All Chapters of GIVING HIM A SECOND CHANCE : Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

Cole sat on the edge of the bed, the apple in his hand slick with sweat from his palm. He’d meant it as a gesture—small, thoughtful, something that might lighten the heaviness hanging between them—but the fruit felt ridiculous now. A piece of produce wasn’t going to erase the truth: Ella was carrying his child, and he was still sneaking away to Sasha like a coward.Ella’s voice echoed in his memory, soft but certain: “I’m pregnant.”The words had knocked the air from his lungs. He’d been Alpha-trained for battles, for pack decisions that could cost lives, but nothing could have prepare me for the words that came out from his mouth. He should have felt pride in himself but instead all I felt was guilt because when she told him the news the first thing he thought about wasn’t joy but was Sasha.He set the apple on the nightstand, running a hand through his hair. Across the room, Ella slept curled on her side, her sketchbook open beside her. A half-drawn wildflower stretched across the p

The cabin had become too quiet.Ella lay on her side, staring at the thin silver of moonlight spilling through the crack in the curtains. The space beside her was cold, sheets untouched, a hollow reminder that once again Cole hasn’t come to bed last night.At first, she had tried convincing herself that he had been busy doing his duties as an Alpha in waiting. He had meetings and other responsibilities to attend to. But at this moment, with her hands gently resting on her stomach, she couldn’t deny the suspicions growing within her chest.They were already changed to her body. Some mornings, she could wake up feeling dizzy. She could only feel ease when Mia pressed tea into her hands with a grin. Her moods felt like waves crashing against rock—high, low, and unpredictable. And even though Marcus had pulled her into a warm embrace when she’d shared the news with him, whispering “cub, you’ll be alright,” Ella couldn’t help but feel like she was the only one carrying the weight of it al

Ella’s POVThe morning sunlight poured through the curtains, painting golden stripes across the floorboards. For once, the cabin felt warm, as though the world outside had paused in its endless turning just to grant me this moment of stillness.I sat at the table, a steaming cup of tea cradled between my palms. My stomach fluttered, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the scent of herbs rising from the cup or from something deeper, something I still hadn’t fully allowed myself to name.Cole shuffled in, his hair mussed, shirt tugged on carelessly as if he’d dressed in a hurry. But there was something softer in the way his eyes found me. Not the sharp jealousy, not the cold distance of late nights, but a quiet determination.“You’re up early,” he said, voice rough from sleep.I smiled faintly. “And so are you.”For a heartbeat, we just looked at each other. It had been a long time that we’ve had a morning like this, just a comfortable silence between us, no pretense, just us or at the

The cabin smelled faintly of apples. On the table was a half eaten apple that Ella had left there, the pale flesh browning in the air. I stared at it longer than I should have, the small thing mocking me. When I had it to her earlier, She’d smiled at me. Her lips curving soft and grateful, it was as if my clumsy gesture had meant the world to her. That smile had nearly gutted me.But I didn’t deserve any of that.She thought I was trying. And maybe I was. But the truth was a ugly and bitter one.I rubbed my face hard, knuckles scraping my cheekbone, wishing I could scrub her out of me. Ella’s laughter from earlier echoed in my ears. She’d been sitting on the porch, humming while she sketched wildflowers in that little notebook she loved. And for one dangerous heartbeat, I’d wanted nothing more than to set the world down and just sit beside her.But I hadn’t. I’d walked inside, sat at the table, and poured myself whiskey instead.Now the bond tigger at me, it was more stronger than bef

The house had become too quiet.I sat by the window, one of my hand rubbing over the faint curve of my stomach, my stare stretching into the forest. The shadows stretched long and heavy across the clearing, and with every tick of the clock on the mantel, my chest tightened.And as per usual, Cole is late again.This act has turned into a pattern and it’s something that I just couldn’t ignore anymore. All I could see in his eyes are distant look in his eyes, his gestures now felt more like an obligation than actual kindness. He’d give me an apple, ask how I was feeling, and then retreat into silence.I finally decided that tonight I couldn’t just smile and pretend. The knot in my chest had become too heavy.When the door finally creaked open, he stepped inside and it was clear that he’s exhausted. His shoulders were tense, his hair slightly mussed, his shirt carrying the faint scent of smoke and pine. My heart clenched at the sight.“Ella,” he greeted, his voice low. He held up a small