Page 19 of Destined Mate

By the time the door had fully risen, Bodey was standing in front of us with his arms crossed and Zeke next to him.

I was surprised Theo didn’t try to run him over.

The skin around Bodey’s eyes tightened, and a vein bulged between his eyebrows. He stared at me.

“Why are your son and Callie in a car, getting ready to leave?” Bodey growled. “Are you trying to sneak her away even after the other three royal advisers voted in my favor?”

My heart pounded. For him to move that quickly, he must have suspected Zeke would try to pull something like this.

Zeke clenched his hands as his neck corded. “This ismypack. My territory. You four don’t have any rights here.”

Spinning toward Zeke, Bodey growled. “The five states we represent are alloneterritory. What happens here is everyone’s business. Unless you’re going against what every ruler over this area has ever believed?”

“This is bullshit, and you will pay for it if you take her,” Zeke vowed, baring his teeth.

“I have therightand theobligationto take her. If you don’t like it, you can talk to Samuel in two weeks once he becomes king,” Bodey replied as he marched past Zeke and opened my door. His face softened as he held out his hand. “We need to get you somewhere safe so you can rest and heal.”

Theo snarled. “Be careful how you touch and look at her. I plan on making her my mate.” His eyes were hard, and his face tightened as he stared the alpha adviser down.

I flinched. That wasn’t true, and even if it were, he hadn’t talked tomeabout it. His statement was way too forward and assuming.

Bodey didn’t miss a beat. He lifted his chin. “I’m showing her kindness, not interest, but you wouldn’t know what that looks like by the way you and the others here treat her. How strange that the very man who proclaims he wants to mate her didn’t fight his father regarding her situation.” He continued to hold out his hand, his gaze landing back on me. “We should go.”

Needles prickled the back of my throat. His show of kindness was more than most had ever done for me. I felt safer when he was around.

Taking his hand was all too easy, and when our skin touched, a tingle jolted through my arm. It didn’t hurt, thank goodness. His hand closed around mine, revealing it was twice the size of mine, and his callouses rubbed my skin, creating an even more pleasant sensation.

As I moved slowly out of the vehicle, his eyes remained trained on my face to determine how much pain I was in. I swallowed hard as I focused on his touch instead of my suffering. I didn’t want him to worry further. He’d already risked enough by coming here.

When we reached the front of the garage, I remembered something. “I have a bag in the back seat.”

“Oh, here,” Stevie said from behind us. The car door opened as she got the duffel for us.

“I’ll be right back.” Bodey released my hand and met my sister halfway.

Zeke used the opportunity to step beside me and whisper in my ear, “I hope you enjoy your time with him while your family suffers. You know…the people who took you in.”

I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t asked to leave.

Bodey appeared beside me with my bag. He asked, “What did you say to her?” The power radiating off him was stronger than before as his expression turned to stone.

“It’s noneof your business.” Zeke straightened, but sweat pooled above his lip.

“That’s fine.” Bodey laughed humorlessly. “I can guess what someone likeyouwould use against her.” He smirked, taking a threatening step toward Zeke. “If you do anything to her family, there will be repercussions. Samuel tends to think very much like his parents did. With the Southwest desperate to gain more ground, maybe, just maybe, we could hand your state over to them and deal with your punishment.”

Zeke flinched. The Southwest had fewer wolves than any other area, and being part of their territory wasn’t nearly as prestigious as ours. It was all about perception.

They were pushing into our lands, taking advantage of us not having a crowned king. That was one reason the coronation in two weeks was such a big deal—it would help restore stability so that the Southwest, and mainly Queen Kel, would rethink their lofty goals of Western domination.

“Do you understand?” Bodey arched a brow.

“Understood,” Zeke growled, glaring at me with such hatred my insides turned cold.

Bodey led me toward his Jeep, and Zeke, Theo, my parents, and Stevie watched us go. As we passed the front of the house, I caught the fluttering of blinds from the corner of my eye. Pearl had been watching from inside.

When we got to his Jeep, Bodey bent down and lifted me slowly and easily into the passenger seat without jarring me. I tensed, taken off guard.

“Sorry,” Bodey said softly. “I should’ve warned you. I just thought that might be easier than making you step up so high.”

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