Page 134 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“I don’t need help,” Cole growled, standing up straight and glaring at me. “He’s here becauseIallow it,” he said, jamming athumb into his own chest. “This ismytown. I’m better equipped to save Ashton than he is. The only reason that asshat is here is to make me look like a dumbass in your eyes.”

“Holy fuck,” Trent barked, crossing his arms and walking over to stare out the window.

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” I said. “Langston doesn’t even know you. He has no reason to make you look bad.”

“Of course he does,” Cole scoffed, looking at me with a derisive sort of pity. “Are you really that blind? He’s totally into you. The guy’s probably been licking his lips, waiting for you to break up with Perry, and now he’s swooped in here to show you what a badass he is. I bet he’s already planning how to talk you into the sack once all this is settled.”

Dumbfounded, I could do nothing but stare at Cole.

“You know what, Cole?” I finally managed. “Langston doesn’t need to do anything to make you look like a dumbass. You’re doing a fantastic job of that yourself.” I pointed at the door. “Get out.”

The anger and bitterness on his face vanished in a second, replaced by a shocked look of confusion. “What?”

“You fucking heard me,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “I don’t know if you forgot or not, but this—” I waved my hand around the room “—is not about you. It’s about Ashton. You need to go home and figure yourself out because I can’t be around you when you’re acting like an idiot. My child has been kidnapped. I can’t sit here and babysit another one.”

Cole’s face fell. I’d struck a nerve, and it looked like it had wounded him deeply.

Good. He needs to be put in check.

“Come on,” Trent said, the words sounding heavy. “Let’s get you out of here, Cole.”

Cole stared back at me for several seconds. I could practically see him going over everything that had happened, realizing how dumb he’d been and how much it hurt me. Though, I wasn’t sure I saw any contrition. This was a problem in his head that he needed to figure out before he’d be any good to us at getting Ashton back.

Finally, he nodded and followed Trent out the door, casting one last glance over his shoulder at me as he went. The door shut with aclick,and I blew out a breath. I was exhausted, but I didn’t want to be alone.

I texted Stormy, asking her to come over, and she arrived half an hour later.

“Avery, you look like shit,” she said as she stepped inside.

“Thanks. I love you, too.”

Wincing, she joined me on the couch. “Sorry. Bad choice of words. What happened?”

I explained everything that had happened that day, including Cole’s jealousy toward Langston and me throwing him out of my house.

“Holy hell,” Stormy said. “What’s gotten into him?”

“Cole? I guess he really thinks Langston wants to fuck my brains out.” I shuddered. “Eww. Even thinking that makes me want to gag. Like imagining banging your brother.Gross.”

“Is this guy, like, super-hot or something?” Stormy asked. “I mean, we’ve never talked about what he looks like. Is Cole intimidated by him, maybe?”

She’d heard stories about Langston and the other Des Moines pack guys for years, but they’d never met. The closest the two of them had come to meeting was at Ashton’s ninth birthday, but Langston had to leave early for a business meeting and Stormy had been late. Two of my best friends, passing like ships in the night.

“He’s a good-looking guy,” I admitted. “But I don’t think of Langston like that. For some reason, Cole can’t get that through his thick skull. I think there’s more to it, though. Maybe he is intimidated? Langston hasn’t been under the stress we have been. So of course he’s a bit more cool and collected and confident. Cole has taken a hit with everything that’s happened with his dad and the pack’s finances. I think he feels like things are spinning out of control. He’s self-conscious abouteverything. Like he doesn’t think he’s good enough.” I shook my head.

“I really wish I could see things from his perspective, but I can’t right now,” I continued. “If Ashton was safe, maybe I could. Right now, all I have the time or patience for is getting him back. God only knows what Kyle might be doing to him, and here we are, talking about dumb shit like this.”

“Let me make some coffee.” Stormy got up and went to the kitchen. I trudged along after her.

The two of us sat around the kitchen table, discussing everything. It was nice to vent and unload it all. I’d never been more grateful to have her around.

“Do you think calling Langston was a bad idea?” I asked, stirring sugar into my third cup of coffee.

“No way,” Stormy said. “It’s like you said, the more people you have helping, the better. That prick has your son, and if you can’t go to the cops, how else are we supposed to get Ashton back?”

Deep down, I knew that, but it was nice to hear someone confirm that I wasn’t crazy.

“I’m so pissed off at Cole right now, I can barely think straight,” I admitted.

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