MasukShare
029.
Terakhir Diperbarui:
2024-11-22 21:41:19
Bab terkait
Second 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 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
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-24Second Chance At Love 033.
Cassie.“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to you today. Something came up, and I had to return immediately,” I said, pressing the phone closer to my ear as Axel’s car hummed quietly beneath me.“You must’ve taken a huge risk coming here, Cassie. Are you okay?” Eric’s voice came through with a mixture of disappointment and concern.He’d called me to ask where I was since I’d called him before Axel and I left Red Hollow estate, telling him I would come visit. A sigh escaped my lips at his words.“No, it wasn’t like that. I am okay, but I’m sad I was only able to see the old couple. There was a little situation and I had to leave right away,” I explained, stealing a glance at Axel, who was gripping the steering wheel tightly, his jaw set in that unreadable expression he always wore. “I’ll visit again when I can. I just need some time to get things in order.”Eric let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, but be careful. Don’t forget to take care of yourself, alright?” His concern made my chest tighten
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-26Second Chance At Love 034.
Cassie.“Cassie,” Axel called my name like a warning, his deep voice vibrating through the small kitchen space.I folded my arms across my chest, my eyes hard and unyielding. The intensity in his gaze didn’t scare me—it only fueled the storm that had been brewing inside me for years.“The least you could’ve done was to treat me like I was a person,” I said, my voice trembling with both anger and pain, “Do you even remember that you almost stripped me of my right to be Cam’s mother?”Axel’s breathing was harsh, his chest rising and falling like a caged beast ready to lash out at my words, and I instantly knew he recalled that day.He had known more than anyone, how horrible Selena had been, but he never tried to defend me once, and now he expected me to let go of everything I’d been through all because he was my mate?“Don’t bring him up in this, Cassie,” he said, his voice quieter but sharp as a blade, “you can make your point without bringing him up.”I let out a bitter laugh, shaki
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-26Second Chance At Love 035.
Cassie.For a moment, my brain refused to process what I was seeing. Standing there, holding a basket of what smelled like baked goods, was Bella. Of all people.“Cassie?” Her voice carried the same sharp tone it always had, but her expression betrayed her surprise. “What are you doing here?”I froze, my hand tightening on the edge of the door. She looked the same—sleek, polished, and exuding the same fake sweetness that had fooled most of the pack. The only difference in her appearance was that she looked older.“I—” I started, but the words stuck in my throat.I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized how disheveled I must’ve looked. My eyes were probably swollen from crying, my braids frizzy and falling loose from the bun I’d tied them in last night. I quickly adjusted my hair, pulling the strands to either side of my shoulders as if that could somehow restore my dignity. I must’ve looked like an absolute mess.I knew that coming back to Red Hollow would mean running into pe
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-27Second Chance At Love 036.
Cassie.I had to suck up my tears and stop crying. I didn’t have the luxury of remaining in my pain for too long because sitting on the floor, drowning in my own tears, wasn’t going to change anything. Cam deserved more than my silence and despair.Sniffling, I wiped my swollen eyes and tear-streaked cheeks with the back of my palms, then I glanced in the mirror, flinching at my own reflection. It was a reminder of how long I’d sat there crying. It was way worse than how I looked in the morning.The one thing that had made me determined to visit Cam’s grave had been the realization that it was now two weeks to Cam’s birthday.Just two weeks, and he would’ve been four. My boy, a four years old.I inhaled shakily as I let myself imagine what Cam would be like as a four-year-old. There was no doubt he would’ve been introduced to his wolf, his tiny face would’ve lightened up with excitement as he discovered a new part of himself. He would’ve been riding his bike around the yard, laughing
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-28Second Chance At Love 037.
