Page 84 of Destined Mate

I’d feared that coming tonight was a horrible idea, but it was becoming way worse than I imagined. The more Bodey learned, the angrier he became.

“Callie, why were you in Halfway?” He ignored everyone as he waited for my answer. With each passing second, his face became redder. He was going to explode.

“I work for Charles and Trevor now.”

“Charles? The asshole who led the attack against you the night we met?” His words were so low I almost didn’t hear them. He pulled me to his chest, no space separating us.

I shuddered, not because I was scared, hurt, or angry but from the force of his fury and anguish as it slammed into me.

He held me so flush against him that I struggled to fill my lungs, but I loved it. I’d missed his touch so damn much.

“What thehellis going on here?” Zeke demanded.

Bodey spun around, tucking me between himself and the nearby wall. Even though I couldn’t see his face, judging from the way his back tightened, I had no doubt his expression was downright scary.

I edged out from behind him to see Zeke.

“You failed to mention that the scouts attacked Callie,” he snarled.

“That was irrelevant. I informed you of the incident.” Zeke lifted his chin. “Oregon is my territory. Idaho is yours.”

Michael hurried over, with Samuel, Jack, Miles, and Lucas filing in beside him. Each one wore varying expressions of horror.

The buzz of conversation stopped as people turned in our direction.

“Anything that happens to Callie ismybusiness.” Bodey reached behind him and took my hand.

“Sheisnot. She’s been part of my pack since I took her in. Isavedher. I made sure she had what she needed growing up.” Zeke’s breathing quickened. “You met her a week and a half ago. She’s not your responsibility. She’smine.”

This was getting out of control, and I was the one who had to ride back with Zeke and deal with the consequences. “Bodey, it’s fine.”

“You heard her,” Theo interjected, stepping beside his dad.

“Son, this isn’t the time or place,” Michael warned, though when he looked at me, his face twisted in concern.

Jack laughed. “Fuck that, Michael. I agree with Bodey, especially after how we met her.”

This was worse than I’d ever imagined. The advisers were challenging Zeke in front of the strongest alphas in our territory. He was going to have a shit fit later.

“Get away from him, Callie,” Zeke warned, glowering. “He’s gone too far.”

Placing his hands on my waist, Bodey held me in place and replied, “Oh, I haven’t gone far enough.”

“Do you want to challenge me?” Zeke removed his jacket and tossed it on a nearby table. “Do you want to lead two states?”

“Son, this isn’t the way to handle this,” Michael warned again.

Bodey went still. He blew out a breath. “No, I don’t want to fight you. But I’m taking Callie back with me.”

Spit pooled in the corner of Zeke’s mouth as he snarled, “You have no right to her.”

“Yes, I do.” Bodey lifted his chin and glanced back at me. “She’s the woman I love.”

My jaw dropped, and my heart began to race. Had he just confessed to everyone what I thought he had? Was this a dream?

No one said a word.

Bodey turned to face me and pressed his forehead to mine. He murmured, “I love you.”

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