Second Chance Mate, Second Chance Life

Chapter Two

Elizabeth's POV

The voices didn't fade. If anything, they got louder, closer. They were. . . laughing. At my demise? Was there anyone in the pack Allie hadn't gotten to? How cruel did you have to be to laugh at someones murder?

"Get a room!" Chris snickered loudly.

His words triggered a memory, long forgotten now. He'd said the same thing, in the same way, six months ago at my anniversary dinner. The night before Allie had come to the pack and destroyed everything. In fact, it smelled the same right now as it did that night; the smokey scent of steaks in the air, the cool summer breeze tinged with a hint of salt from the ocean, and the unmistakable musk Liam loved to wear on special occassions. It all wove together, twisting my guts into coiling snakes. I could even feel the pressure on my lips as he kissed me sweetly, the last time he was ever so tender with me.

It was all so real. With a gasp, I blinked my eyes open. The first thing I saw was Liam's face, inches from mine, his brow creasing in slight confusion over his eyes. Stunned, I looked around. We sat outside in the lavishly decorated courtyard. . . at sunset. . . with our friends and family.

Celebrating our anniversary.

What the Hell?

Seconds ago I was bleeding out on the forest floor while he stood over me and broke our bond. But it wasn't broken now. I could feel it, as strongly as I ever had before.

What the f**k is going on? I died. I shouldn't be back here. I don't want to be here.

Was this my own personal Hell? Was I doomed to repeat the last six months of my life until I fell victim to Allie in the woods again? My hand came up to my throat, but no mortal wound was there. Just smooth skin and the cool surface of the emerald necklace Liam had gifted me earlier. The same necklace he would later give to Allie because it 'suited her better.' Just because no wound was there, though, didn't mean I couldn't feel it. The agony of muscle being torn, the sting of her claws, the warmth of blood flooding my throat, choing me. Feeling my lungs fill with fluid until I felt like I was drowning out of the water. Tears welled in my eyes as I cupped my throat, as if the feeble act would protect me.

"Elizabeth? What's wrong?"

I looked into my mate's eyes. Grey, like a storm clouds rolling in. I used to love them- used to get lost in them. Now, I knew what the storm felt like when it hit, and all I felt was a wave of anger and betrayal. I knew that only seconds ago, I'd been looking at how the setting sun caught his goldish brown hair just right, and admired for the thousandth time his rugged good looks. I'd been so enamoured and happy, I'd pulled him in for a kiss.

But not this time.

This time, I knew what kind of man he really was. So I straightened my spine, held his gaze, and tested the words in my head before voicing them. Could I truly have a do-over? After all, I'd already broken the kiss and nothing had happened. Perhaps this was a second chance to change my horrible fate.

"I don't feel well." I kept my voice low. "I'd like to go now."

Not surprisingly, Liam looked even more confused but he nodded anyway. He quickly bid everyone goodnight as I rose and started for the castle. He caught up to me and slipped his hand through mine. I let him, letting the action fuel the burn inside me. We walked through the dark together and then inside. For the tiniest fraction of a seconnd, I looked around what was once my home, the way I remembered it before Allie. It was rather bland, and always had been, because Liam preferred it this way. I'd begged for years to re-decorate, to even have one vase of flowers somewhere, just to bring some life into the downcast rooms. I'd always been told no. A month from now, the old wood floors would be replaced with brand new white wood and the vague paintings on the walls would be taken down. Roses, my least favourite flower, would occupy nearly every available surface in crystal vases, constantly sparkling in the new chandliers that would hang from the cielings.

I passed each bare table, made eye contact witht he gloomy figures in the paintings, desperately trying to control my temper and the man beside me.

"Was it something you ate, do you think? Do you want me to run you a bath?" Liam asked.

I shuddered. He would never have the pleasure of seeing my body uncovered again. "No. I just want to go to sleep."

He hesitated. "Alright. I'll make you somme tea."

"No, thank you.'

He pulled me to a stop in the hall and swung me around to face him. "Talk to me, Elizabeth. You were fine and then. . . you weren't. What's going on? Did I do something?"

I held a my expression together by the skin of my teeth. When I answered, I made sure my tone was reassuring. "No, Liam. I really am just tired. Please just let me rest."

His eyes searched my face. Suddenly, I saw something flicker in his irises, something I had seen far too often. I didn't quite have a name for it, I only knew that it was the beginning of the end, even if I hadn't wanted to see it that way before. It was something akin to indifferrence maybe, or the look of someone who just didn't care anymore.

Had it really started before Allie? Why did I never notice? I knew the answer though. I hadn't seen it because I'd been a love-sick fool who believed Liam loved me as much as I'd loved him.

"Alright," he finally said. "I'll be in my office if you need me."

I turned before he could swoop in for a kiss. I didn't stop until I was in our room. With my ear against the door, I waited until I heard his office door shut. As soon as it did, I was ripping off the dress I'd picked out for tonight, letting the silver fabric drop to the floor without a care. I didn't look at our bed, or our the photos on the dresser as I marched to the wardrobe and started shifting through the clothes, pulling out shirts and pants, my boots, and a leather bag.

Each item was selected with care. I didn't need a lot. When I finished, I opened the top drawer of the dresser, shoved all my stockings aside and grabbed the pouch full of coins. There was more money- much more- stashed in Liam's office, but I would have to go without it. I pulled my hair free of its updo, gave it a quick comb, then braided it neatly. Finally, I pulled on my matching black shirt and pants that I wore for training, my boots, then sat on the edge of the bed. Outside, the party was still going.

"They celebrate me today, but toss me aside like it all meant nothing," I whispered to the empty room. "Or maybe they never cared."

Unbidden came the memories. Every insult, every wound, every bit of hurt. . . Tess, my mother-in-law, who I had thought adored me? She couldn't have been happier that Liam was fawning over a she-wolf instead of a human.

"Ungrateful b***h! Mate or not, my son was wrong to accept a human as a mate!" I could feel the harsh sting of her slap along with her words.

"I always wondered how Liam got so unlucky. Even the rogues in the dungeons are mated to real wolves," Chris scoffed.

"I always doubted she could keep him satisfied," Sophie, one of the maids whispered to another. "Did she really think he would want her forever? There's no way she's Luna material."

"Liam has finally realized he needs a real mate. And that is not you. If I were you, I would just end your sad existence."

The rage burned hotter with the last memory. The image of Allie's smug face the morning afterr she'd fell into my mates bed. This bed. I hadn't been in this room since. Not until tonight. I'd moved into the guest bedroom down the hall. A bitter laugh clawed up my throat.

"Yes, I was indeed a fool," I muttered. "But not anymore."