Chapter 3 Second Chance
1645 Words
Charles’s POV
The cold river water relentlessly crashes against the shoreline rocks, mimicking the relentless drumming of my restless heartbeat.
A simple camping trip, right? Just mind the fire, keep the kids safe, and maybe, just maybe, relax a little by the river under the stars.
Yet here I am, not quite the epitome of calm.
Ever since Zoe's passing in that rogue attack, relaxing hasn't been easy. It's not the chill of the river that sends shivers down my spine; it's the guilt etched into every bone—a feeling that somehow, this was all my fault.
Despite everyone's kind attempts to reassure me Zoe's death wasn't on me, self-blame is a stubborn companion. As Alpha, my primary duty is to protect, yet I couldn't protect my mate. If only I could wind back time, stay longer, or leave someone more capable in charge—my Beta, Gamma, anyone. Maybe then, Zoe would still be here.
I vividly remember coming home to that nightmare, her lifeblood flowing away as I held her, begging time to rewind. Despite the encroaching darkness, she smiled, her light undimmed.
“No, no, Zoe, please. Stay with me. Don't leave me,” I pleaded.
“I love you, Charles,” she whispered, her grip firm and reassuring paradoxically. “Meeting you was the happiest thing in my life. Promise me, live happily even after I'm gone.”
“How could I be happy without you?” I asked, my heart breaking. “It's all my fault,” I said, lost in my turmoil.
“No, Charles, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself. I don’t want to see you in pain. Take care of Alex and Stella, live happily with them—that's my greatest wish. Promise me, okay?”
“I promise you, my love,” I whispered, clutching her hand as her pulse faded away. Her smile lingered as her eyes closed peacefully. She died in my arms, looking as if she were merely asleep.
But I haven't been able to fulfill her wish. Zoe has been gone for three years, and I'm still mired in the grief of losing her. Many friends, including Zoe's sister Selina, have tried to set me up with someone new, hoping I could find a new Luna to help manage the pack and share my burdens. I've tried, but every attempt spiraled into failure. Sometimes it’s mismatched personalities, other times a lack of trustworthiness, but mostly, it's Alex. His cold demeanor and mischievous antics send them all running for the hills.
Since Zoe's death, Alex has been against me being with any woman. In his view, my remaining single is a loyalty to Zoe. And honestly, I struggle with the notion myself. How could I possibly explain to him that another Luna isn’t a betrayal?
So I remain single, pouring my energy into pack duties to keep emotional storms at bay. Alex is perfectly fine with that, but sweet Stella is another story. She was just shy of three when we lost Zoe, lacking the memories her brother clings to. Unlike Alex, Stella yearns for motherly love, a guardian to fend off teasing peers at school.
It’s a shame, really, how brutally honest toddlers can be, though I won’t unleash my Alpha fury on a preschooler. Instead, I have to settle for lectures with their anxious parents—many of whom serve under me. And of course, they promise to talk to their kids, but let’s be honest, gossip among toddlers is hardly easy to curb.
That's why Stella dreads school. A reason far too serious for a five-year-old. To lift our spirits, I decided to play hooky from work this Saturday and take Alex and Stella for a campfire escape by the river. After all, who could resist the allure of marshmallows roasted over an open flame? At least this way, I'm a hero to my youngest while I try to maintain order over my rebellious teen in the great outdoors.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this simple camping trip to lead me to my second chance mate. The first time I laid eyes on her, floating like a tattered leaf in the swirling river, a wave of deep sadness washed over me. Her scent—a subtle, intoxicating aroma of sunlit grass—pierced straight to my soul. It drove me mad, awakening something long dormant inside.
I felt like I was losing my mind. Even Stella, with her sharp nose, said she smelled just like Zoe. An icy, fierce anger erupted in my chest—the kind of possessive fury that demands justice for what’s been violated. Every instinct of me screamed for vengeance against whoever hurt her.
Why the overwhelming urge to protect this fragile stranger?
Was it her vulnerability or her uncanny resemblance to Zoe?
