Page 241 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“It’s okay, Dallas,” Cole whispered. “We forgive you. It’s all right. You’re home now.”

We left thirty minutes later, all of us emotionally drained but happy to have Dallas come live with us until he was back on his feet. We’d hoped to head home and relax a bit before having dinner, but Langston was waiting for us on the front porch.

“Hey there,” he called as we climbed out of Cole’s truck. “How’s the happy family doing?”

After the events at the mansion, Langston and his father had stuck around for a couple days to sort everything out before he and Zayde went home with Porter’s body to give him a proper funeral. Langston had made it seem like he wouldn’t see us for a long time, but I knew differently. Stormy was his fated mate.There was no way he’d stay away long, though I hadn’t thought he’d be back this soon.

“We’re good,” Cole answered. “To what do we owe this visit?”

“I actually came to ask Avery for a favor,” Langston said.

“You flew all this way to ask a favor?” Cole asked with a laugh.

“Figured it was better to do in person.”

“I guess you better spit it out, then,” I said.

Langston smiled at me sadly, a strange look on his face. “How’s Stormy doing?”

Grinning knowingly at him, I said, “She’s fine. Happy that Ashton and I are home safe, and that all this craziness is over.”

“That’s good. She’s my mate, and I think she sort of got that idea, too, but…” He trailed off, and I could already sense what he was thinking.

Marcus had been gone less than a year. I wanted Stormy to have someone, especially someone as amazing as Langston, but it would be tough with that grief so fresh.

“I think it’s a little soon for us,” Langston went on. “I want her heart to be healed—morehealed—before I pursue her. Something like that will never fully go away, but I’d like her to have some time. This isreally hard for me, Avery.”

“I can imagine,” I said. “It’s okay.”

“I’m not giving up on her,” he added. “There’s no force on earth that could keep me from her forever, but she needs time.”

“That’s an incredibly selfless way to look at things, Langston,” I said. “I’m proud of you for that. Seriously.”

“So, about that favor?”

“Sure,” I said. “After everything you did to save me and my son, it’s the least I could do.”

Langston glanced up nervously. Suddenly, he was no longer the big, bad alpha wolf but a nervous boy. It only lasted a moment before that confident gleam returned to his eyes, but it endeared him to me even more. I couldn’t wait for him and Stormy to be together.

“Could you and Cole scare off any guys who might try to get close to her?”

I burst out laughing. “Consider it done.”

“Why was I ever jealous of you?” Cole asked Langston, chuckling along with me.

The other man looked at Cole and shrugged nonchalantly. “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but I’m pretty hot, Cole. You had every right to be jealous.”

“Andsofucking modest, too,” Cole said.

The two men stepped forward and shared a hug. Cole patted Langston on the back. “Thank you for everything. And I’m sorry about Porter. I truly am. He was a great guy.”

Langston nodded and released Cole. “He was.” He clapped a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “No hard feelings. I couldn’t have kept him away if I tried. He died the way he lived—taking care of the people he loved. I can only hope I go out the same way.”

He walked toward his rental car and waved at us as he opened the door. “I’ll see you all soon.” He pointed at Ashton. “Next time I’m out here, it’s you and me on the basketball court. One on one.”

Ashton scoffed. “Sure. If you wanna lose, old man.”

Langston grinned. “Smartass.”

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