Page 65 of The Alpha's Second Chance Mate

“Go ahead and say what’s on your mind,” I said.

“Would it be cool if I didn’t go with you guys? No offense, but buying a car sounds super boring. There’s a guy I met playing basketball at the park a few days ago, and he texted me. He and some of the other guys are gonna get together for a game. I told them I was busy, but if you guys are going car shopping, can I go for a few hours?”

“You want to go play with them rather than spend the day going over credit checks with your mother?” I put a hand to my chest in faux shock. “I cannot believe it.”

Ashton rolled his eyes so far back, I thought they’d fall back into his skull. “Mom. Come on. Can I? He’s got a car. He can pick me up. I’ll be back in time to go with Cole and Trent.”

“Where exactly are you going?” Cole asked, eyeing Ashton warily. “The park I took you to the other day?

“Yeah,” Ashton said. “Is that cool?”

“Just a little worried after what happened yesterday. The guy who does maintenance at the park is a member of the pack. Let me text him. I’ll have him keep an eye on you guys today while you play. I doubt there will be any trouble, but I’ll feel better about it. As long as the kid who picks you up is cool, too.”

“Okay,” Ashton said, then looked at me. “So I’m good to go?”

“That’s fine,” I conceded. “Go ahead and text him. I think Cole and I can survive without you.”

He smiled. “Awesome. I’ll go put my new shoes on and tell him to pick me up.”

Ashton ran down the hall and into his room. I stared after him wistfully. Soon, he’d be an adult, then he wouldn’t need to askme to go somewhere. He’d be off into the world like a bird on the wind.

“Are you sure this is going to be okay?” I asked, still staring down the hall. I turned to Cole. “The whole fighting thing, I mean. Not the park.”

“I trust Trent with my life,” Cole said. “I trust him with my son’s life as well, and yours, and my sister’s. He’s the best friend I’ve ever had. He’ll do a good job with Ash. Like I told you yesterday, we aren’t going to turn him into a crazed killer. It’ll only be some simple hand-to-hand stuff. Enough to get himself out of trouble if need be. We may work some more whenever the shift happens. Help him learn to fight in his wolf form, but that’s it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he said. “The machine guns and rocket launchers will come later.”

I swatted his arm. “Very funny.”

“I’m joking, but honestly, he’ll need to learn one day.”

“To shoot a gun?” I asked, gaping at him.

“No, a rocket launcher.” He laughed. “Yes, a gun. I hate the thought, but it’s a tool, and a dangerous one at that. It would be good if he knew how to handle one. With people like Kyle around, it’s a good idea.”

He eyed me speculatively as I digested that, then added, “It would help me rest easier if you learned to use a gun, too.”

I shot him an annoyed smirk. “How did I know you were going to say that?”

“I don’t want to overstep,” Cole said. “But Ashton will be a full shifter soon. With all the additional strength and ability that comes with it, he’ll have multiple ways of protecting himself. You’re human. It would make me feel better if you had a way of protecting yourself.”

Even though I’d grown up in rural Georgia where owning a gun was as common as owning a washing machine, I’d never been one for guns. Not because I was afraid of them, but because it always seemed like a silly hobby. Guns and ammunition were expensive, and all you did was make it gobangand put little holes in stuff. Ridiculous. But when I thought about it as protection, it made more sense. I could still see Kyle’s sneering face looking at me from across the diner.

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

“That’s all I ask,” he said, brushing his lips over my forehead.

Cole pulled his phone out and called whatever guy he knew to watch this basketball game while we waited for Ashton’s friend to show. Ten minutes later, a Jeep pulled up in the driveway. Through the window, I spotted an older teenager hopping out, dressed in an Atlanta Hawks basketball jersey, shorts, and high-top sneakers. He stepped up on the porch and knocked.

“Ashton,” I called. “Your friend’s here.”

He came bolting down the hall as Cole opened the door. The boy outside looked surprised to find such a big man answering the door. There was no way the boys Ashton had met hadn’t spotted the resemblance to the new pack alpha, but I was sure that coming face-to-face with the man was startling.

“Uh, hi. You’re Cole Garrett, right?” the kid asked in a trembling voice.

Cole crossed his arms and nodded. “That’s right. Your last name’s Kissel, isn’t it?”

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