Second Chances

Nightmares

Evan's Pov:

I look over at the clock and see it's only three in the morning. I knew I wasn't getting any sleep tonight. The nightmares had won again. Replaying my dad's death in my head as I had done so many times, as the tears started to fall. "I'm sorry, Dad", I whisper, looking at the photo sitting by the bedside of us when I was five. If only I hadn't chased that witch in the woods alone, he'd still be here. I wouldn't have gotten spelled. I was so stupid.

I head for the shower after a couple of hours of writing in my journal. Brent had told me it helps, and it has helped some. After my shower, I throw on a pair of black jeans and a black t-shirt. I just run my fingers through my hair, not bothering to fix it. I head down to the kitchen to fix some coffee, grabbing my thermos. I decided to skip breakfast, not really wanting to eat since I knew it would just come back up.

"You really shouldn't skip breakfast, it's important", Drake says through our link. "There's no point in eating right now, it won't stay down, we'll have an early lunch", I tell him as he sighs, but he knows I'm right. "Can we go for a run today? It's been a while, and I want you," He says, changing the subject. "Yeah, I'll see if Max wants to go", I tell him. "Yes, now shut up, need sleep", he says before going silent.. I just roll my eyes at him.

"You are here early, and you look like crap", Brent comments as I walk into the office. "Yeah, he couldn't sleep", I tell him he nods in understanding. "Wanna talk about it?" he asks as I put my things in their usual place. "I can't not now", I tell him, not wanting to talk about my father. "Well, when you're ready, I'm here, you know that", he says, going to his desk and grabbing some files.

"I kn, ow and when I'm ready, we'll talk", I tell him as he hands me the files. "New cases, I already read through them", he says, handing them to me. "Of course you did", I say, crazy vampire speed, I think to myself. "What's your opinion on this first one? You think we can help him?" I ask him, scanning over the file, drinking my coffee.

Wesley Levi Michaels, age: 16, newly shifted. Crime committed: criminal mischief, theft, assault, etc. I read through his file, hoping can he is still young. "I think so, he's still young", Brent says, sitting at his desk, and I know he's pulling up the kid's court record. "Who did the kid assault?" I ask him, knowing he has it pulled up already.

"It looks like he assaulted some warrior, supposedly the kid was trying to protect some girl, but it was never proven, and the kid got blamed for assault", he says, looking at his computer screen. "Whose pack is he from says here Red Pines", Brent answers quickly. "That was Austin's pack, right?" I ask him, making sure I'm right before I say anything else. "Yeah, and Austin was alpha at the time. He answers my next question before I ask it. "No wonder there was no proof. Austin probably never even looked into it since his warrior was involved", I comment.

"Most likely he blamed the kid and covered it up", I state, knowing I'm most likely right. "Most likely that is true, Liam made the correct decision to have the council remove him from his position", Brent agrees. I remember when Austin had been tossed into the cell next to mine four years ago. Of course, I knew him before that; I had never liked him; he had always been one to start trouble. A few months ago, Liam had decided enough was enough and had the council vote to remove him and name a new alpha.

He kept trying to start a war with Aiden's pack multiple times just because he didn't like Aiden's mate. That is a stupid reason to want a war if you ask me. Aiden, being Aiden, was ready for a fight, but that little vampire had other ideas and convinced his mate to go to Liam instead. If you ask me, their perfect for each other. Who cares if they're both guys? Gabriel has made Aiden a better person, as well as an alpha, and Aiden has helped Gabriel be more confident and encouraged the little guy to follow his dreams.

"Alright, well, let's see if we can't help them. I have to, I have a meeting with Liam in fifteen minutes", I tell Brent as he looks over at me. "Alright, I'll start their transfer process and tell my king I will see him later this evening", he says as I head out the door. "Will do and don't overwork yourself, you know how Elaine is about that", I shout, making him laugh in response.

"Max, how's it going?" I asked, walking up to the castle, seeing him standing at the door. "Same old thing as always", he laughs. "How's Jenna and the kid?" I ask, I was happy when Max told me he gave his kid my dad's name. "They're great, but uh Jenna is kind of pregnant again, and you're the first to know, so keep it quiet, please", he says, shocking me. "Hey, that's great, man, I'm happy for you", I tell him as we make our way to Liam's office. "Hey, Drake wants to go for a run later, you wanna come?" I ask him. "Yeah, that sounds fun. I'll see if Mia wants to come to and it can be like old times when we used to go play in the woods and she'd follow", he says, remembering the old days.

"Well, here we are. I'll see you later, I've got to go find Nicholas", Max says, running off. "Come in", I hear Liam yell before I even knock. "My king", I say with a bow, showing my respect as I walk in. "Evan, you've been working with us for four years now, you don't have to bow, and you can call us by our names", Mia says, taking me by surprise. I didn't know she'd be here. I know she was never meant to be mine, and I'm okay with that. The thing I regret is how much pain I put her through. I will always regret hurting the girl who had the kindest heart in our pack, who, at one time, was a little sister to me.

"Sorry, can't help it", my queen says back with a bow as she rolls her eyes, making me laugh. "Okay, you two don't start, you got those reports for me", Liam says, looking up from his computer. "Yeah, here you go also, I would like to send someone to look into Wesley Michaels' case, he's from Austin's old pack, he's been charged with assaulting a warrior of the pack, but I believe there's more to it", I tell him. "Not surprising wouldn't be the first time Austin's covered something up, I'll have Nickolas look into it", Liam says, looking over the files I gave him.

"Alright, things look great, we'll start finding these people a home and get them back into a pack", Liam says. "Alright, well I'm gonna head back to work", I tell him, turning to leave. "Hold on a sec, I got a special request and I think you'd be the perfect person to handle it", Liam says, motioning me to take a seat. "Okay, we'll, what sort of special request?" I ask him curiously.

"Alpha Reynolds from Golden Moon has asked for help with his daughter, apparently she has been causing a lot of problems recently, he believes it's due to the loss of her mother", he says. "And he wants our help before she does something she will regret", I ask him. "Yes, he's concerned with her safety; she's the only thing he has left", Liam says, looking at the picture of his son. "Okay, but why send me? Wouldn't Brent be better, or maybe Natalia? They both have degrees in psychology", I ask him.

"Nat's busy helping at the hospital, and I have a different job for Brent", he says as he hands me a file with the girl's name on it. "You've been in this pack doing nothing but work for the last four years; it's time you go and start searching for your second chance", Mia says. "Fine, I'll go, but only because I know I won't win with the two of you ganging up", I tell them, making them smile.

"Thanks, I appreciate this. I'll let Alpha Reynolds know", he says as I walk out. I hope I didn't agree to something I'm gonna regret, I think to myself as I head back to the office.