Page 24 of Eclipsed Heart

There’s something weird going on with him.Bodey took a sip of his coffee.

I turned toward him, placing my hand on his chest.When is there not?

True.He tilted his head and then kissed me on my nose.And even though you look beautiful, you look even better in my clothes.

My heart fluttered as I nuzzled his neck.I like being in your clothes too. Don’t worry. I’ll sleep in some tonight.

Nope.He nipped at my ear.My goal is to make sure you’re naked.

I laughed but cut it short when I noticed Lucas staring at us from a few feet away, his brows furrowed. “I never thought I’d see Bodey like this.”

“Me neither.” Janet beamed. “But I’m so happy. Now Jasmine needs to find her mate.” She pointed at the food. “Eat before things get cold.”

The five of us were filling our plates when Miles and Stella joined us. We took seats at the table, me between Samuel and Bodey, and everyone focused on eating.

Miles looked at Bodey. “Have any of your wolves notified you of anything strange going on at Zeke’s?”

Bodey swallowed his mouthful of eggs. “Nothing worrisome, and Zeke is there, so there’s that.”

Silence descended again, and just as we were finishing up, Jack strolled back in with two empty plates. Janet and Stella stood, clearing the table.

“I guess we better go,” Bodey sighed. “We need answers sooner rather than later.”

“Let me help Janet and Stella—” I started.

Janet lifted a hand. “The two of us aren’t going. Our place is here, keeping an eye on the pack while you’re gone, so we’ll clean up.”

My body stilled. I shouldn’t have been surprised; Janet and Stella had never gone to the advisor meetings during the planning for the coronation, but I was used to being with them. Yet my role had changed, not theirs.

I nodded. “Thank you.”

“Just… All of you be safe,” Janet said and then kissed Michael.

“We will, dear,” he murmured.

Then Stella and Miles kissed too.

With goodbyes over, the seven of us headed to the garage. Samuel and Michael climbed into the back seat of Bodey’s Mercedes-Benz to ride with us since the Jeep still wasn’t repaired from when the windshield had been cracked at the coronation dinner. Miles and Lucas strode to Jack’s Navigator, which was parked in the driveway.

Way too quickly, we were pulling out of the neighborhood. I picked at my cuticles with each minute that we drew closer.

Heading back to the pack like this was hard. My nerves were frayed and my chest tightened. At the end of the day, we were heading to the pack that had abused me.

They can’t hurt you anymore,Bodey linked, reaching over the center console and taking my hand.You won’t allow them to.

He was a smart man. Most would’ve said that they wouldn’t allow their mate to be hurt, but he recognized that I could take care of myself.

I love you,I linked and turned on the radio. I flipped through the stations until I found “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten and focused on the words, getting ready to do just that.

* * *

Though the drive took hours,it felt like only minutes had passed when we rolled into the pack neighborhood. The yards were empty, even more so than normal, especially for a Sunday. It was as if everyone had been told to stay inside. I could see people in the windows, watching us pass by.

I ignored all the stares as I gave Bodey directions to Zeke’s house. I’d rather see my parents first, but I didn’t want Zeke to claim that we were nosing aroundhispack’s land even though I was the queen and part of them. However, I did want to tread carefully, at least at first, with him.

As soon as we pulled up to his one-story brick house, Zeke marched out the front door.

All of us climbed out of the vehicles as Zeke’s emerald eyes focused on me. He lifted his chin and balled his hands at his sides. His short salt-and-pepper hair was messy, and his olive complexion was a shade paler than normal as if he was stressed but trying to hide it. The skin around his eyes was taut. “I wondered how long it would take you to come here.”

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