suspiciously, I eye him. “Don’t you want to be paid?”

“Pay on the way out,” he mutters, waving me away like I’m contagious.

My nerves tingle with the unsettling sense that something’s wrong. A part of me wants to argue, but I wisely keep my mouth shut, the sense of danger rising all around me.

Really, how many more signs do I need? It’s a freaking carnival of red flags all over the place.

But I’ve already attracted too much attention today, and I assume he’s worried I’m going to cross paths with some kind of shady business deal.

“Okay…” I slide the key off the counter and retreat to my car. My razor-sharp witch senses look for other vehicles in the lot, but nothing stands out to me. Even so, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.

Are they following me? Do they know I’ve come to warn the Alphas?

I shudder again, the consequences of my actions hitting me in full force now that I’m back in Sedona and in the middle of it. It’s not too late to turn back. I haven’t seen the Alphas, and they haven’t seen me, even if they have probably caught wind of my presence. I could take Bitsy’s advice and go back to Florida.

But then they’ll never be okay, and I could never live with myself, even after the way they treated me. Even if they kind of deserve it.

No. No one deserves this. Once upon a time, I cared for these jerks, and however their lives turn out, it doesn’t need to be like this. I just need to tread carefully and not expose myself.

Again, I take inventory of my surroundings, looking for one of the motorcycles from Baylor’s crew. But I still do not see anything out of place.

Gnawing on the insides of my cheeks, I grab my duffel bag from the trunk of my car and make my way up the rusted iron steps to the second floor. Another shiver of apprehension rushes through me at the threshold, and I almost turn to flee again.

Something isn’t right.

Pressing my ear to the door, I listen for movement inside, closing my eyes and honing my inner powers, but there’s nothing.

Go home, Violet. You’re exhausted. I need a hot shower and a meal after my trip. I’m seeing shadows everywhere now. If I keep expecting trouble, I’m sure to find it.

Sighing, I step back and put my key in the lock, pushing open the door to the musky-smelling room.

Instantly, I realize my mistake and step back over the threshold as three figures rise in the darkness toward me, but it’s too late.

“Hello, Violet,” one growls, his voice instantly recognizable. “It’s been a while.”

Chapter 2

Enzo

Seeing her hurts me.

Getting the call from Baylor, I felt a dozen things, but pain was not one of them.

Anger, betrayal, slight arousal. Now, however, I’m overcome by pain, and it catches me off guard. I don’t expect it, but Violet’s golden-green gaze, widening with fear as she locks eyes with me, burns my soul.

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