Second Chance Mates

-53- 🌹 Fool Me Once

"You were never on my side. Fool me once, fool me twice. Are you death or paradise?"
~Billie Eilish, 'No Time to Die'

~~~

*Landon's POV*

"I'm bored," Lucca groans, leaning his head back against the seat.

"Suck it up," Enzo deadpans from the driver's seat. "We're only halfway there."

Lucca releases an odd noise of distress, making him sound like a dying whale. Ryland winces, leaning over to whisper in my ear.

"Thank goddess that we left Kai behind," he says lowly. "I don't think I could handle two whiny wolves."

"Can we at least stop for a bathroom break?" Lucca complains.

"I second that!" Lyn chirps. I turn around, noticing her face is a bit green.

"Lyn, are you okay?" I ask worriedly. "You don't look very good."

She smiles weakly. "I think I'm just getting overwhelmed. Enzo, could we stop somewhere?"

Obediently, my brother clicks his turn signal and pulls into the nearest gas station. As we're all getting out to stretch, Lucca tries to make a beeline for the bathroom, and Enzo blocks him so Lyn can get there first. The sound of vomiting echos in the bathroom, making us all grimace.

"Uhh... is she okay?" Lucca asks, no longer struggling to get past Enzo.

"I'll check on her," Ronnie offers, knocking on the bathroom door. Lyn unlocks the door, allowing Ronnie to slip in before locking it again.

"Lyn's stomach as always been sensitive," Ryland informs us. "She's probably just carsick. While we're here, we might as well get some food. Babe, do you want anything?"

I shake my head, not knowing if I'll be able to handle having anything in my stomach. Ryland smiles softly with a nod of understanding, pressing a kiss to my cheek before heading off to find some food. Sighing, I lean back against the wall and rub my hands over my exhausted face.

"How're you holding up, Lan?" Lucca asks, leaning on the wall next to me.

"About as well as I can be, I guess. I can't stop thinking that every second we're not finding Leon, something horrible is happening to him. I don't think I'd be able to live with myself if Leon suffered Easton's fate."

"Can I ask you a serious question? Now that it's just the two of us."

I frown curiously and nod my head.

"Why do you care so much about Leon?" Lucca inquires. "I'm not trying to be a dick or anything, but wasn't that kid awful to you? His entire family kicked you out right after you lost your mate, and they've always blamed you for Easton's death. If I were you, I probably wouldn't care if that whole family kicked the bucket."

His question doesn't make me angry. I'd understand if no one can grasp why I'm so intent on rescuing Leon. The truth is... I still care about the Butlers. Don't get me wrong, I'm fucking pissed at the way they've treated me over the last five years. We'll most likely never be on good terms again, and there will always be lingering resentment for the way they threw me out right after I lost my mate. But... they're Easton's family. He would hate how they've treated me, but we would still hold onto one truth: they're still his family.