Page 104 of Destined Mate

She was only trying to protect me, and I didn’t want to lash out unfairly. She was the closest thing to blood I had, including Theo. Theo was a friend, but that was it. Stevie had been my friend, confidant, and supporter.

“So?” She scoffed, undeterred. “It’s still not your place. You should stay home, like Tina.”

The bathroom door and the front door opened at the same time. Bodey strolled into the bedroom, and I pouted. He was dressed in black slacks and a thin undershirt, which meant I didn’t get to ogle his naked body again. Though even with his clothes on, I still wanted to rub my entire body all over him.

“Are you still there?” Stevie asked.

Yup, Bodey had a way of making me lose focus on anything other than him. “Yeah, sorry. Our relationship isn’t like Zeke and Tina’s. Bodey wants me there, and I need to go.”

Bodey snatched the large shirt and boxers from the bed and tossed them at me. He linked,I hate to ask you to cover yourself, but Stella will be up here soon.

I’d forgotten about someone entering the house. I was doing amazing.

I tossed the phone on the bed and pulled the shirt over my head.

“But Callie, it’s too dangerous.” Stevie’s voice broke.

Picking up the phone, I ignored the small part of me that said I should do what my sister asked. Making my family happy had always been my default, but Bodey was my mate and priority now. “I’ll call you on our way to the house. You’ll see me a few hours later.”

She blew out of breath. “There’s no way I can talk you out of this?”

“Absolutely not,” I said firmly, despite the twinge of sadness. “I know you think I’m being foolish because Bodey hurt me not even a week ago, but things are different. You’ll see, and I wanted to tell you and Mom and Dad in person.”

“If you come home, you can tell them right away.”

I smiled. There was my sneaky sister rearing her head. “I’ll be there tonight. I promise. I love you.” I slipped on the boxer shorts.

“I’d better get going,” she said a little too curtly. She wasn’t happy with me, and that hurt. She’d been upset with me only a few times.

“Stevie,” I started. “Listen—”

“I’ve heard enough,” she said. “Besides, I know how you are once you make your mind up. No one can change it, not even your alpha. It’s something I’ve always admired about you, even if it’s frustrating me now. But you’re right. We need to go. I’ll see you soon.”

That was the thing with Stevie. She might not understand me completely, but she accepted me for who I was. “I love you, Stevie,” I said again, needing her to know more than ever.

“I love you, too,” she whispered before hanging up.

I kept the phone to my ear even without her on the line. My heart ached, but I couldn’t do anything about it.

Bodey took the phone from me, then interlaced our fingers and rubbed his thumb against my palm. The sizzle between us sent need clenching in my stomach. “If you need to be with your family—”

I shook my head. “You’re my mate…myfamily. I want to be there withyou.”

He smiled tenderly. “Yes, Iam. And gods, I love the way that sounds.”

Not wanting him to get too much of an ego, I wrinkled my nose. “Besides, Samuel is a pack member and my future king. I want to watch him be crowned.”

Pack.

That word had so much more meaning now.

I’d always understood what that meant based on the way the others treated one another, but understanding it and experiencing it was completely different. Even though I didn’t know most of the two hundred other pack members, I cared about them already. We were connected, literally and figuratively. No wonder Zeke had so much influence over his pack.

The sound of heels stepping up the stairs pulled me from my thoughts.

“He wants you there, too,” Bodey answered and kissed my lips.

My skin buzzed, and something inside tugged me closer. I pressed myself to him until there wasn’t any space between us, but it still felt like he was miles away. The tingles increased, and I needed more.

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