Page 78 of Destined Mate

Right next to them was a group of women who radiated a different sort of power.

One of the women glanced at me, her head tilting like Sybil’s had at Lynerd’s house. I noted she had curly, dark-auburn hair. Her smile vanished as she examined me, and I looked away, which wasn’t normal for me. But this wasn’t about submission. I sensed she was seeing something within me, and that unnerved me.

“We’ll be right there,” Jack said, and I glanced back at Bodey.

The woman with him had dropped her hand and was smiling at me.

Ugh, she was nice. Add that to her ever-growing list of wonderful attributes. At least Bodey deserved someone like that.

She extended a hand toward me. “I’m Stella.”

Stella. Miles’s fated mate. I exhaled.

“Theo.” He took her hand instead and shook it. “This is mydate, Callie.”

I stiffened. If that wasn’t Theo figuratively peeing on my leg, then I didn’t know what else it could be. I moved forward, causing Theo’s hand to fall, and shook her hand on my own. I said, “Are you Miles’s fated mate?”Please say yes.

“Yes.” She beamed. “And you must be that special visitor of Bodey’s. I’ve heardallabout you. Why don’t you—” She paused and glanced at Theo. “Join us?”

“Actually, Callie and I need to get back to my mom. We left her alone.” Theo took my hand, interlacing his fingers with mine. “But thanks.”

“Your mom is an adult.” Jack shrugged. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Better yet, you should go back to her, and Callie can come with us.”

Theo tensed. He didn’t like the idea, and I didn’t want to hang around Bodey and his date whenever she did appear. “Thanks, but I’d better stay with Theo.”

Bodey mashed his lips together and nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense. I hope you have a good time.”

I could’ve sworn pain flashed in his eyes. But he turned and moved away.

“You’re off the hook for now.” Jack booped my nose. “But I’ll be back.” His Terminator impression was horrible.

Stella laughed. “Never do that again.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him toward their group.

I watched them leave. Bodey glanced over his shoulder, and our eyes locked one more time.

“I didn’t realize you’d gotten so close with them,” Theo said. He nudged me back toward the edge of the patio, where Tina still stood.

I shrugged. “They were nice to me. Everyone came to Bodey’s house for breakfast and dinner.” Hell, even lunch most times. “I was around them a bit.”

I wondered still why none of them had messaged me once they’d heard about the attack…particularly Samuel. The only person I’d had a falling-out with was Bodey.

My gaze clung to Bodey. Under his suit, I could see the outline of his muscles, and I remembered what it felt like to touch them.

“Mom’s probably freaking out. Let’s hurry back.”

I forced myself to follow Theo. Bodey had made his choice, and I’d made mine. If I wanted to find happiness, I had to let him go. I had to decide not to be miserable. No one deserved a life of regret.

When Tina came back into view, I regretted that we’d left her. She was still in the corner of the patio with her arms wrapped around her stomach. Her wine was gone, and I was fairly certain I’d drunk it. She was watching people around her like she didn’t belong.

Seeing her like that was strange. She wasn’t a weak wolf, not in the least, so to see her cower was unsettling.

When she noticed us, she relaxed and dropped her arms, standing taller. “I was about to go look for you two.”

We two, not Zeke.

Another waitress strolled by, this time with a tray of full wineglasses. I snatched two, needing more to drink. Seeing Bodey had been harder than I’d expected, even without his date present.

Theo’s forehead wrinkled. “Are you sure you should be drinking that much?”

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