Page 26 of My Mate

Dex frowned. “Isn’t not hurt her and walk away kind of the same thing?”

“Yes and no. They have the exact same outcome. Casey wouldn’t have been hurt, and you wouldn’t have hurt Buddy. Do you see?”

He nodded. “Then why are they different outcomes?”

“He could have not hurt her, in the way that she was aware of his presence and the fact he didn’t do anything. Walking away would mean no one knew he had that choice in the first place.”

“But all three had different outcomes?” he asked.

“Yes, all three of them.”

“So that means you saw me hurt Buddy?”

Lucinda wrinkled her nose.

“What?” he asked.

“I saw you hurt Buddy, then I saw you kill him, and then I saw you walk away.”

“That was never going to happen,” Dex said.

“Exactly, it was never going to happen, but that doesn’t mean it is not a possibility.” She shrugged. “It all balances itself out, but I don’t think you’re here to talk about what might have, or could have happened.” She wrinkled her nose. “I confuse myself at times.”

“So does that mean Casey and I can change things?”

“You do realize that no future is set until you make choices.”

Dex was really starting to feel a headache coming on. Henow understood why his father had a nice, tall mug of coffee, and it always took him a few hours to deal with Lucinda.

“None of this makes sense.”

“Nothing would happen if we all stood still.” She suddenly jumped, lifted her arms out, and her eyes went wide, as she became still. “See, nothing happens, no choice is made, other than to stand still. No path is chosen. When life throws you the chance to go to A, B, C, or even D, that is when the future changes, but it is always happening.” She sighed. “Wow, I am getting thirsty.”

Dex blew out a breath. “I don’t know what any of this means.”

“It means a lot of stuff, and not a lot of stuff.” Lucinda shrugged. “You think you have it rough, try living inside my world.”

“Can you turn it off?” he asked. “Seeing the future. Wouldn’t that make your life easier?”

Lucinda laughed. “Of course, but tell me, where is the fun in that?” She blew out a raspberry. “Just because something is a pain in the ass and often not worth our time, doesn’t mean we should get rid of it. I like it. It’s like watching a movie that is always changing the ending. Come on, that has got to be a lot better than watching the same old movies, where you always know the ending.” She shrugged. “It is awesome.”

“I guess that means Casey and I still have the good path and the bad one?” Dex asked, shoving his hands into his jeans.

The witch stopped and turned toward him, and then stepped close. Being a wolf, he was used to not having a lot of privacy, but Lucinda seemed to break through that personal barrier wall and came right up to him. She was so close that he saw the little red marks within her eyes.

“What are you doing?”

“You’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“Not for normal stuff, silly. You’re scared for Casey.” She smiled. “You’re in love with her.”

“This is not news to me.”

“I know, and it is not news to me either. Your love has been shining bright and is getting brighter as you age. She is your everything. Everything you do is for Casey.” Lucinda smiled and then clapped her hands. “And it is so sweet to see. You fear her pain. You want to know who suffers if the future doesn’t go well.”

“Is there any way you can guarantee she doesn’t get hurt?” Dex asked.

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