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2024-11-19 22:16:32Related chapters
Second Chance At Love 025.
Cassie.Axel’s study felt suffocating, the heavy scent of mahogany and scotch pressing against me like a hand pressed against my neck. My fists clenched at my sides as I stood in the doorway, trying to calm the storm inside me. What had I been thinking, coming back to this place? Coming back with him?I knew it was a mistake, and I should’ve resisted even if it cost me my life.Maybe a part of me—no, a foolish, desperate part of me—had hoped things would be different now. That being Axel’s mate might mean something. That it might mean I meant something to him. But that hope had been crushed the moment I overheard him say that no one could know I was his mate. I was nothing to him. Just like always, and not even being his mate could change thatThe realization burned, but it also solidified my resolve. I couldn’t stay here, not with him. Not like this.I stepped fully into the room, clearing my throat to announce my presence. Three pairs of eyes turned to me: Axel’s, sharp and unread
Last Updated : 2024-11-19Second Chance At Love 026.
Cassie.I woke up for the second time to a gentle tapping on my shoulder, a sound soft but persistent enough to drag me out of the sleep I hadn’t realized had claimed me. My head jerked up, and I blinked, trying to organize myself, and my thoughts. The living room came into focus—the same one I’d reluctantly stepped into last night. My suitcase was still where Axel had left it.A sigh escaped my lips and I closed my eyes again, too tired to deal with anything.The tapping came again, and I turned my head to find a young girl standing beside the couch. She looked to be in her late teens, with dark hair tied into a loose braid and eyes that mirrored curiosity.“Who are you?” she asked her voice light but laced with caution.I froze, startled by the unfamiliar face. My mind jumped to conclusions—ones that made my stomach churn. Was she… Axel’s?I gasped, sitting upright. “Are you—are you married to Axel?” The question tumbled out before I could stop myself, and the girl’s brows shot up
Last Updated : 2024-11-20Second Chance At Love 027.
Axel.The moment the elevator doors slid open, I felt a spark of irritation that shot straight through my chest. Cassie was standing next to Jake, her petite frame dwarfed by his tall, broad stature. Her face tilted up toward me, confusion clouding those brown doe-like eyes of hers.And indifference. There was a damn trace of indifference in her expression, like she couldn’t care less about my presence.That look was enough to make my jaw clench, and my wolf, Ice, stirred in my mind.“Pull her away. Mark her,” he snarled, his voice raw and demanding, “Let them all know she’s ours.”I shook my head, keeping my expression neutral even as Ice’s growls rattled my brain. “Not now,” I told him firmly.“Then when, Axel?” Ice snapped, “She’s right there, and I can smell Jake all over her!”Ice’s possessiveness clawed at me, but I shut him out before his anger spilled into mine. I couldn’t deal with his relentless growling and Cassie’s infuriating presence at the same time.Still, my eyes c
Last Updated : 2024-11-21Second Chance At Love 028.
Cassie.The faint sound of furniture being moved greeted me as Axel raised a brow, curiosity etched across his face. His features were calm, yet there was a sharpness in his eyes that unsettled me. He gestured toward the apartment, his broad shoulders brushing past me as he stepped ahead. I followed silently, feeling my chest tighten with every step.When we reached the apartment, the door was already ajar, and inside, men were working diligently, shifting furniture and unpacking boxes. I paused in the doorway, taken aback by the sheer size of the space. The white walls glistened, reflecting the soft rays of sunlight that poured through the open windows, making the whole apartment feel warm and inviting.It was far more spacious than I had anticipated, with high ceilings and polished wooden floors. For a moment, I allowed myself to admire it. But then, as if on cue, Axel’s presence loomed behind me like an unspoken reminder of everything I was trying to forget.“We can talk in the b
Last Updated : 2024-11-21Second Chance At Love 029.
Cassie.My heart raced as I stared at the glowing screen of my phone, my breath caught somewhere between disbelief and exhilaration. My name sat boldly in the salutation, followed by the word “accepted.”“Dear Cassandra Holt… we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted—”I screamed. Loud, piercing, and raw, the sound bounced off the walls of the room, so loud that for a moment, I didn’t even recognize it as my own. It was pure joy, unrestrained and rare—a spark of light in the darkness I had been wading through for years.Before I could fully process the email, the door to my room burst open, slamming into the wall with a deafening crash. My scream choked in my throat as I spun around.Axel stormed in, shirtless and barefoot, his dark eyes wild and frantic, scanning the room like he expected to find danger lurking in the shadows. His hair was tousled from sleep, but his body—toned and intimidating—was tense, ready to fight whatever threat he thought I was facing.“Cassie
Last Updated : 2024-11-22Second Chance At Love 030.