I needed all my willpower to contain the storm of emotions inside me. She was so fragile, as delicate as porcelain, each small shiver striking a protective chord in me. I couldn't afford to scare her. Not even the slightest bit.
Taking a deep breath, I carefully wrapped my coat around her freezing, trembling body. As my fingers brushed against her wet sleeve, it was as if an electric shock coursed through me. My heart seized with a force so intense it felt like an invisible hand clutched it, only to let go, leaving it pounding wildly in response. Blood rushed through my veins, bringing with it an intoxicating mix of euphoria and a startling sense of certainty.
Second chance mate.
This ancient concept, which I had long relegated to the realm of unreachable legends, struck with the force of a thunderbolt, shattering the calm surface of my heart and sending ripples that refused to fade. Only a destined mate could provoke such profound, soul-stirring resonance from the very first touch. Could this be the Moon Goddess offering a second chance to the grieving? Such a gift felt so precious that I hardly dared to breathe.
Yet... why no reaction from her?
My gaze settles on her face. Her brows knit in confusion and pain. Was it her injuries muddling her senses? Or... a cold suspicion creeps into my mind.
There's not a hint of wolf scent upon her. But she’s obviously not human, given that she didn’t appear confused at the mention of taking her to the pack. Could she be wolfless? Without a wolf she'd naturally be unable to feel the mate bond.
“Father,” Alex’s voice slices through my musings. He returns with firewood, expertly stoking the fire until it crackles warmly. His eyes flicker to Mist beneath the blanket. “Why is Stella curled up next to her?” he asks.
“I tried moving her,” I shrug. “Your sister latched on like a koala.”
Alex’s mouth quirks slightly. “Little traitor,” he mutters, then questions, “How is she? When will Aunt Selena arrive?”
“She has a slight fever, probably due to an infected wound. Selina will be here in five minutes.” My voice drops, revealing fatigue I hadn't realized was there. Wrenching my gaze from Mist, I address my son. “She needs professional care and a long recovery period.” Since Zoe’s death, I've kept everyone at arm’s length—not just for me, but for my children. But with Mist... refusing seems impossible.
Alex nudges the fire with a stick, contemplative. “So... how long will she stay with our pack?” His tone is cautious, clearly evaluating the risk this "intrusion" might pose.
“We'll need Selena’s assessment,” I respond.
“I don’t really like this woman,” Alex states bluntly.
“Why?” I ask, holding back the urge to reveal she's my second chance.
“Her identity’s suspicious,” he pauses. “And, well... she makes me think you might fall for her.”
“Don't be ridiculous,” I deflect, attempting to steer the conversation away.
Alex shrugs. “I hope she doesn’t upend our lives. Better for her to leave post-recovery, or she’ll find herself at the mercy of my tricks.”
“Son,” I begin, hoping to impart reason.
“Don't lecture me,” Alex retorts, firmly entrenched in his rebellious teens. “Don't make me hate you.”
I watch him shuffle back to the tent with a sigh, then my gaze is drawn back to Mist.
I must know who dared to hurt her. The thought sears with icy malice and an Alpha’s innate need to defend. Regardless of her species, regardless if she has another mate, whoever harmed her will pay dearly.
Jaw set, I reach out, cautiously brushing Mist’s wrist wrapped in the blanket with the back of my fingers. Her skin is warm. The crisp grass scent, mingling with the campfire’s smoke and river’s dampness, invades my senses once again, casting a stone into the fractured, stagnant heart within me, stirring waves that refuse to calm.
Second chance. Is this redemption or a deeper, predestined torment?
I haven’t a clue.
All I know is from the moment I held her wrist, I feel that faint heartbeat resonate with my soul, I am unable to let go.
My gaze was drawn to her once again, like a moth to a flame.
The pull is irresistible, but I know I have to tread carefully and guard my heart with the utmost caution, barricading my heart behind layers of guarded restraint.
She might recall her identity at any moment and choose to leave, disappearing just as suddenly as she had entered my life.
I couldn't afford to let myself fall too fast or too hard.
The mere thought of loving someone deeply, only to endure the searing agony of losing her, is a pain I can scarcely bear to contemplate.
Not again.
- Writer
