Page 70 of Savage Fate

But I also enjoyed some of it, especially when I allowed the other me to take over.

“Tate, are you okay?” Saint gently shook my leg as if he’d been trying to get my attention for a few moments. “Did you leave your body again?”

The vision I’d had while asleep bubbled to the surface, and my heart gave a hard thump. “Have any female panther shifters been taken or found dead?” A tiny sliver of hope blossomed in my chest. Maybe I could save someone from this mysterious demon threat.

“Did you have a vision?” Saint took his phone out of his pocket and clicked through the screens, lines developing across his forehead. “A corpse was found outside of a pack house in Charlotte.” He showed me the picture of a woman, and all the hope leaked out of me like air from a deflating balloon.

“I think that’s her.” Those red nails were the same, and the clothes matched my memories.

Why did I have to get these damn visions if I couldn’t use them to help anyone? Was this punishment for hurting so many with their fears?

Saint’s lips turned down, and sympathy streaked his silver irises. “I’m sorry. I wish I could take these visions for you. If there’s something Icando to?—”

My stomach suddenly gave an angry growl, and a flush swam into my cheeks. “I don’t think I’ve eaten anything in over a day.”

Saint stood and reached his hand out for mine. “I’m not the best cook, but I can throw something together for you.”

After checking on Hailey, who was sleeping soundly, Saint led me through the large house toward the kitchen with burnished wood floors, slate countertops, charcoal cabinets, and copper fixtures.

The dark and smoky décor was a stark contrast to the Anderses’ bright white space, but it fit the rustic and yet chic cabin.

We’d passed a few shifters on the way, each respectfully greeting Saint while casting curious glances at me. Did they know I was their alpha’s unavailable fated mate?

I climbed onto a stool at the center island, awkwardly toying with a lock of my hair. I blamed my jittery movements on my separation from Fane.

Would our bond ever settle enough to allow us out of each other’s sights without going haywire?

“How about frozen pizza?” Saint stood in front of the huge stainless-steel freezer, holding a box of pepperoni pizza.

“Oh, no you don’t, young man.” A stunning woman with a tall, athletic frame hurried into the kitchen and snatched the box from Saint’s grasp. “You know better than to feed a guest that frozen crap.”

He frowned. “It’s not crap. I happen to love frozen pizza.”

The woman scoffed and started pulling things out of the fridge. “You’re just like your father. You’d both end up eating TV dinners if I let you.”

Saint grinned as he turned to me. “This is my mom, Enid.”

I straightened in my seat and shoved my hands in my lap. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Grimstone.”

Her nose wrinkled. “None of that. Call me Enid.”

A nervous smile stretched my lips. She had to know I was her son’s fated and refused to accept him. How could she be nice to me?

“You don’t have to go to any trouble. I’m fine with eating frozen pizza. Or anything really.” I grew up in foster care, and I didn’t always have great options for food, if any. I’d eat anything.

Enid waved her hand in the air. “It’s no trouble at all. I’ll make you an omelet. It’ll be much more nutritious than that cardboard excuse for pizza.” She grabbed a fresh jalapeño from the fridge. “You’re a fan of spicy cuisine, right?”

“Right.” How did she know that?

My gaze flickered toward Saint as he gave a lazy shrug, a guilty smile curling his mouth.

“Saint, I passed Avery in the hall upstairs. He’s looking for you,” Enid said as she chopped vegetables. “I’ll keep Tate company while you deal with pack business.”

He pushed away from the bar, giving me a questioning look. “I’ll meet you back here before you finish eating, okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” I kept my shaky hands in my lap, anxious to be left alone with his mother. She was nice to me in front of him, but would she change her tune when he left?

I wouldn’t blame her. Her son had been hoping for his fated mate for years, and he unfortunately got me.

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