Cassie.“So does that mean you won’t be returning? Or do I need to hold on to your spot for a week—which quite frankly is all I can do?” Eric asked over the phone.I smiled, shaking my head even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “No need to hold on to it,” I said, keeping my voice as even as possible, “I don’t know how long I’ll be gone for.”The moment the words left my mouth, I heard the soft clearing of a throat from the other side of the table. I didn’t need to look up to know it was Axel, seated with his iPad in front of him, though I could tell his attention was zeroed in on my conversation. His presence was suffocating, even when he wasn’t saying a word.I rolled my eyes, turning my gaze back to the piece of bread in my hands. I dragged the butter knife through the Nutella jar with more force than necessary, my phone still pressed between my ear and shoulder.I’d hoped that the harsh sunlight that filtered through my window when I woke up would somehow prove everything from th
Last Updated : 2024-11-22Second Chance At Love 031.
Cassie.The hum of the engine was almost soothing, but the man sitting next to me made it impossible to relax. Axel’s sleek black Range Rover glided effortlessly down the highway, its red and black leather interior gleaming under the sunlight streaming through the windows.Axel’s idea to take me back to say proper goodbyes to Eric and the others had seemed logical enough at the time, but now, sitting in a box of leather and masculinity, I wasn’t so sure anymore.He was wearing what he called casual—a fitted blue sweatshirt that stretched over his broad shoulders and jeans that hugged his thighs in ways no man’s jeans should. His sneakers were spotless, and the rolled-up sleeves of his sweatshirt revealed strong, veined forearms. My eyes kept drifting toward him like they had a will of their own.“Pull it together,” I muttered under my breath.Cy, my wolf, wasn’t helping either.“He’s so sexy,” Cy purred, the words vibrating through my mind like a smug little melody.I shifted uncomfo
Last Updated : 2024-11-23Second Chance At Love 032.
Cassie.The car felt suffocating. My fingers tightened around the seatbelt, gripping it so hard my knuckles ached. The sleek interior of Axel’s car, once fascinating with its leather and red-and-black design, was now the last thing on my mind. The only thing I could focus on was the way Axel drove like a madman, his foot pressing into the accelerator as though he wanted to punish the road beneath us.“Axel, what’s going on?” I managed to ask, my voice shaking despite my best effort to sound calm.His jaw clenched but he didn’t respond, his focus fixed on the road ahead, his knuckles white against the steering wheel.The tension was unbearable. The speed of the car, the way it swerved so sharply around corners, sent my pulse into overdrive. For a moment, I thought I heard a growl—low and menacing—and I wasn’t sure if it came from Axel or somewhere deep within the car itself.“Axel, I’m serious. Talk to me!” I tried again, this time reaching out to him.I intended for my hand to land
Last Updated : 2024-11-24
Latest chapter
Second Chance At Love 062.
Cassie.The man carried me up several flights of stairs, his strong arms steady and unyielding as I sagged against him. Each step sent jolts of pain through my battered body, but I bit my lip and stayed silent. When we stopped in front of a polished wooden door, he shifted me slightly in his arms and pushed it open.The office was spacious, with bookshelves lining one wall, a sleek desk on the other, and a plush, three-seater couch near the window. He strode over to the couch and gently laid me down. My whole body felt heavy, the weight of the attack sinking in now that I wasn’t in immediate danger.He took a step back, adjusting his sleeves before placing a hand on his chest in a formal gesture.“I’m Jon Pierson, but you can call me Jon. I’m a lecturer in the Psychology department,” he said, his tone professional but tinged with concern. “I’m sorry about what happened to you. It’s unacceptable.”I blinked at him, still trying to process everything. My throat felt dry, so I simply n
Second Chance At Love 62.
Cassie.I cried harder as the punches landed on my ribs, my back, my shoulders—every part of me that could be reached. Even though they were human, their blows hurt. Maybe it was the sheer number of them or the fact that I hadn’t seen it coming, but I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face as I lay there.The floor beneath me felt cold, but the burning pain coursing through my ribs, arms, and face distracted me from everything else. My vision blurred with tears as I curled into myself, trying to shield my head from their attacks.Why me? What had I done to deserve this?Cy was quiet in the back of my mind, an unusual stillness from her, because usually when something like this happened, she’d try to comfort me with soft words, but there was nothing. I knew, deep down, that her reason for remaining quiet had to do with the fact that we were dealing with humans, but it still hurt nonetheless. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, a loud, heavy bang echoed through
Second Chance At Love 061.
Cassie.I walked into school with my head held high, determined to carve out a life of my own. It was the first day of college which was supposed to be the start of something new—a fresh beginning, far from the life I lived in the past, away from Axel's dominating presence, the events of this morning long forgotten.The smell of humans hit me before I even stepped inside the large lecture room.Their scents were layered-sweet, earthy, musky-but underneath it all, there was something familiar. A faint trace of wolf lingered in the air, subtle but undeniable.It didn't surprise me because Truman Spell College had a mix of humans and werewolves, though most humans were blissfully unaware of the supernatural world they lived alongside.I found an empty seat toward the middle of the class and settled in. No one paid me any attention. Students chatted in small clusters, laughing and exchanging stories as if they'd known each other forever, while I sat alone, invisible.It stung more than I
Second Chance At Love 060.
