Page 14 of Destined Mate

His nostrils flared. “You’re injured.”

“Oh, wait, is that why breathing hurts?” I needed to shut my mouth. He could do so much worse to me than what Zeke could do, but my mouth had a mind of its own.

He didn’t flinch, probably because he was used to Jack. Instead, he ignored my words and asked, “Why are you doing yard work? This isn’t even your house.”

All my smart-assness vanished. I’d hoped to fluster him and drive him away, but he was standing his ground.Figures. Damn alphas.

Now I was in a pickle. If I didn’t get him to leave, pronto, Zeke would be alerted that he was here…if he hadn’t been already.

I looked around. The front yards were empty. No one else was doing yard work in February—at least, not on a Monday. Mostly because they actually had paying jobs.

I had to answer him, but not in a way that would encourage him to stay. The problem was that I hadno cluehow to do that. Anything I said would only irritate him further.

I removed an earbud, which was blaring Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song,” and peered over Bodey’s shoulder. A new black Jeep Grand Cherokee sat crookedly in the middle of the road with the driver’s door open. When I didn’t see the other three with him, relief and confusion battled one another.

“I’m still waiting for an answer,” Bodey pressed, his jaw twitching.

“Well, I…” I stuttered, trying to come up with a plausible explanation forthis. If I lied, he’d know. “I…”

He stepped closer, holding the shovel to his side while his scent swirled around me more. “You…?” he prompted and arched a brow.

This was bad. The enormity of the situation had my legs weakening, and if it hadn’t been for my ribs, I’d have likely crumpled into a mess on the ground. He was demanding an answer, and I was screwed whether I responded or not. If I didn’t, he’d stay. If I did, he would refuse to leave. There was no way out, and Zeke would accuse me of calling him.

“Callie,” he said tenderly, placing both hands on my shoulders. “Please tell me what’s going on. I’m fairly certain I already know, but I need to hear you say it before I confront Zeke.”

Yup, I was screwed. I might as well bend over and take it like a man—er, woman—er, person. Whatever. Any type of person who enjoyed that sort of thing.

I’d opened my mouth to answer when the front door opened, and Charles barreled outside in his flannel pajama bottoms and a black shirt. He rushed onto the sidewalk and stopped in front of us. “What the hell is going on out here?” He gestured to the plants, stones, and mulch. “You’re interrupting her work.” He sneered.

The tenderness vanished from Bodey’s demeanor, and he grimaced again as his anger returned. When he inhaled, my lungs seized. I suspected he’d figured out who Charles was.

“You’re one of the jackasses who attacked her last night,” Bodey stated, his hands dropping from my shoulders.

Forehead creasing, Charles crossed his arms. “This isnoneof your business, so you need to leave before my alpha gets here.”

His threat fell flat as Bodey’s hands clenched into fists. “Actually, itismy business since I was one of the four who pulled you and your cowardly friends off a single girl in human form.” He puffed out his chest as his neck corded, the strength of his alpha wolf emanating from him more strongly than before. He moved in front of me as he continued, “So, please make sure Zeke gets here. In fact, tell him I’m waiting.”

Charles’s jaw went slack, and he lowered his head. “I’ve notified him,sir.” His demeanor had changed, becoming more submissive, though his body tensed, betraying he wasn’t happy about it.

The dumbass was too wrapped up in himself and determined to make sure I suffered to realize who he was confronting. I hoped Bodey would put him in his place, though that was a double-edged sword. Charles would take it out on me after Bodey left.

I needed to intervene. I didn’t want my family to suffer because of this.

“Bodey, please calm down.” The words chafed my throat as if part of me were trying to hold them back…as if part of me were disgusted. I hated when it felt as if someone completely separate was living within me. “It’s fine. I promise.”

I took a step toward him, wanting him to see my face and realize I was being sincere, but my vision blurred, and I groaned.

The work had taken more of a toll on me than I’d realized.

Bodey spun around, his forehead creased with concern, causing my breath to catch and another pang to shoot through me. He placed his hands back on my shoulders to steady me. “You need medicine and to lie down and rest.”

Something squeezed in my chest. It was odd—uncomfortable but pleasant—and I couldn’t help but notice the strong cut of his jaw and the shape of his full lips.

I shook my head, trying to get these random thoughts and feelings out of my head.

“What’s wrong?” His frown deepened as he bent so we were eye to eye. “Is your head hurting or something? Maybe we should take you to a healer.”

His effort to help me would make things worse, but I couldn’t get upset with him for his genuine desire to help. He and the other three royal advisers held a kindness that Zeke lacked.

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