An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 93

Extra Story – Chapter 1

Hey everyone! I’ve been working on a new story, all about a grown–up Evan. While writing it, I ended up with a few chapters that don’t really fit, but I love them too much to toss out. So I’ve decided to share them here –

kind of like an epilogue to this story and a prequel to the new one (tentatively titled The True Alpha). You don’t need to read them to follow the new story, but I had a great time writing them and thought you might enjoy

them too!

Age 14

Kent was pretty sure Evan Greene was going to be the death of him. He loved his best friend’s son, but that boy had developed a talent for getting into trouble lately. Kent suspected Evan was responsible for at least half of the new gray hairs now peppering his temples. He had even been tempted to dye the grays back to black, but Riley had only laughed at him.

“It makes you look distinguished,” she had told him.

“I look like my dad,” he’d grumbled. But he never dyed it.

Now, as Max rambled in worry beside him, Kent wouldn’t be surprised if he looked in the mirror and found

even more of his hair changing color.

Evan had been missing all night. Any time he disappeared, it sent Max and Penny into a tailspin, dragging up a host of bad memories. For Kent, though, it had become a regular frustration.

Goddess knows, the boy was probably out drunk in the woods again.

Alex claimed he didn’t know where his brother had gone this time, but Kent had the distinct feeling he was lying. Alex always covered for Evan. The two were so close in age they were nearly twins and had only grown closer after their little sister was born.

Thankfully, Alex was a rule follower and stayed out of trouble. Unfortunately, he hated seeing his brother suffer the consequences of his own actions and spent too much time trying to save Evan.

Evan needed to learn to save himself. He was too old to keep getting coddled like this. Kent knew the kid had been through more than any child should, but at some point, he had to be held responsible for his choices.

“We’ve had patrols out all night,” Kent told Max, stopping in front of the pack house and raking a hand through his hair. “He’ll turn up. He always does.”

Max frowned, his forehead creasing. “I wish I knew how to get through to him. It just seems like… the older he gets, the angrier he gets.”

“All teenagers go through a rebellious phase,” Kent offered, trying to sound reassuring.

“But how long does it last, Kent?” Max pinched the bridge of his nose. “He’s been getting into fights at school for years. He’s failing all his classes, which is ridiculous because he’s one of the smartest kids I know.”

Kent sighed. “Maybe you should try therapy again.”

“We’ve done that for years.” Max shook his head. “He refuses to talk. Or he runs his smart mouth the whole time, talking nonsense just to piss everyone off.”

“I don’t know, man.” Kent looked up at the sky, already pink with the rising sun. “But something has to

Extra Story – Chapter 1

* Fonts >

change. Evan can’t keep going like this. We’ve worked hard to make sure he feels accepted here, but he’s not exactly making it easy.”

“I know. I hear them calling him a stray when they think I’m not listening.” Max’s eyes darkened. “I wish they knew he hears it too. That it only feeds the fire burning inside him.”

“There’s only so much we can do about small–minded people.”

“Alpha! Beta!”

They turned as Jaxon jogged toward them, the sunlight glinting off his short blond hair.

“Patrols came in,” he said, catching his breath. “Still no sightings. No scents. No tracks.”

Jaxon shrugged. “I don’t think he’s in the woods. We would have picked something up by now.”

***k,” Max muttered, pacing a few steps away.

“Thanks, Jax.” Kent forced a small smile. “Call in the extra patrols. Let them rest. Rotate the shifts and get fresh bodies on regular patrol.”

“Will do, Alpha.”

As Jaxon walked off, Kent turned back to Max. “Where do you think he is?”

Max shook his head. “I don’t know. But when I find him, I’m stringing him up by his toes.”

Kent rolled his eyes. “Like you’ve ever been strict with that boy.”

Which was part of the problem, but Kent kept that to himself.

“Stop following me!”

Kent stepped off the elevator just in time to see Wyatt raise his fist at his sister, who shrank back against the wall.

“Wyatt!” Kent barked. “What are you doing?”

“She keeps following me, Dad!” he whined, lowering his hand as Elinor smirked at his scolding.

“That’s no reason to raise a hand to your sister,” Kent snapped.

“I wasn’t going to hit her,” Wyatt muttered, rolling his eyes. “I was just trying to make her stop.”

