Page 7 of Second Chance By Fate

Jax doesn’t respond to either of our silent messages, but he’s nonplused by our commands.

As if she can sense us thinking about her, Violet’s head swivels around to peer at us in the darkness, but before she can utter a word, the sign for Dusty Woods emerges in the unstable night in a halo of eerie light.

Her full mouth parts in awe, as if she’s seeing our guarded secret haven for the first time. I don’t blame her. It’s always a sight to behold, even for me, and I’ve lived here my whole life.

In a fog, the town appears, shimmering against the desert night. The calligraphy sign welcoming visitors is painted in black and white, declaring a population of just over four hundred.

“I see it hasn’t grown much,” Violet comments dryly. The SUV sweeps through the guard posts, our security bowing respectfully as we pass through the gates, which are unnecessary, but Steele insisted upon them when we took over the reign of the pack.

“The town is by invite-only,” I reminded him when he ordered the gate erected. “No one is getting through with or without the gates and guards.”

“Better safe than sorry,” my brother replied. His distrust of the outside world only escalated in the untimely wake of our parents’ deaths.

The gates remain, and visitors are checked in and out at the booth, regardless of who they come to see. Of course, we’re immediately waved through, the guards recognizing our cars and faces. They don’t even look in the back to see if we have someone with us, which I find mildly ironic, but I make no comment, silent or otherwise. There’s no need to antagonize Steele when Violet’s arrival clearly has him on edge, particularly when Jax seems so tickled by her presence. I make an executive decision to put Jax in charge of seeing her to a suite and say as much aloud as the SUV steers toward the sprawling estate.

Our house is set slightly apart from the charming little village known as Dusty Woods, the town equipped with everything we need in case of an outside emergency. Years ago, someone in their infinite wisdom sought to protect the Apex Alphas and created independent towns, magically guarded and only seen through the eyes of the allowed beholders. Every Apex Alpha group in every state lives in their own town, all across the country.

I can tell that Violet doesn’t want to keep looking outside, as if she doesn’t want to be plagued by memories of better times. But her head inadvertently swivels back toward the window to peer back out at the passing town, her full lips parting in nostalgia.

“Don’t even think about putting a spell on any of this,” Steele grumbles, and she eyes him through her peripheral vision.

“Why would I do that, Steele?” she sighs, sounding defeated. “How does that benefit me?”

“I have no idea. Why did you do it last time?” he replies, leaning forward in his seat to glower at her. “I don’t know what makes you tick.”

“Hang on,” I interject, cutting off the fight before it can start.

A grimace forms on Violet’s mouth, but she doesn’t speak. She sits back, folding her arms over her chest to glare at the three of us, her eyes softening when she searches Jax’s face. Jax offers her a sheepish grin, and I’m torn between wanting him to toughen up and relieved that he’s showing her some kindness.

Violet has barely been back an hour, and I already have a migraine. It’s not going to get any easier from here.

Her pretty eyes brighten when the colonial-style house appears in front of us, the double flanking columns supporting the second-floor balcony to the library. She smiles, and it’s clear that she has fond memories of our home, regardless of how everything went down.

The car pulls up to our house, and Steele is the first one out, shaking his head and muttering under his breath. He moves far and fast, as though he needs to put distance between himself and our former lover.

“Take her to one of the guest suites and make sure a guard stays with her,” I order Jax, relieved that Steele isn’t around to complain. I was sure he was going to have more to say on the matter.

“I can do that.” Jax nods at one of the house servants to bring her bags up.

Shock fuses through the staff when Violet emerges from the vehicle, most of them recognizing the witch, but they wisely hold their comments. She bows her head, ignoring them, and I try to determine if she’s ashamed or feeling guilty.

“Come on, Violet. I’ll show you to one of the suites,” Jax offers pleasantly.

Before my brother can take her out of my sight, I turn to her. “If you are up to something nefarious, Violet, we won’t be so nice this time. Exile will be the least of your worries. Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness.”

“What are you going to do, Enzo?” she retorts defiantly, thrusting her chin at me as the driver closes the car door behind her. Her arms fold under her chest, and I find myself unable to stop checking her out, her beauty and power drawing me in as much as ever. “Are you going to kill me?”

“If I have to,” I say coldly, spinning away, but my pulse is racing in my ears. It makes me physically ill to say that aloud, but she needs to understand that we’re not the same pushovers she left behind. Like Steele, I need to put some space between us before I can be seduced by her magnetism again.

This was a bad idea, letting her come back. What the hell was I thinking agreeing to this? It’s completely within my control to send her away, but I don’t.

Because if I am being honest with myself, I want her here. Even with all the trouble she caused, or at least we think she caused.

“Get her out of my sight,” I growl.

Maybe when she’s out of sight, I’ll be able to think more clearly. But for now, I just need her out of my purview.

“Gladly,” Jax chirps, sounding pleased by the task. “Come on, Violet.”

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