Read A Second Chance (Fated Mate) for Free Online

offering her the fruit bowl that was sitting on the table. Katie smiled her thanks and took an apple. Fuji, yum. Shana was munching on her own apple while smiling at Conner. With a look that screamed, ‘Ha, I fed your mate.’
     
    * * * * *
     
    The door slammed open and closed; standing in the kitchen doorway was clearly the Alpha male. Everyone in the room dipped their heads unconsciously. However, Shana looked at Jake from under her eyelashes, and blushed . Yuck.
    Jake moved around the table and clasped Conner’s hand, and proceeded to Katie, kissing her cheek. As he bent his head to her he sniffed her neck, and stilled. He took another whiff, and Katie heard Shana growl. Holy shit this is weird. Jake straightened and looked over at Conner with fury.
    Jake moved over to Shana next as she rose to meet him. They kissed long and hard. It was a bit uncomfortable for Katie, but whatever prevents Shana from growling at her was okay with her.
    Jake turned to the table with a blank look and said, “Shana your friend smells…different.”
    Conner stood and had an enraged look in his eyes. The entire room held their breath. “What do you mean Jake? Why the hell are you sniffing my mate?”
    Jake however didn’t get upset. He merely chuckled and looked to Shana, who leaned over to sniff her friend. “I noticed she smelled different when I got to her house, but I don’t know what it means.” She was new to scenting. Love was gingerbread; anger smelled like tar, ill was like rotting garbage.
    “ Okay guys this is getting really weird. Maybe someone can tell me what’s going on. Minus all the smelling.” Katie was getting annoyed.
    “ Think about what the change is honey. Who does she smell like?” Jake was so sweet to instruct his wife so patiently, but Katie was about to explode. She resented these people for their closeness, and smelling skills.
    Shana the dutiful student said, “she smells mated, and there’s an undertone of…Oh God. No, it can’t be.” Shana jumped from her chair and scowled at Conner.
    “ Fabulous, now what did I do?” Conner was also becoming outraged. Couldn’t they see that Katie was uncomfortable? He had no idea of their intentions, but they better spit it out.
    Shana ’s livid voice yelled across the kitchen. Punctuating every word, while tossing a fruit from the bowl at Conner’s head, “She-smells-like-apricots- you -and-now-a-very-faint-scent-of-fresh-rain.”
    Conner ’s eyes squinted in disbelief, while Shana was panting at her exertion and anger. Katie was flummoxed.
    “ Don’t you think we would have smelled it yesterday? It’s not possible,” Conner said in disbelief.
    “ Yesterday we all smelled of ash. It must have overpowered everything else. You better believe it lover boy. Come on Jake; let’s go so Conner can make with the explanations.” Shana looked to her friend, “We’ll be in the living room if you need us. Listen to Conner. I know I’m upset with him right now, but he is a good guy-mostly.”
    What the heck was going on? They watched Shana pull a hesitant Jake out of the room before they heard Jake’s whispered, “You’re sure she doesn’t have her gun on her?”
    They sat there staring at each other across the table, before Conner got up and approached Katie. He seemed cautious when he bent to her neck and inhaled. His frown was instantly changed into a tentative grin. He just stood over her, in wonder, before he picked her up and swung her around in his arms.
    He was crushing her. “Care to articulate what the hell is going on? I’m starting to lose my cool.”
    He gently put her down, and looked into her eyes. He loved this woman. He would do anything for her, but he knew she was going to be miffed. “Uh, it would, ummmm, it seems like…maybe…”
    “ If you don’t tell me why everyone is on edge, I will cut off your balls and feed them to your pack.” She looked indignant.
    “ Why do you always go for the cutting of the balls?” At her