Axel.I stared at the piles of documents stacked on my desk, but I couldn’t concentrate. My vision blurred as the same lines repeated themselves over and over, and yet nothing stuck. The tension in my chest had been growing since dawn, and the weight of my frustration was harder with every second that ticked by, every second I stayed in my study.I sighed heavily, running my fingers through my hair for what felt like the hundredth time today, and leaned back in my chair. My eyes shifted to the large window in my study, where I had a clear view of the dark estate, filled with fluorescent lights from different houses and shops. Pushing my chair back abruptly, I stood and walked over to the window, my mind in complete disarray.“Go to her,” Ice growled in the back of my mind, his voice carrying an edge of impatience, “We haven’t seen our mate the whole day. Let’s just go and check on her.”I folded my arms, staring at nothing in particular. “No,” I muttered under my breath, my jaw ti
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-11-29
Bab terbaru
Second Chance At Love 131.
Cassie.I took a deep breath as I stood in front of the pack house, my eyes locked onto the massive structure that had once been my home. My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my nails pressing into my palms as if that would steady me.“I’ve been here before. This is nothing,” I whispered to myself, willing my body to relax. But the way my stomach twisted said otherwise.The evening breeze carried the faint scent of baked goods and damp earth, ruffling the braids that framed my face. I swallowed hard, rubbing my clammy hands against my jeans, trying to push away the nerves that had crept in without warning.“You look like you’re a second away from losing your mind.”The voice came from behind me, breaking through my haze of thoughts. I turned sharply, my heart jolting, only to find Jake standing there, his lips curved into an amused smirk.“Nice to know you find this amusing,” I muttered, rolling my eyes as I crossed my arms.“I don’t,” he chuckled, taking a few steps closer. “Kn
Second Chance At Love 130.
Cassie.The ride to school had been suffocating. Axel didn’t say a word to me, didn’t even glance in my direction, like I had done something unforgivable. Was it really that bad? Was it so wrong to want relief from the ache that had consumed me?“Do you know what would be crazy?” Violet’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.I blinked at her, my steps slowing as I took in the mischief in her eyes. “What?” I asked, raising a brow.“If after everything, your lecturer friend turns out to be a bad person, it would literally break me.”The words hit like a brick, and I stopped walking altogether, my breath catching.“What?” My voice was sharp as she turned to face me fully. “Did something happen?”Violet hesitated, rubbing her neck before finally looking away. “Not entirely,” she admitted. “But a couple of students were whispering about him yesterday. They said they saw him going toward the tall trees behind the school… the big field.”I felt my stomach
Second Chance At Love 129.
Cassie.I woke up slowly, feeling warm—warmer than I should have. My body felt oddly secure, wrapped in a tight embrace. The steady sound of breathing filled my ears, the slight weight of an arm draped over my waist grounding me before my mind even fully registered where I was.And then it hit me.Axel.I stiffened, my eyes widening as I turned my head slightly. His scent surrounded me—woodsy, rich, completely intoxicating. His bare skin was hot against mine, his arm tightening instinctively when I shifted.He was still asleep, his breathing even, his face relaxed in a way I had never seen before.For a moment, I simply lay there, staring at him, caught in the quiet intimacy of the moment. Axel never looked like this when he was awake—unguarded, peaceful.But I had to move. I shifted my waist, testing out the free space around me, and the moment I did, Axel groaned.I froze, waiting a moment so I don’t wake him, then I shifted again, attempting to slide out from his grip. His arms onl
Second Chance At Love 128.
Cassie.I opened my eyes to the sound of running water filling my ears before I even registered what was happening. The soft splash against the tub was strangely soothing, pulling me from the heavy fog of unconsciousness. And for a second, I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of where I was.My room.The faint scent of lavender clung to the sheets beneath me, grounding me in the familiar space. But something felt… off. My body ached—more than that, it burned. A dull throbbing coiled around my stomach, tightening the moment I tried to shift my weight. My breath hitched as the memories came rushing back, piecing together everything that had happened before I blacked out.Pain sliced through me, sharp and unrelenting. I gritted my teeth, pushing past it as I forced myself to sit up. My limbs were heavy, unwilling, but I couldn’t just stay here. I was alone. I needed to take care of myself.Slowly, I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my bare feet meeting th
Second Chance At Love 127.
