Page 70 of Destined Mate

I nodded, grabbing the coffee and sipping. It was perfect. He knew I took a tablespoon of sugar and a splash of half and half.

Tina sat next to me since Zeke was across from me. For a few minutes, we all ate in silence, and then she fidgeted in her seat. “I’m assuming you’re well enough to pick up your chores here.”

Zeke frowned. “Today? No, she needs at least another day of rest.”

Tina’s face wrinkled with annoyance before she schooled her features into a blank expression. “I can’t take care of the house today. I need to run to the clinic for a shift.”

His jaw twitched. “You’re supposed to stay home this week.”

“I can’t.” She placed her hands on the table. “We’re low on staff, and I’m required to come in. Somebody called out sick, and I can’t risk losing this job. You know that.”

Theo bit his bottom lip as an uncomfortable silence filled the room. Zeke’s and Tina’s eyes glowed as they talked telepathically.

“Seriously, I’m not in pain. I can clean the house. It’s fine.” With them gone, I could search for that box. I had to see what Zeke was so desperate to hide from me.

Neck cording, Zeke flushed. “No. Then you won’t be protected.”

“If she’s better, we don’t want to leave her here unprotected.” Theo placed a hand on the back of my chair. “I need to run by Lynerd’s pack to check in with them. Callie can come with me if she’s willing.”

My jaw dropped. They’d never wanted me to meet wolves from other packs.

Zeke relaxed marginally, though his face was still flushed. “That’s an excellent idea.”

Thishadto be a dream or nightmare. I wasn’t sure how I would categorize it. “Really?” I was all about leaving this place.

“If you’d like.” Theo pursed his lips.

Zeke tensed again. He didn’t like that Theo had given me a choice. Figured.

“Sure.” I wanted to see how the other packs interacted…see if their leaders acted more like Zeke or Bodey.

We finished eating in silence, and soon, Theo and I were loaded into his truck. I was so relieved to be out of that house, which had started to feel like a prison. I couldn’t even go to the bathroom without one of them watching me.

Theo pulled out of the pack neighborhood, focused on the road, and after a few minutes, he glanced at me. “You’re not going to turn the radio on?”

I usually did that whenever I rode in a vehicle. “Nah. I don’t want to listen to anything.” I hadn’t wanted to since leaving Bodey.

His forehead creased. “Maybe I should take you back. You might not be better.”

“No, please.” I leaned my head back on the headrest. “I feel like a prisoner back there, and your dad doesn’t want me to be alone in their house for some reason.”

“Forsomereason.” He scoffed. “You do realize that one of the wolves who attacked you is in the basement. What if he got out?”

I lifted a brow. “And your mom was going to protect me?”

“She can link with the pack to ask for help. You can’t. You rely on texts.”

I flinched. He hadn’t meant to be cruel, but it was yet another reminder that I was different. That I was weak.

“Shit.” Theo reached over the center console and took my hand. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know. It’s just hard to hear sometimes.” He’d said what he meant, and I wouldn’t pretend to be stupid.

Theo licked his bottom lip. “It came out harsher than I intended. You’re the only person who calls me out on things and doesn’t let me slide, other than Dad.”

That made my anger ebb. “Are you saying you don’t like it?”

“It’s not my favorite.” He winked. “But I like that about you.” He squeezed my hand.

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