Page 90 of Destined Mate

That’s their choice, I chanted to myself as the last bit of distance was erased. The first thumps were the worst. The wolves right behind the first five I’d hit jumped, smacking the windshield. The glass cracked but remained intact, though blood oozed down it. Every few seconds, more thumps hit the car, and sickening whimpers and howls filled the night.

Something wet and warm landed on my chest, but I didn’t dare look down. I was struggling to keep the car upright. I hadn’t expected this. I thought they’d dodge out of the way, but they kept coming, desperate to halt us.

“Move them,” Dina commanded, her voice cracking. Wind rocked the Jeep as the wolves on the hood were pushed off.

The blood remained splattered on the windshield, reminding me of what I’d done.

The road to the interstate came into view, and some of my tension lifted. When we reached the asphalt, I could drive faster to get us away from this hellacious place. I exhaled, and pure agony ripped through my right arm, but I couldn’t focus on it.

After a sharp turn onto the road, I didn’t slow down. The Jeep tilted onto its right side.Fuck me. I groaned, afraid I’d grossly underestimated my speed, but the Jeep fell back onto all four wheels, and I could breathe once more.

“The goddess has to be with us,” Dina whispered, clutching her chest. A few tears dripped from the corners of her eyes.

If someone was helping us, the goddess made sense because Fate was a bitch. I believed that then more than ever. “Thanks for helping me, not—” Pressure built in my chest, and I stopped speaking, not wanting to risk releasing the sob.

“I would’ve done it sooner.” Dina hung her head. “I didn’t expect them to…” She trailed off.

One thing was certain, this night would haunt us both.

Wincing, I lowered my right hand to my lap to take off the pressure from keeping it on the steering wheel. Fresh, warm blood trickled over the sticky, cooling mess, and I wondered how much I’d lost.

Shuffling sounded from behind me, and I glanced in the rearview mirror as Bodey jumped into the cargo area. Samuel raised his head and watched as bones cracked.

Then Samuel jerked his head forward as Bodey shifted back into human form.

There was a zipping sound and more shuffling as if he were putting on clothes. He called out, “Dina, can you heal her?”

She went still, then turned around.

A low, deep sound I’d never made before vibrated out of my chest. The thought of her seeing him naked bothered me. I glanced in the mirror to find only Bodey’s face showing over the back seat and not an inch of his potentially naked body.

“Of course I can. But not while she’s driving.” Dina gestured to the road. “Healing will require my magic to merge with hers, and with her injuries, she needs all her focus on the road.”

I kept glancing in the rearview mirror as he pulled a shirt over his head, then managed to climb over the back seat somewhat gracefully, despite his size. He leaned forward again, gently touching my arm as he examined my wound.

Even his faint touch caused me to flinch.

“They fucked you up,” he snarled. “I don’t even know how you’re conscious.”

“She’s an incredibly strong wolf,” Dina reiterated. “I told you that earlier.”

A few vehicles passed us, going in the opposite direction, and tension rolled off me. We were around humans, which meant Queen Kel’s wolves would have to be careful not to be seen.

My eyelids grew heavy. “I hate to interrupt, but I’m not sure how much longer I can drive safely.”

“The wolf nicked an artery.” Dina leaned closer to me, inspecting my wound. “We need to pull over. If you’re feeling woozy, you’re close to losing too much blood.”

“Not yet.” I shook my head, forcing my eyes to stay open. “We aren’t far enough away.”

“I promise we are,” Bodey vowed. “An accident won’t help anybody.”

A gas station appeared up ahead with several cars parked in the lot. I didn’t want to stop there with the blood on the windshield and a wolf in the back seat, so I eased over to the side of the road. As soon as I put the Jeep into park, Dina leaned over the console and said, “Move if you want me to help her.”

Moments before she touched my shoulder, I murmured, “You said you need to conserve your magic for the coronation tomorrow.” Not only that but I’d been raised not to trust witches. Having her hands so close sent a chill through me so strong it stole my breath.

“If I use enough to help you live, I’ll be fine tomorrow. I just can’t heal you completely.” A tender smile flitted across her face as she touched my wound.

I flinched at the feel of her cool hands. Then something warm and comforting soared through me, and the pain eased.

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