Cassie.I leaned back against the vanity, gripping the edge as Axel’s lips trailed along my neck, his breath hot against my skin. His hands roamed over me, his touch possessive, like he had every right to explore my body. One palm skimmed my waist, sliding upward until it settled over my chest, his fingers curling slightly as if testing my reaction.“I need to take this off,” he murmured against my throat, his voice rough, filled with barely restrained hunger. The heat of his body pressed against mine, and I swore he was made of fire—burning, consuming, unstoppable.God.A shiver ran through me as he tugged roughly at my shirt, his impatience clear. My hands flew to his shoulders, steadying myself as he worked at the fabric like pulling at it alone would make it magically disappear.“Wait, Axel,” I gasped, my fingers trembling against his skin.“Like hell I will,” he growled, his lips never leaving my skin, the deep sound of his voice sending a sharp pulse of heat straight to my core.
Second Chance At Love 126.
Cassie.The classroom was too small for the number of voices rising within it. Seven of us sat around a cluster of desks, a circle that didn’t quite feel complete, but no one seemed to mind. Conversations overlapped, ideas were thrown out and debated, but I was silent, watching the way they all worked together like they had done this before. Like they belonged.I didn’t.I had never spoken to them before yesterday, yet here I was, a part of the planning committee for Jared’s candle walk. I wasn’t sure how it happened. Maybe it was because I had been there when they made the announcement, or maybe someone thought I looked like I cared enough to contribute. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.And so, I said nothing.For most of the meeting, I was there but not really there, nodding along when necessary, taking mental notes I knew I wouldn’t use. The date was still undecided, but they were discussing logistics now—who would handle what, how they would gather candles,
Second Chance At Love 125.
Axel.The meeting room was suffocating. Not from heat or lack of air, but from the sheer tension hanging in the air, thick and unmoving. The long mahogany table stretched across the center of the room, polished to perfection, reflecting the golden glow of the chandelier above. The walls, lined with deep burgundy wallpaper, felt like they were closing in, the heavy drapes blocking out any sign of daylight. A room meant for order, but right now, it held nothing but unspoken resentment and frustration.I leaned back in my chair, my hands gripping the armrests as I let my gaze sweep over the men in the room—alphas from different regions, all with their own domains, their own responsibilities, and yet, none of them seemed willing to lift a damn finger.“I think it’s high time we address the elephant in the room,” I said, my voice calm but firm, the kind that demanded attention.Across the table, Alpha Tristan scoffed, leaning forward with his arms crossed over his broad chest. His golden-b
Second Chance At Love 124.
Cassie.The ride to school was indeed long, longer than it had any right to be.Not because of the distance but because of the thick, suffocating tension that filled the car. No amount of air conditioning could cut through it, and even with the windows cracked open, the weight of unspoken words and unresolved emotions hung between us.Axel said nothing to me. And I said nothing to him.Violet, bless her, made several attempts at conversation. She brought up the weather, schoolwork, and even a random story about one of her neighbors that she clearly hoped would lighten the mood. But it was useless. Axel remained as unreadable as ever, with his signature scowl sitting on his face, and I was too deep in my own thoughts to play along. I wasn’t even sure what was happening between us anymore. I didn’t understand it.Eventually, Violet sighed and gave up, falling into silence as well.When the car finally came to a stop in front of the school gates, I reached for the door handle, ready to b
Second Chance At Love 123.
Cassie.The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was movement. The subtle shifting of weight, the faint rustling of fabric. My senses sharpened, and my body tensed. For a split second, my heart pounded against my ribs as my half-asleep mind leaped to the worst conclusion—intruders.I sat up in a rush, my gaze darting around the dimly lit room, searching for a shadow lurking in the corners. But all I found was Violet, standing by the mirror, stretching her arms before grabbing her towel.“Good morning to you too,” she said, giving me a knowing look through the mirror’s reflection.I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair as I forced my heart to settle. “Good morning,” my voice was barely above a whisper, my hand pressed against my chest as I tried to slow my breathing.“I’m not going to lie, that scared me. The way you woke up, looking around like you expected to see something—or someone—other than me,” Violet said, her eyes wide as she chuckled, shaking her head as sh
