An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 55

“What is it?” Riley asked, attempting to push back from Kent’s chest to see his face.

She had been about ready to cry when she realized that Kent was mindlinking. They had far too many interruptions the last couple days and she was pretty sure she was going to combust if they didn’t make it to the bedroom within the next two minutes. Kent had crushed her so tightly to his chest when he took the mindlink, as though afraid she might disappear in the ten seconds it took him to have whatever conversation

was going on.

But she knew instantly that something was wrong. Everything about Kent changed within the blink of an eye.

“Rogues,” he finally said, letting go of her.

It was like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over her.

“Where?” she asked, stepping back.

“On the western border,” he replied, already turning towards the door. “A lot of them.”

She made to follow him when Kent turned abruptly, grabbing her shoulders.

“You stay here.” It was an alpha command. She could feel the power behind it, but it had no effect on her since she was his mate and also not technically part of his pack.

“Are you crazy?” She made to move past him. “I’m an excellent fighter. Your warriors need all the help they

can get.”

Kent grabbed her elbow, pulling her towards him. “Please, stay.” This wasn’t a command, but a plea. He looked anguished.

“Kent,” she said, pulling his hand gently from her, “we don’t have time to argue. I’m a warrior. Let me do my

job.”

He swallowed hard and nodded, motioning for her to go. They ran out, shifting as soon as they were out of

the pack house.

Rose’s feet hit the ground, following Pax as he ran full force towards the western border. They entered the woods, weaving between trees and leaping over rocks. It didn’t take long to find the rogues, at least fifty of them. The reinforcements were arriving and the rogues were quickly being outnumbered.

Rose paused, taking in the scene, something feeling off.

This is a diversion, Riley said. Just like before. There will be a second attack somewhere else.

On the northern border, Rose replied, turning in that direction. The rogues are camping on the northwestern part, so they’re staying close to their camp to have a safe space to fall back to.

Rose had just started running when Pax let out a howl, drawing her attention. He ran past her, along with multiple other warriors. Clearly they had received word of the second attack and knew the exact location. Rose followed quickly and it wasn’t long before they could smell the blood and hear the growls.

They came upon about fifty more rogues. The warriors here were vastly outnumbered. Pax dove into the fight, tearing into the closest rogue. Rose leapt on a rogue that had a warrior by the throat. She took him down to the ground and bit into the rogue’s throat, her mouth filling with blood. She turned, working through more

* Chapter 55

rogues until she felt a sharp pain through the bond.

Rose wheeled around, scanning the field.

Find him, Riley yelled. He’s hurt!

Rose sniffed the air, finally catching his scent. She took off running and found Pax not far away. He had a large gash on his left shoulder. Three rogues were circling him. One lunged forward and bit into his right hind leg. When he turned to bite at the one, another lunged forward, grabbing his left front leg and pulling it hard enough for a sickening crack to ring through the air. Pax howled in pain as the third rogue leapt onto his back, biting into the already bloody part between his left shoulder and neck.

Rose ran full force and took the rogue off his back. She drug the wolf to the ground and ripped his throat out. She turned, seeing a familiar gray wolf with a black stripe take the rogue that had Pax’s front leg and she leapt on the one that had his hind leg. She quickly disposed of him and ran to Pax. He was shifting back to human form, the wounds carrying over from his wolf.

Rose checked the surroundings for safety before letting Riley shift back. Riley pressed her hands into the wound on his collarbone and neck, the blood pouring out quickly despite her pressure. Kent had already lost consciousness, his head lolling to the side.

He won’t heal in time, Rose cried in her head. He’s bleeding out.

“Someone help me,” Riley screamed, the panic overtaking her.

Patrick’s wolf returned and he shifted back, kneeling beside him and pushing Riley’s hands out of the way to use his larger ones to apply more pressure to the wound. Riley moved her hands lower to his forearm, feeling the bones to be clearly broken.

“We have wolves that run our wounded to the hospital,” Patrick said, his voice far calmer than Riley felt he should be. “I have the fastest one coming right now. We’ll get him to the hospital.”

“He’s bleeding too much,” she cried, the tears threatening to fall.

Patrick had no reply as he pressed his hands harder into the wound, cursing under his breath. A minute later a large brown wolf skidded to a stop in front of them and dropped a rope from its mouth. Riley and Patrick moved Kent onto the wolf’s back and Patrick used the ropes to tie him in place.

“You go with him,” Patrick said as the brown wolf started running. “I need to help the others. I’ll come find you

after.”

Riley shifted and Rose ran after the brown wolf. He was exceptionally fast but they were far from the hospital and he was carrying a large alpha on his back. The wolf never faltered though and Riley was grateful as the hospital finally came into sight.

Nurses and doctors were standing at the doors, taking in wounded warriors as they arrived.

“It’s the alpha,” someone cried and a team rushed forward, pulling Kent from the wolf and putting his body onto a stretcher. Riley shifted and moved towards him when someone grabbed her arm.

“You can’t go in there with him,” a woman told her.

“She can,” a voice boomed from behind her. Riley turned to see Max walking towards her. “Get her some clothes. She goes where the alpha goes.”