An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 77

It felt too soon, but within the hour Riley had managed a small breakfast and packed up the last of her things. She had no idea how long she would be gone from the pack, but she didn’t need to take too much.

She had most everything she needed back in her apartment. She had already spoken to Leah about getting her spare room set up for Evan by evening time.

She carried her bag out the front doors of the pack house where Kent stood with Max, Penny, Alex and Evan.

Evan was in his mother’s arms, his face buried into her neck while Alex held Max’s hand, clearly trying to hold

back tears.

Kent stepped away from them, grabbing Riley’s bag to load it into the car.

“I don’t want to go,” Evan cried into his mom’s shoulder.

“I know,” Penny whispered, rubbing his back, tears streaming down her face. “I don’t want you to go, but it’s

really important. You have to be strong for me.”

Kent grabbed Riley’s hand, pulling her away slightly. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her

against him.

“Please call me as soon as you get there,” he whispered, kissing her cheek softly.

“Of course,” she replied, leaning up to kiss him gently on the lips.

“I love you,” he breathed against her lips.

“I love you too.”

“We need to go soon,” Max interrupted, reaching out to take Evan from Penny’s arms.

Riley stepped away from Kent, turning to see Max pull a walking Evan from his mother.

“No,” Evan cried. “I’ll be good, I promise! Please let me stay! Please!”

“It’s ok, buddy,” Max whispered, trying to soothe him. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You said you loved me!” Evan screamed towards his mother.

Penny looked away, sobbing harshly. Kent gave Riley one last kiss on the cheek before walking away. He grabbed Alex’s hand and Penny’s shoulder, steering the two away from Max. Evan writhed in his father’s grip,

trying to get away.

“You drive,” Max grunted. Evan’s elbow caught him in the chin but Max barely flinched. “I’ll have to hold him in

the back.”

“Let me go!” Evan wailed, clawing at Max’s hands and arms. “LET ME GO!”

Riley’s heart clenched at Evan’s screams. He was only five, far too young to understand what was happening. to him. She opened the back door of the car so Max could climb in with Evan. Once they were both inside, Evan still desperately fighting, Riley got in the driver’s side.

Luckily the GPS was already set up so Riley didn’t have to attempt to ask Max directions as he tried to calm his son. By the time they had gotten through most of the town of Red Moon, Evan’s screams had subsided to

soft sobs, his face buried in Max’s chest.

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Chapter 77

46 Points

As they pulled onto the road that led out of Red Moon, bracketed by the tall forest, Riley tried not to think

about what might happen at the airport. What would Evan do when pulled away from Max? Would they even let her board a plane if Evan was as hysterical as he had just been?

She tried to push the thoughts out of her head and focus on the road. Fall was slowly fading to winter and

leaves had fallen, coating large portions of the road. She was lost in thought when Max gasped from the

back seat.

“Stop!”

Riley hit the brakes, gliding to a stop in the middle of the road.

“What’s wrong?” She looked at him in the rearview mirror. The glazed look told her he was in the middle of a

mindlink. Even Evan lifted his head to watch Max’s face. When his eyes came back into focus, Riley saw the

fear in them.

“There’s an attack on the other side of the pack,” Max said after a moment. He glanced over his shoulder

through the rear window as if he could see it. “Patrick said they pulled all the patrols from this area to help

with the attack. He thinks we should turn around.”

Riley’s stomach dropped, her mind immediately going to Kent and what had happened during the last attack.

She reached to put the car into reverse when a loud howl reached her ears. Several howls quickly followed.

“s**t!” gasped Max, grasping Evan tightly.

She could see the shapes moving through the trees, growing closer.

Kent! she tried mindlinking. Kent, there are rogues here!

Max quickly pushed Evan into the seat beside him, moving to open the door.

“Drive,” he ordered, barely sparing her a glance. “I’ll hold them off. Drive as fast as you can. Get him out of

here.”

I’m coming, Kent’s voice broke through the mindlink.

Before she could say another word, the door slammed shut and Max had already begun shifting. She barely

registered Evan’s scream for his father as she threw the car into drive and hit the gas.

The car lurched forward but had barely moved a hundred feet when a huge wolf jumped onto the hood, the

impact shattering the windshield. Riley screamed as the car swerved and she struggled to correct it. Another

loud crunch told her that another wolf had jumped onto the car and judging by Evan’s shrieks, this one on the

rear end.

She hit the gas again, hoping to throw the wolves off, but she couldn’t really see where she was going. Within

seconds they were veering off the road, the wolf on the hood slid off in time for her to make out the tree right

before she slammed into it.

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