Page 44 of My Mate

“How can you be sure?”

“My memory has returned. I know exactly who attacked me and I also know why.” Lucinda reached for his hand, and the moment she grabbed him, he watched as her eyes went wide, and he knew she was not even looking at him. She was seeing the future, which meant something had changed, or someone’s life was attached to his own. “You have to go,” Lucinda said. “There is not enough time. She is so angry, and if you don’t, Casey and Dex are going to be killed!”

****

“Leave him alone!” Casey said.

Dex finally moved away from whomever was pulling him. Whatever had been in that smoke was seriously messing with his senses. It was like he couldn’t see or smell. The truth was, he thought Casey had grabbed his hand, which is why he also left with her.

Now, as he pulled away, he couldn’t help but stumble, but all too soon, he was struggling against a tree. The moment he felt the branches of the tree around his body, he realized this was exactly the premonition Lucinda had shared with him.

The fog dissipated and then he saw who it was. He had thought it would be Buddy. It was the only logical explanation. That asshole had been his target for a long time. Only, the person that stood between him and Casey was not a man, and was not Buddy, but sweet, kind Joanna Kingsley.

She worked at the diner, made amazing tea and coffee, and never once got his order wrong. Dex remembered her from high school. She had been one of the last to transition who had been born in the same year as him and Casey.

“What?” Dex asked.

“You!” Casey said.

“Stay back, if you know what is good for you,” Joanna said.

“We’re trying to look for who could have attacked Lucinda,” Casey said. “I know you and Lucinda were close, but what is going on?”

Dex looked toward Casey, and then his premonition replayed in his mind. Her long brown hair fell around her in waves, she wore a pair of Wellington boots, and the clothes she wore were an exact replica.

This was the vision come to life.

Joanna.

What the fuck was going on?

Joanna glared at Casey. “She found out I took somethingfrom her. She was going to tell Klaus, and nothing I could do was going to stop her. I couldn’t have that. There was no way she was coming in between my future, so I did what I had to do. I took care of it.”

“You attacked her.”

“She was going to tell the Alpha what I did. I couldn’t have that. I thought she would understand but like always, everyone looks at you and sees a damn princess. They see a woman who is worthy to be an Alpha’s queen.”

Dex looked toward Casey.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I saw the way he looked at you. It didn’t even matter if you didn’t give him the time of day, or even if it was just a soft, sweet smile. Dex would come running back for more. Everyone always talked about how sweet and fucking cute it was that Dex was head over heels in love with you. How you’d make an amazing couple. You’ll be strong and be able to take on anything together. The pack would grow from strength to fucking strength. Everyone was excited about you turning eighteen. Dex had already transitioned, but you hadn’t yet, and I knew what Lucinda was trying to do. She is always so helpful. She really should start to consider what other witches are like. They don’t take bullshit from anyone—”

“What did you do?” Casey yelled.

“Don’t you dare interrupt me!”

Casey held her hands out as if in surrender, but he saw the mocking way she did it. “Oh, I’m sorry. You attacked one of the pack. Lucinda is a witch, but she is still one of us, and now you’re complaining because people like me. Get over yourself.”

“And I knew if I stopped you from transitioning, then everyone would see the real you. That you’re weak. You are not worthy of Dex’s love or devotion. You would not make a good pack queen. You’re a horrible bitch, and you don’t deserve tolive.”

“You!” Casey said. “You did something to me.”

Joanna laughed. “Yeah, I did. While you were giving me sweet smiles, I was brewing you a special tea. You see, Lucinda had been working hard on a new potion, one for pregnant pack females. The aim was to suppress the wolf, but she didn’t know what Klaus would think. She got nervous, doubted herself, and put the jar of tea far out of reach, but I knew it would work. Everything Lucinda did, worked. So I tested it on you and only you. You love coming to the diner for your coffee and tea, and I made sure to put a nice dose in any beverage you had. When it came time to transition, you couldn’t.” The glee in her face irritated Dex.

“Casey could transition,” Dex said.

“Oh, there is a good chance she might at some point, but I’ve been feeding her a lot of tea, and we don’t know the long-term side effects, so there is also—”

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