All Chapters of Second Chance for the Alpha: Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

             Janine was so pleased to hear that Emily and James were going to try to make a go of their mating. She’d always maintained that those two were meant to be together, but after the attack, everyone kept dissuading her from that notion. It was too soon to think of anything like that. James was in mourning. Emily was too ill. Later, it was meant to push them together because James may find his second chance mate. Why saddle him with a mate who wouldn’t be able to give him pups? She felt horrible for listening to the other maternals’ words. So, judgemental. Like a mate was only there to give him pups. What about his mental health? He needed a mate who could support him and be there when he needed someone special. Someone to enjoy the good times and get through the bad times with. Pups were nice, but they weren’t the be all or end all.        &nb

             Emily couldn’t believe James. No, that wasn’t true. This was James all too often. He’d do what needed doing to get things just how he believed they should be. With a sigh, she caved and accepted his t-shirt. She got into it and looked up to see him watching her. “What?” Emily could see the wheels turning in his head and she feared hearing the squeak of a hamster running on its wheel.             He sat down heavily on his bed… Their bed. She winced as her own thoughts corrected themselves. “I was just thinking. No, more like remembering something.” He gave her a sheepish half-smile and began to take his boots off.             “Since I don’t read minds, you’ll need to elaborate on that with a lot more detail.&rdq

             Janine sat in her office cursing herself off silently. She couldn’t keep her mind on anything today, and it was showing in the lack of quality work. Haden threw her for a loop last night and she’d still not gotten over it. She’d been dealing with him under the premise that he wanted a long-term fling or a short-term one but will lie about wanting a long-term one. What he was lying about wasn’t the length of their affair. No, it was the fact that he wanted a permanent relationship. If they weren’t so old, she’d say he wanted a second chance mating. That realization was what threw Janine off-kilter. She’d deliberately avoided thinking of any kind of relationship since she’d lost her mate in the last attack all those years ago. Her pack was so devastated that she’d thrown herself into helping others heal and find a new purpose that time had just slipped past he

             James went for a run the next morning. The sun would not be rising for another hour or two yet. He’d still not proved to Emily that they truly were meant to be together, and it was killing him. He could feel her moods now and James wasn’t sure how she lived with all the high emotions. Emily always seemed so calm and put together. Now he could feel the chaos she endured every day and how his words and actions affected it. James hated it and he couldn’t stand for it. Things must change that he knew for sure. The issue was how to change them.             As he made his way through the wooded area, he kept his eye out for anything that was off. Within his fur, he could see, smell, and feel his surroundings so much better. His mate, it appeared, was included in there somewhere. James knew as soon as she’d awakened and the rel

             Banging on the door woke up Janine. She couldn’t figure out what was going on. It was all too early in the morning. Haden, of course, lay beside her. She couldn’t get rid of him if she tried. He was bound to her side so much he only left to change his clothes and use the bathroom. Janine prayed it was a novelty and it would wear down to a more reasonable level as time went on.             Janine was still thinking about it when she got Haden to stop growling at the person banging on her door. “What is going on?” Janine swung the door open to find Evan at the door. “Are we being attacked?”             “Sort of. No, I don’t think so. Luna Emily needs you downstairs quickly. I can’t do this. It’s above my pay grade.&rdquo