Kent knelt down in front of him, narrowing his eyes. “First, don’t roll your eyes at me again. Second, you don’t raise your hand to someone unless it’s absolutely necessary. I don’t care if you were actually going to hit her or not. That’s not how we solve problems.”

He could tell Wyatt was fighting the urge to roll his eyes again as he let out a heavy sigh.

“Okay, Dad,” he muttered, clearly annoyed.

Kent bit back a smile. Goddess, this boy was so much like his mother some days.

He looked at Elinor, who was still grinning as she watched her brother get lectured. “And you, young lady, need to listen when your brother asks you to stop.”

Her smile vanished, and her cheeks flushed as she nodded.

<Extra Story – Chapter 1

The door at the end of the hall opened and Riley came out, sweeping her long hair into a ponytail,

“Did you find him?” she asked as soon as she spotted Kent.

He stood, shaking his head, “Patrols don’t think he’s in the woods.”

She frowned. “That boy,” she muttered, before looking at the kids. “You two ready for breakfast?”

A loud crash echoed from down the hall. All four of them turned toward the sound. Kent moved quickly, aware that Riley and the kids were right behind him as he threw open his office door.

“Hey, Alpha!”

Kent groaned.

Evan was slouched behind his desk, surrounded by a spread of liquor bottles. His face was flushed, eyes

glassy, and he grinned as he took a long swig from Kent’s best whiskey.

“Take the kids downstairs,” Kent said to Riley. “Tell Max we found him.”

Riley stared at Evan for a moment. Through the bond, Kent felt her frustration and disbelief surge. Finally, she

sighed and guided the kids out of the room.

Kent shut the door and turned to the fourteen–year–old in the chair. Evan’s dark brown hair had grown long,

falling into his eyes. His normally olive–toned skin was now pale and sickly.

“What are you doing, Ev?” Kent asked with a heavy sigh.

“Enjoying your fine bourbon,” Evan slurred.

“That’s whiskey, actually.” Kent crossed the room, stepping around the desk to face him. “How’d you get in

here? The door was locked.”

“Knicked Mom’s key,” Evan said proudly. “She always leaves it lying around. You should talk to her about that.”

He snickered, amused with himself, but Kent felt only frustration.

Kent glanced at the liquor cabinet and saw the broken hinges. “You broke my cabinet.”

Evan shrugged. “Mom doesn’t have a key for that.”

The door flew open and Max stormed in, his eyes blazing with fury as he took in the scene.

“What the hell, Evan?!” he shouted, eyes sweeping over the bottles. “We’ve been looking for you all night!”

Evan’s grin widened. “And? Sounds like a you problem. I’ve been just fine right here.”

Max’s nostrils flared as he grabbed Evan by the collar and hauled him out of the chair. At fourteen, Evan was nearly as tall as his father. He was only going to grow.

“It’s about to be a very big you problem,” Max growled.

Evan rolled his eyes. “Sure, Pops.”

Max shook him hard. “Do you realize how many people were looking for you? Do you care how worried your

mother and I were?”

“No and no.” Evan’s grin didn’t waver.

“Max,” Kent said quietly. “He’s drunk. You’re not going to get through to him right now.”

“I don’t need to talk to him,” Max growled. “I can knock some sense into him.”

<Extra Story – Chapter 1

“Sure, Dad,” Evan snapped. His smile vanished. “Go ahead and try.”

Max made a low, furious sound but shoved Evan away instead. The boy stumbled, nearly falling. He straightened, laughing.

“You’re too much of a coward to touch me. I’m not scared of you anyway.”

Max clenched his fists but didn’t move.

“Evan,” Kent said, keeping his voice calm as he stepped forward. “Let’s get you downstairs to sleep, alright?”

“I don’t need to be tucked in like a baby.”

Kent raised an eyebrow. “You’re acting like one.”

Evan’s expression darkened. “f**k you, Alpha.”

“Evan!” Max started forward, but Kent held up a hand to stop him.

“This isn’t how adults behave,” Kent said, voice steady. “Adults don’t disappear. They don’t pick fights for fun, and they don’t break into things or steal.”

Evan’s eyes were still full of fire, but Kent could see the tears shining there. He took a step forward, reaching

for his shoulder.

But Evan doubled over and vomited.

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