Page 102 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

There was some strange finality to her voice that made my stomach sink and my heart ache. Ihatedthat sound, and I hated it more because I’d caused it, and would make it worse. Though, if that was the cost of keeping her safe, I’d do whatever it took.

“Uh, I was actually on my way.”

“Yeah? Well, come on down. I’m free. You said in your text we could talk, and I want to talk.”

With that, the line went dead. It was like I’d been stabbed in the heart. My world, so recently built back up, was crumbling apart. And it was all my fucking fault. It was always me doing this. I stood and walked down the porch steps to my truck. Better to get it done.

On the drive over, I did my best to put on a brave face and prepare myself. I’d need to stress to Avery how important it was to leave town. If Ihadto, I could be a dick again. Maybe, if I pissed her off enough, she’d take Ashton and go. Hopefully, it wouldn’t come to that. I didn’t want her last memory of me to be like that.

She stood on her front porch as I pulled in, hands on her hips and staring at me with a stony expression. When I opened the door, she waved at me to come up.

“We can talk inside,” she said.

I glanced at the house uncertainly. “Is that okay? Uh, am I welcome?”

Avery let out a frustrated sigh. “Ashton was standing up for me, Cole. He still likes you. He still wants to be around you. He’s a kid, and he was pissed. He’ll get over it. Besides, he’s in his room.”

Nodding, I followed her inside. She gestured toward one of the kitchen chairs.

“Sit.”

I plopped down, obeying her command without hesitation.

“Avery, I need to tell you?—”

“Trent came by earlier and told me everything.”

I froze, mouth still half open, an unspoken syllable on my lips, and stared at her, dumbfounded.

“What… what do you mean? Trent was here? He told you what?”

Eyes locked on mine, Avery said, “He told me about Kyle and Dallas, about the threat on our lives, and that you have to leave town. Was this not something you thought I needed to know? Like, at all? This is my life, too, you know?”

For a moment, I couldn’t process her words. I was too shocked and pissed at Trent for coming here behind my back. For telling Avery what I’d wanted kept a secret.

“Avery, you don’t understand?—”

“Understand what? That Kyle is threatening to kill your brother if you don’t comply? That he’ll kill or do God knows what to me if I’m still in town? He might kill my son?” She flipped a hand in the air and slammed it down on the table in frustration. “Or do I not understand the part about how you were going to come here and force us apart? To break things off, or make me reject you? Is that the part I don’t get?”

Goddamn it, Trent, I snarled in my head. My wolf was growling and pacing the perimeter of my mind, whining and pawing the ground. He was fucking furious with me for what I was trying to do.

“I didn’t want you to be part of this,” I managed. “That’s all. I wanted you to be safe, no matter what.”

“And is that how you think a partnership works, Cole?”

“I don’t… I thought…” I shook my head.

“I’m not part of the pack,” Avery said. “I’m supposedly your fated mate, right? That means you don’t get to keep shit like this from me, even if it’s for my own good. How the fuck am I supposed to help you lead this pack if you don’t know how to lead yourself?”

“Hang on.” I didn’t like where this was going. “What are you trying to say?”

Avery leaned forward. “You can’t always run from your problems. You did it once, and I bet you’re doing it again. Are you going to run, Cole?”

Now, my wolf felt backed into a corner. So did I. This wasnothow I thought this conversation would go. I didn’t have answers, and it felt like Avery was looking right into my soul.

“That’s what I thought,” she said, leaning and dragging a hand over her face. “Cole, do you really think Kyle will keep his word? You do realize how many people are going to suffer if you leave the pack and run, right?”

“I know,” I said. “I’m not running. Not yet, anyway. This is beside the point. Did you call me down here to berate me? Because if so, I’d prefer we not do this.”

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