Ezra's Second Chance

An Order of Protection

Ezra casually walked toward the bed and sat down. "Because you ran away."

"What, I can't leave or go where I want anymore?" she demanded. She wore a small, silk nightgown that left little to the imagination.

"You can, but I'll follow," Ezra shrugged.

Bridgit rolled her eyes, "why?"

"Because you said we could keep in contact and you also haven't accepted my rejection."

Bridgit blew out a breath, "seriously? Fine... I, Bridgit Johnson, accept your, Ezra Caldwell's, rejection."

Ezra braced himself, but felt nothing... "huh, I thought I'd feel something."

"We both felt a lot of pain at the initial rejection, maybe that's all we'll feel," she said. Seemingly unbothered.

"Thank you, regardless."

"You're welcome," she said simply. "Look, I had to get away. Okay? There are still people out there who want to k****e a war against the King. I'm not one of them, but they won't exactly let me go. By coming here you may have put me in danger."

"Who's still part of the pack?" Ezra turned to her to ask.

"I don't know. I don't get visited, just messages. After you left I got a threatening one so I left."

"Why don't you come back to the palace? I can protect you."

She looked at him and raised an eyebrow, "I don't think I'll be welcome there."

"There will be some who will hate you, but they won't hurt you. You've served your time. Some people hating you is better than others trying to kill you," Ezra explained. "It's really a simple solution. We'll find out who's still left from that pack and destroy them, then you can go back to your life."

She looked thoughtful for a few minutes, "I guess that can work... for now."

"I'll try to make it as pleasant a stay as I can, and you can keep to your living quarters more often than not if that helps."

"I'm not sure you can do that... but I appreciate that. It's late, why don't you sleep here and we can both head back tomorrow?" she suggested.

"I can get my own room," Ezra said standing.

"I'm not going to attack you. Since you may have led people here I really don't want to be alone," she turned her big, doe eyes on him.

Ezra let out a sigh, "fine..." He looked around, there was only one queen sized bed and one rigid looking chair.

"Sleep on the bed, I'll stay to my side. You won't get any sleep in that chair and the floor is freezing. Besides, this carpet looks questionable."

Ezra hesitated, but finally relented. He kept his clothes on, but took his shoes off. Surprisingly, he went to sleep quickly and slept peacefully.

He woke the moment Bridgit started to stir in the morning. He was out of bed and checking out the windows, next he went outside and checked the perimeter and their cars. They seemed to be alone. When he returned to the room Bridgit was ready to go. Ezra had her follow him, but he kept a close eye on her car. he wasn't going to lose her again.

Being free of the mate bond felt liberating. He didn't have any hope of finding a second chance mate, that was incredibly rare. He was Bridgit's second chance. Seeing one second chance in one's lifetime was about all one could hope for. A chosen mate maybe, but even if he remained single forever, he was happy to be free of that bond. He hoped Bridgit could find her own happiness somewhere. Somewhere separate from him.

It was midmorning when they pulled onto the palace grounds. Ezra took her straight to guest quarters, the same he'd stayed in with his sister and her chosen mate at the end of the war. She dropped her things off and then joined Ezra as he took her straight to the King. He'd been able to report over the phone, but the King had demanded to see her himself.

Ezra and Bridgit sat across from the King. He studied her intensely. "You need protection, so you will have that. However, you will also be under close surveillance. Your quarters will be private, of course. Is this acceptable?"

"Do I really have a choice?" she asked. Her arms were crossed and she had a dark look on her face.

"Not really. If you want my protection, then you have to take my conditions."

"Then it is what it is, I'll take it the best I can," she shrugged.

Bridgit was dismissed and told to wait outside the door for Ezra. "Her correspondence will be monitored as well. This she will not know," Ezra said when they were alone.

"She needs to be under tight surveillance. Monitor everything, but give her the idea of freedom," the King said.

"Exactly what our plan is."

"Good... don't lose your handle on this," the King said and then dismissed Ezra.

Ezra went out to show Bridgit back to her rooms. He was nervous about this undertaking, but he did like having a potential enemy close. She'd be protected, but he also might get leads they needed.