Page 219 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Exactly. It’s fine that you’re emotional right now. You were like that when you were pregnant with Ash, and with him missing, it’s probably the same thing.”

“Right. Just like when I was pregnant.”

The smile froze on my lips. When was my last period?

“Avery?” Stormy asked. “What’s wrong?”

I did some quick math in my head. I was almost ten days late. My cycle fluctuated, sure, but usually only by a couple days, three at the most. Ten days?Ten fucking days?

“Oh, shit,” Stormy whispered. “No way. Avery? Are you?—”

“I need to get a test,” I hissed.

Rushing out the door, I ran to Porter’s truck, not even bothering to say goodbye to Stormy. My head was buzzing like an old-fashioned TV set to a channel with nothing but static. The hissing roar in my head washed out all other thoughts.

“Something wrong?” Porter asked as I jumped into his truck.

“Drugstore. Hurry.”

“Uh, okay,” he said, frowning as he started the car.

The drive to the store, grabbing a few tests, and paying went by in a blur. By the time I climbed back into the truck with the little paper bag in my hand, it seemed like I’d walked out of Stormy’s house ten seconds ago. Time lost all meaning as I went through every time Cole and I had fucked since he’d come back into my life. From what I could recall, none of those times had involved a condom. I was on birth control, but that wasn’t foolproof. Son of a bitch.

“So, are we going back to Stormy’s?” Porter asked.

As much as I loved my friend, I was too freaked out to do this in her presence. I needed privacy.

“Back to my house. For a little while. I’ve got something I need to do there.”

“You got it,” he said, and turned toward my place. “You’re being really weird?”

I ignored him. Porter told me he’d wait outside, but I barely heard him. It took all my concentration to keep from crying before I got the front door closed behind me. Those tears came bursting through before I’d even gotten to the bathroom.

“Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I muttered as I clawed at the bag and the three boxes inside.

Unwilling to trust one test, I’d bought three different brands. As I laid out the separate sticks, I kept scolding myself. If this was actually happening, then it was quite possibly theworsttiming in history. I couldn’t think of a worse situation to become pregnant.

Outside, a passing car backfired, and it was like a slap in the face to bring me back to reality. I felt like one of those hysterical women in old black-and-white movies who needed one single crack across the cheek from the stoic, calm male character to bring her back to her senses. I didn’t need that. I was stronger than a goddamn damsel in a movie who fell apart as soon as things got hard.

Blowing out a breath, I tried to talk myself off the cliff. This wasn’t as bad as it could be. Yes, Ashton was in danger, but I wasn’t alone. Not like I was when I found out I was pregnant with Ash. I had Cole now. No matter how bad things were, I wasn’t alone.

“Shit,” I hissed, realizing I hadn’t spoken to Cole all day.

Forgetting all about our argument, I dragged my phone out to call him. He had to know what was happening.

The phone rang over and over, far longer than it usually took him to answer. I was about to hang up and try again when his voice finally came on the line.

“Avery,” he said, his voice breathless and excited. “Now’s not a good time. Can I call you back?”

“Cole, you don’t understand, I’ve got something important?—”

“Avery, something big is happening. I can’t explain over the phone, there’s too much. Hang tight, and I’ll be there soon. Are you at your place?”

The manic way he was talking and the strange exuberance in his voice threw me off. All my thoughts and worries receded.

“Is it about Ashton?” I asked, clutching the phone tightly, pressing it hard to my ear.

“I’ll see you in a little bit and explain. Are you at home?”

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