Cassie.The morning sun peeked through my closed curtains, its warmth spilling across my face, stirring me awake. For once, I hadn’t been pulled from sleep by restless dreams or an overwhelming sense of dread. Today felt different—like a chance at freedom, however temporary.I forced myself out of bed before Mirabel arrived, determined to avoid any lingering thoughts about Axel or his suffocating rules. College was going to be a fresh start, a world far removed from pack politics and possessive Alphas no matter how much he tried to control everything.After a quick bowl of cereal, I took a long shower, letting the hot water relax my tense muscles. As steam fogged up the bathroom mirror, I stared at my reflection. My freshly done knotless braids framed my face perfectly, with loose curls softening the look. The stylist had outdone herself, and I felt more like myself than I had in ages.I carefully twisted the braids into a neat bun, leaving a few stray curls free on purpose. After ap
Second Chance At Love 059.
Cassie.The massive scowl on my face deepened as I left the house, still fuming over Axel’s ridiculous decision. How did he expect me to commute to and from school every day like I was some child who couldn’t be trusted? This arrangement would keep me tethered to the pack, to him, in ways I couldn’t escape. And with the way i was beginning to feel about him, space was what I needed, not a suffocating proximity.“Just do as he says for now,” Cy urged softly.I scoffed. Of course she’d say that. “Sometimes I can’t tell whose side you’re on. You’re everywhere.”Her voice remained calm despite my irritation. “We’re bound together, Cassie. My loyalty is yours… but he’s our mate. There’s not much I can do about that. I bet his wolf is just the same.”I sighed in frustration, opening Warren’s car door with more force than necessary and sliding into the passenger seat. He raised an eyebrow at me.“Tell me you’re not about to complain,” he muttered as he started the car.I shot him a sharp lo
Second Chance At Love 058.
Cassie.The next few days passed in a blur, leaving me with little time to dwell on my tangled thoughts about Axel. Between preparing for school, buying supplies, and enduring Warren’s reluctant company, my mind stayed occupied enough to push aside the confusing emotions lingering from our last encounter.Axel had insisted I use his card for my school shopping, a gesture that felt more like control than generosity. Worse, he’d assigned Warren to accompany me, saying I’d spent “enough time with Jake.” I’d refused at first but didn’t bother arguing. Warren clearly wasn’t thrilled about the arrangement either. His perpetual scowl and curt responses made it clear he was only there because Axel ordered him to be.The first shopping trip was unbearable — awkward silence stretching between us as we wandered from one store to another. I made a point to ignore his grumbling whenever I lingered too long over something or browsed through items that weren’t on my list. He wasn’t my friend, just
Second Chance At Love 057.
Cassie.“I wasn’t trying to run away,” I said firmly, holding Axel’s piercing gaze. “I just needed some space out of the pack because apparently, I’m still a stain in your life.” My voice trembled despite my best efforts. “So, I went to the park for a change of scenery and…”“And what?” He asked, all his attention on me, which made me uneasy.“I— I met Damon there.”Axel stiffened, his entire body locking in place. His eyes darkened, flashing with barely restrained rage. His jaw clenched so tightly I thought I heard his teeth grind.“You did what?” His voice was cracked, and his head tilted to the side with one brow raised.“I met Damon there. Well, I was lying down and he came to me,” I explained.“What did he do? Did he touch you?” His voice came out low, lethal, vibrating with the force of suppressed fury. His broad chest rose and fell rapidly, muscles coiled like a predator on the brink of attacking.I quickly shook my head. “No, he didn’t… but he told me not to brag about being
Second Chance At Love 056.
Cassie.My heart pounded in my chest like a drum in a frantic rhythm, each beat echoing in my ears. Jake’s panicked tone still played in my mind, making me wonder if he already knew I was being followed. Every second I spent just standing there felt heavier, weighed down by the growing tension in the air. My eyes darted around the street, but never reached the car parked behind meThen, from up ahead, a sleek, black car glided smoothly toward me, its dark windows concealing whoever was inside. My breath hitched, and I tensed, ready to run—until Cy stirred restlessly inside me.“It’s him,” she whispered in awe.Confusion clouded my mind for a moment until a familiar, overwhelming scent of cedar and mint hit me, grounding me in place. Axel.The car came to a sharp stop just a few feet away, and the driver’s door flung open with force. My wide eyes met his fierce, determined gaze as Axel stepped out, his stride purposeful and commanding. The air around him crackled with barely restraine
Second Chance At Love 055.
Axel.“Alpha Axel, are you certain you won’t remain for the private meeting? Alpha Victor would like for you to stay,” Victor’s beta said, stepping into my path like he owned the damn runway.I stopped mid-stride, fixing him with a sharp glare. He was a wiry man with platinum-blond hair slicked back like he was trying too hard. His thin-rimmed glasses perched on the edge of his sharp nose, making him look more like a sniveling accountant than a beta.I’d never bothered to learn his name. Never needed to. He was insignificant, like most of the council’s lackeys. But something about his smug expression always rubbed me the wrong way.“I don’t care for a private meeting,” I said coldly. “We’re all part of the council. If everyone isn’t present, I’ll assume it’s nothing important. Tell your Alpha I said that.”His mouth twitched, but he didn’t push further, only nodding stiffly before turning away. Good. He knew better than to challenge me.I headed toward my private jet, eager to leave t
