My Second Chance Mate

Sucker Punch to The Gut

Shooting the delicious specimens on the porch one last glance I nod and do as he suggests.

The inside of the house is just as beautiful as the outside and surprisingly clean for a bunch of young guys. Their mama's raised them right that's for sure. I reach the family room and one word comes to mind. BIG! Big couches, coffee table, end tables, matching recliners, and lamps in warm earth tones. I guess it makes sense being that they are all huge guys well over 6 ft and full of muscles.

As I scan the room, a picture on one of the tables peaks my interest. It's of a smiling Trevor. I pick it up and am right about a full blown smile of his being devastating. My breathing hitches just seeing it, but it's the other person in the picture that stops my breath all together.

She's a pretty blonde with gray eyes and a happy smile on her face. They are both sitting under a tree with her between his legs while he holds her as they smile at the camera.

They look so perfect together.

Is this why he brought me here? To have me meet the reason why he was rejecting me. Did he, like Aiden, already find someone to love?

"She's pretty isn't she?" I'm startled from my thoughts by a tiny voice, almost dropping the picture in the process. I return the picture to it's spot and face the source of the voice. It's a boy about the age of five who looks like a male replica of the woman in the picture.

"Yes, she's very pretty." I reply. "Who is she?" I can't resist asking.

"My mommy." he answers.

Sucker punch to the gut.

Not only does Trevor have someone he loves, but he also has a family. I feel as if my feet were kicked out from under me, like there's no solid ground to stand on. The world starts to tilt and I begin to fall. Two strong arms catch me before I hit the floor, and the last thing I remember seeing are two chocolate eyes looking at me with concern before the blackness takes over.

Trevor

"Trevor, there were some signs of Rogues in the northern section of our territory the last time we patrolled but the scent wasn't very strong so we'll start there and work our way back to make sure they haven't returned." Austin informs me.

"Alright, let me know if you find anything." I order.

I sense the question in all of their minds but they respect me too much to ask. They know what I've been through these past five years and didn't want to bring up any bad memories, but they are my best friend and cousins so they deserve an explanation.

"She's my mate, or so it seems. The signs are all there, her intoxicating scent, the sparks when we touch, my need to protect her and make sure no other male touches or even speaks to her." I share with them.

"But how is that possible?" my cousin Jeremy asks.

"I think I may have an idea but I need to look more into it to know for sure." I reply.

"But Sarah..." at the mention of her name from Jeremy's brother Greg everyone stiffens.

"Harmony doesn't know about that." I state firmly. "That's why I brought her here. To make her understand why I can't be with her."

"You're going to reject her?" Austin asks incredulously.

"I already kind of did. Now I just need her to understand why so she doesn't fight it, although according to what she said to me earlier I don't think she's planning to." I say still confused about her attitude towards this. She mentioned having a mate and being rejected. Her first mate must be an idiot to reject someone as amazing as her. I'm no better but I have my reasons.

Not wanting to waste anymore time on the chance Harmony might change her mind and run off, I remind them to be careful and send them on their way. As they leave, my closest cousin of the three, Craig, pauses and I can tell he's got something to say to me.

"Have you thought this through completely Trevor, I mean, you just found out. Are you sure you're doing the right thing?" He asks, his voice laced with concern.

"I'm sure. I never want to go through that again. My life is fine the way it is, she'll just mess that up." I inform him.

"Or she may bring back the man you used to be. She's your second ch-" I cut him off before he can finish. I know what he was going to say and I don't want to hear it.

"No, I will not accept her. You should hurry to catch up with the rest of the guys." I order putting some of my Alpha power behind my words.

He gives me one last worried look before running off to join the others.

None of them understand, they didn't have to deal with the things I have. Heck, none of them have even found their mates yet. I know I'm doing the right thing no matter how much my wolf is against it. I just can't have a repeat of what happened before. Especially not with Harmony. She's beautiful and warm even though there's a deep sadness within her. Being tied to me will only hurt her more. I'm damaged goods. I won't be able to give her the love she needs no matter how much I want to.

Shaking myself of those thoughts, I make my way inside and head towards the family room. I see Cody behind the couch facing Harmony and just as he says, "My mommy." she starts to fall.

I get to her quick as lighting, thanks to my wolf speed, and catch her before she hits the ground. Her pain filled eyes look into mine for a moment before they shut and she faints.

"Is she ok uncle Trevor? Did she have too many of those brown bottles that uncle Jeremy drinks? Cause the last time he fell down like that uncle Greg said he was drunk off his a-"

"Cody Scott Tanner if you finish that sentence you won't play your xbox for a whole week!" I warn him while carrying Harmony to the couch and gently laying her down.

"But that's what he said." He argues.

"And what happened to uncle Greg after he said that?"

"Um, you hit the back of his head..."

"And what did I tell you afterwards?"

"Never to say that word or re-rep-"

"Repeat."

"Yeah, repeat anything that comes out of uncle Greg's mouth!" he says excitedly.

"Exactly. Why?" I test him.

"You said because uncle Greg's brain is smaller than a pea, I don't like peas they taste nasty, and I'm smarter than him."

I cough to hide a laugh and ask. "Right, remember that. So, what happened?"

"This lady, she's really pretty uncle Trevor." Cody points out.

I smile, "Yes she is, but you were saying?"

"Oh yeah," he takes a big breath then continues, "this lady was looking at the picture of you and mommy and she looked kind of sad so I asked her if mommy was pretty and she said yeah and then she asked who mommy was, so I told her it was my mommy, then she got a funny look on her face and started to fall and then you came in and caught her and now she's sleeping on the couch!" he releases the last of his breath with a dramatic drop of his shoulders. Then looks back up at me and smiles showing his two missing front teeth.

I swear, Cody is the funniest little kid and the brightest spot in the mess that was my past.

We both turn to look at Harmony as she starts to stir. I can only imagine what was going through her mind while staring at the picture. She must've gotten at least part of it right. I am going to have a tough job making her stay long enough to hear me out. I plan to make her understand though. Then I'm going to take her home and never speak to or see her again, no matter how much it will hurt me to do so.