Page 182 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

As we pulled out of the parking lot, Trent shot a look my way. “Are you sure you’re up for this?”

I frowned. “What?”

“Challenging Kyle. I thought about it, but I haven’t mentioned it yet. Are you up for killing a man in combat?”

The thought rattled around in my head like a pinball. I’d imagined killing Kyle any number of ways the last couple weeks, but I’d never actually taken a life. The enormity of it was almost too much to think about.

“It’s not easy,” Trent said. “It’s difficult using a gun, much less your bare hands, teeth, and claws. I know from experience.” There was a darkness in his eyes, a shadow he usually kept hidden. “It’s not enjoyable. Not even when it’s someone you hate. Trust me on that.”

But there was no other way, was there? Not after everything Kyle had done. If what Scotty told us was correct, then he was up to even more awful things. Kyle wasn’t the sort of person who deserved to live.

My phone rang then, the caller ID showing Langston.

“What’s up?” I answered.

“Hey. Have you heard from Avery or Zayde?”

“I did,” I grunted. “Kyle called her.”

“Yeah. Just got off a call with Zayde,” Langston explained. “He says he was successful with getting access to Kyle’s phone, but he’ll need some time to hack into it. It’s heavily encrypted, but Zayde doesn’t think he’ll have any issues.”

“Good. We’re heading back to the alpha house now. We should be there soon,” I said. “How’s the trip going with Scotty?”

“Should be at our destination in another hour. Once we get there, we’ll get things settled. I’m not going to come back until I’m sure the guys running security are comfortable.”

“I’m worried,” I admitted. “After talking to Scotty, Kyle sounds even more unhinged than we thought. And I already thought he was a psycho, so that’s saying something.”

“More worried than you were before?” Langston asked.

“Yeah,” I said, drumming my fingers on my knee. “This thing with the mad scientist doesn’t sit right with me. It makes me think Kyle’s got even more up his sleeve. All of this seems to be spiraling. Getting bigger, you know?”

Langston sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. You know what I said last night about wanting to do this on my own to prove something to myself?”

“I do.”

“Well, I had a change of heart. This is too big for us. I’m man enough to admit that now, especially after all this talk of Kyle’s plans. I’ve put in a call for reinforcements. I’ll have more news on that later.”

Some of the tension in my body dissipated. “That sounds great. I’ll see you guys whenever you get back.”

I slid my phone into my pocket and looked over at Trent. “Langston’s getting some more people to come down and help us.”

“Thank God for that,” Trent said. “Should I put a call in to Chris and Ricky? See if the other old betas want to come in to help?”

I shook my head once. “No. Dad pushed them out. That had to hurt. I don’t want to try and mend old wounds by asking the men he disrespected to fight and possibly die for me. If we get into a truly desperate situation, then sure, but not right now. I don’t want them to have to make that decision after everything they’ve gone through.”

“True,” Trent said grudgingly.

By the time we arrived at the alpha house, Avery and Zayde were already there. I bolted out of the truck and ran inside. Avery was standing in the kitchen, and Zayde sat on the couch, working on his laptop. She glanced at me, her shoulders hunched and tense. When I caught her eye, I could see the exhaustion in her gaze.

“How are you?” I said as I pulled her against my chest.

“Fine, I guess.” She sighed. “I had to do a lot of pretendingon the phone with Kyle, and it was goddamned draining, to be honest. Acting like I could possibly want anything to do with him made me sick to my stomach.”

I couldn’t stand the haunted look in her eyes. “No more of that. I don’t give a shit if it helps us, but I don’t want you doing anything you don’t want to. Especially when it comes to Kyle.”

“If it helps get Ashton back, then?—”

“No,” I said, cupping her cheek. “We’ll figure out another way. You’ve done enough. The next time he calls, you can tell him to go to hell for all I care.”

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