Page 107 of Destined Mate

I grabbed Jack’s arm, pulling him toward the garage. He beamed at Bodey as we walked by and said, “Your mate, unfortunately, woke up one night too soon to realize she picked the wrong guy.”

Now it was Bodey’s turn to snarl.

“Can you behave for a minute?” I held back my smile.And I don’t want Jack. I’m only trying to hurry us along.

Oh, I know. That’s the only reason he’s not dead, Bodey replied. He was right on our heels, breathing down Jack’s neck.

Somehow, someway, we all got into the vehicles without Jack saying another word. Jack, Lucas, Stella, and Miles rode in Jack’s white Navigator while Bodey, Dina, Samuel, and I rode in Bodey’s Mercedes-Benz SUV. The inside was tan leather with a dark interior. It was nicer than the Jeep.Why don’t you take this more often?

Don’t know.He shrugged, pulling out of the driveway.Sort of a Jeep guy.

I’m glad.Though the vehicle was nice, the Jeep fit him better.

Soon, I was watching the trees fly past, and Bodey linked,Any updates?

For a second, I was confused until Michael replied,We should be asking you two that question.

Three warm spots in my chest expanded as if something had activated them. I froze. One was Bodey, the other Michael, but the third, I wasn’t sure.

Oh, leave them alone,Janet interjected. She was the third.Congratulations. I can’t wait to celebrate your mateship with the entire pack later!

My chest became uncomfortably full.

Me too,Bodey replied as he took my hand.I can’t wait for everyone to know she’s mine.

My cheeks hurt, and I realized I was smiling. The fact he was proud of me…of us…made me happier than I’d ever thought possible.

This brings me back to my original question because both Callie and Samuel need to be protected.Bodey watched the road and the area around us as if searching for a threat.

All is calm, and Hells Canyon is prepared,Michael answered.No one unknown has been in the area.

Hells Canyon?Why did everything lead back there? I’d always been drawn to the canyon, and I’d met Bodey and the advisers there. Now it was the site of the coronation.

If you see or sense anything, let us know,Bodey linked and squeezed my hand.

Michael chuckled.We will, son. Now focus on getting our daughter and Samuel to us so we can hug them both.

Heart near bursting, I leaned forward and turned on the music, craving it after not being able to stand listening to anything for weeks.

As soon as Alanis Morissette’s “Ironic” came on, I leaned my head back and kept a tight hold of Bodey’s hand.

* * *

I,for one, held my head up high as Bodey and I followed Dina toward the sacred ceremony grounds. Dina led us to the Snake River, where ten witches were getting the materials needed for the ceremony ready. The guys’ parents stood twenty feet back from the witches, with Theo and Zeke a few feet away from them. Trees were sparse this close to the riverbank.

The area was gorgeous, a perfect place for a coronation, with the canyons arching on both sides of the river and the greens of the grasses and tree line adding to the beauty. The sun was high, and the scattered clouds held no threat of rain.

How were the witches chosen for the ceremony?I linked with Bodey, wanting to know the details of everything he’d had a hand in planning.

They’re the witches of the royal coven—they used to protect King Richard and Queen Mila. When the king and queen died and Samuel came to live with our pack, the royal witches joined our coven. When Samuel gets inked, if he decides to leave, the eleven will follow him wherever he goes, and the original priestess of our coven will take back control.

I took a step closer to Bodey as another question popped into my head.Didn’t that cause problems with your original priestess?If an alpha got displaced, there would be bitterness.

He winked.Witches aren’t like wolves. The priestess was honored to have them join us. She’s learned a great deal from Dina and all the others.

Jack caught up to us, matching our pace. His eyes were on me as he glanced at my feet. He chuckled. “That’s why you’re not struggling like Stella.”

“Sneakers are smart.” I shrugged, and Bodey grinned.

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