Page 109 of Destined Mate

My pulse pounded in my ears. Knowing I was his fated confirmed everything we felt for each other. We’d felt like we were perfect for each other because we were. The best part was we’dchosento be together before learning this.

Knowing that Bodey had waited for me since he was a little boy made me fall for him even harder. The ironic part was that I’d envied the woman he was determined to be with, and it’d been me all along.

Jack whistled. “Well, I want to see how Zeke spins this since they’re fated and already bonded.” He snapped his fingers. “Maybe he thinks he can go back in time and cockblock Bodey.”

“Man…” Lucas shook his head. “Just shut it.”

“Listen to your friend,” Zeke snarled, then focused back on us. “Ididn’t approve your mate bond, and I don’t accept this, so Callie will come home withus.”

“Like hell she will.” Bodey’s body shook with anger. “We’ve completed the bond, she’s my mate, and we don’t need your approval. She’s twenty-two and independent.”

“Bullshit. She isnotindependent. She lives with her parents, can’t hold down a job, and has been living with me for the past week.” Zeke clenched his hands. “Therefore, you needed to get permission from her alpha. And I don’t give it.”

My stomach dropped. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.Is that true?Was that why Zeke had stopped me from leaving the pack all this time?

Old rules that no one follows anymore.Bodey snarled.Which we’ll throw out as soon as Samuel becomes king.

Michael cleared his throat. “Technically, that’s true, but their being fated mates overrides that, which you should know, Zeke.” His face softened. “Why would you want to separate them, even if they weren’t fated? They clearly care for each other.”

“She’s meant to be Theo’s!” Zeke stomped, his nostrils flaring. “Theo has been talking to her, spending every evening with her at my house, and asked her to go to the dinner with him last night. Bodey pressured her into this mateship!”

Hurt coursed through our bond into my chest, fueling my anger. Zeke was trying to cause problems by making Bodey think I was interested in Theo. Evil, conniving prick. I stepped closer to Bodey, wanting to reassure him, as I spat, “Yes, Theo came to visit me every night, and we watched movies, but that was all. We ate popcorn, laughed, and talkedlike friendsdo. And to clarify, Theo asked me to the coronation dinner, but he informed me that everyone had to bring a date. He assured me we were going as friends. I’ve made itveryclear to Theo that I’m not interested in him beyond friendship.”

“Why would Theo think he needed a date?” Bodey rasped, his anger mixing with mine.

Theo lifted his hands. “With the rift between me and you four, I wanted Callie at the dinner with me. She’s mybestfriend.”

The way Zeke sneered at his son had regret pooling inside me, but I’d done nothing wrong. I was speaking the truth, trying to shut Zeke down. I hadn’t meant to make this harder on Theo.

“This argument is pointless, and we have more important things to attend to, like crowning ourking.” Dina stepped forward, the breeze lifting her hair around her face. “They’re fated mates and have completed the bond. There’s nothing Zeke can do about it. If we’re worried about an attack, it’s even more imperative that we get Samuel crowned.”

Everyone seemed eager to listen to her, and I was all for turning our attention elsewhere. I wanted to celebrate Bodey’s and my relationship, not defend it. Once again, Zeke wanted to taint something I held dear, but I refused to allow it to happen.

“Fine.” Zeke nodded abruptly. “While the witches finish their preparations, I need to take a walk.” His hands were tight fists. He spun on his heels and headed away from us.

“Aren’t we supposed to stay here together to prevent people from noticing us?” Alicia pursed her lips from her spot across from Miles and next to Phil. Her wavy dark hair hit the middle of her back and almost blended in with the shade of her black dress.

“If he needs time to collect his thoughts and calm down, let him have it.” Phil took his mate’s hand.

Carl nodded. “I agree. And we need to check in with our pack members.”

“I don’t like him walking off.” Bodey glared at Zeke’s retreating figure.

He was walking faster now that he was farther away from us. Like he was running out of time.

“Don’t stress too much,” Dan said as he came over and patted Bodey on the shoulder. “He can’t do a damn thing about your mate bond. Let him mope.”

That was true. The only way to end a mateship was for one of the mates to die. Most of the time, the living mate wanted to follow suit, but like all things, eventually, they learned to live with the pain.

“Let’s separate and disperse this negative energy,” Dina commanded. She strolled to the river with the other witches, who were wearing the same dress she was but in black. They all bent down and set amethyst and red jasper crystals along the embankment.

Janet threw her arms around Bodey and me. She linked,You don’t know how happy this makes me!She leaned back and touched Bodey’s cheek.I was rooting for the two of you after seeing how you took care of each other. There’s no better match, and Fate agrees. Once Jasmine finds a mate, our family will be full, and grandbabies will be on the horizon!

Grandbabies. I hadn’t thought that far ahead, but there was no doubt I wanted babies with Bodey…although I’d like for us to have some alone time before we went down that road.

Bodey laughed, his happiness warming my chest. “Don’t worry. If I have my way, we’ll have a bunch of babies. I don’t plan on letting my mate stay clothed often.”

My mouth dropped, and my head jerked toward him. But damn him, my body was already responding to his words.Bodey! Your parents are right here!

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