Page 17 of Destined Mate

In other words, they were determined that I was staying, even if the other three advisers agreed.

CHAPTERSIX

I triedto keep up with Theo’s pace, but I had to slow down, or I’d vomit here on the street.

When I started to lag behind, Theo slowed a little. He rasped, “I’m sorry, Callie, but we need to move as quickly as you can. You know I can’t protect you from Dad.”

A sharp pang stole my breath, and acid filled my mouth, burning my throat. I swallowed it, trying to ignore the way it felt like fire going back down. My injury worsened with every movement, and Bodey was right. To get better, I needed to lie down and rest.

I stumbled but forced myself forward.

Theo murmured, “Come on, Callie. Just a little farther, I promise. We need to hurry.”

My chest tightened. I had no clue what he and Zeke had planned, but it definitely involved preventing me from leaving with Bodey.

I missed a step in my haste, and a yelp left me before I could lock it down.

“Slow thefuckdown,” Bodey commanded from Charles’s yard, only fifty feet away, watching us. “Her ribs are injured.”

Huffing, Theo flinched. He didn’t like anyone besides his father telling him what to do.

Someone picked up Bodey’s call, and Jack’s voice filled the air. “Hey, man. Where are you? Please tell me you’re getting breakfast to bring back.”

That was interesting. I didn’t know why, but I’d expected Miles, Lucas, and Jack to know that Bodey was here. The fact that they didn’t unsettled me. Maybe they wouldn’t be on the same page as him after all. Dread sat heavy over me.

“Can you pick up the pace?” Theo asked, his eyes filling with concern. At least he was starting to act like my friend again instead of his father’s right hand. Granted, he did try to do both, which had to be hard.

I nodded and bit my cheek, forcing my legs to move faster. Though the pain was excruciating, I could use my cooperation as proof that I’d attempted to go along with their plan.

“My gods, Callie,” he whispered. “You really are bad off.” He cleared his throat as if this was brand-new information. The worry rolling off him softened my anger toward him.

Bodey, Zeke, and the other three alphas were talking behind us. I could hear each voice, but their conversation was muffled because all my focus was on putting one foot in front of the other.

Reaching my house felt like it had taken hours, even though mere minutes had passed. Theo opened the front door, revealing Pearl and Stevie sitting on the couch, watching television.

Still dressed in her pajamas, Pearl lifted a brow and smirked. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be at Charles’s house, working off your punishment.”

Groaning, Stevie leaned her head back on the couch. She was dressed in jeans and a black shirt, which was standard for the coffee shop she worked at in town. “She’s hurt, Pearl. Leave her alone. Theo is with her, so she’s not trying to hide anything from Zeke.”

“She’sright.” Theo gestured at Stevie. “Go pack your sister a bag quickly. Make sure she has enough clothes for a couple of days.”

“Of course.” Stevie jumped to her feet and scurried to our bedroom.

Pearl took note of my hand in Theo’s, and her smirk changed into a deep scowl. She’d always wanted Theo, but Charles was the strongest wolf who gave her any attention.

I shivered and turned to Theo. “What do you mean ‘a couple of days’?” Where in the hell were they taking me?

He turned to me, his face softening. “Dad told me to take you away for a few days. Long enough for the alpha advisers to calm down and forget about you.”

My limbs shook. I hadn’t known these four for even a full day, yet I didn’t like the idea of them forgetting about me. “But where are we going? And will I be able to get to my job from there?” Every day, this situation with me and my pack became more dire. I had to find a way out.

“Forget the job, Callie.” Theo huffed, causing Pearl to smile.

“Theo, not you, too.Please.”

“I’msorry, but that’s the whole point of disappearing. We’re heading to a remote cabin owned by the pack. Only a few people know it exists.”

Pearl’s mouth dropped. “Wait, you’re going to stay there withher?”

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