Page 1 of Chosen Destiny

CHAPTERONE

No matterhow hard I clung to the present, the world morphed around me as if I were trying to teleport away from Halfway, Oregon. My wolf howled in protest, the sound ringing in my ears as my heart shattered.

I had to get to Bodey.

He was unconscious and surrounded by Queen Kel’s wolves. I shouldn’t have encouraged him to run to help his sister Jasmine. Now I might pay the ultimate price, losing my fated mate.

A deep, comforting laugh came from behind me, one I didn’t remember hearing before but sounded strangely familiar.

My chest expanded as my surroundings took form.

I stood in the backyard of a huge mansion. The house was a deep gray with two levels. The bottom entrance seemed to lead into a basement and the top into the main area of the house. Stone columns supported the top story.

“Caroline,” a warm female voice called from behind me. “We’re about to play tag with your brother.”

My breath caught. Even though my name was Callie, Caroline fit just as well. I spun toward the voice, and my world tilted.

Ten feet away stood my parents.

Mom’s light-brown hair was braided down her back like always, and her dark-chocolate eyes sparkled as she watched me.

At her feet, Samuel turned toward me, his too-large toddler head nearly toppling him over. Even as a baby, he looked like our mother, except for his baby-blue eyes, which twinkled in the twilight.

A lump formed in my throat. What the fuck was going on here? I needed to find my mate. Any other time, I’d be happy to relive whateverthiswas, but not when my mate needed me.

“What’s wrong, baby girl?” Dad’s ice-blue eyes narrowed as he ran a hand through his ash-blond hair. He held out his arms toward me. “Did you think we were going to leave you out? Every wolf likes to play chase even if they haven’t shifted yet.”

“Something’s wrong,” I said, but it wasn’t my voice. It was the voice of a five-year-old. A shiver ran down my spine. “Where’s Uncle Zeke?”

The warmth in Mom’s eyes vanished. “He’s gathering his things to leave. We had a disagreement, that’s all. Nothing you need to worry about.”

Something inside me eased, and I glanced at my hands, noting they were small.

I swallowed hard. This was a memory. There had to be a way to wake up and get back to Bodey.

“Okay.” I nodded and ran toward my parents. “I’m it first!”

Dad smiled and wiggled his fingers. “You better not get me, or I’ll tickle you to death.”

I paused and placed a hand on my hip. “Daddy, you can’t tickle someone to death. That’s just silly.” Then I bolted toward him.

Despite the lightheartedness swirling through me, my fear of what was going on with Bodey took precedence in my adult mind. Each second I stayed here was another second that the scouts had to kill my mate. I needed to get back to him.

As I leaped onto Dad, Samuel laughed, and Dad followed through on his promise, tickling my sides as I squeaked to roll off him. Then he stood up and yelled, “You better watch out. I’m coming for all of you now.”

I yelped and ran to Samuel. My childhood happiness and love swirled within me, mixing with my adult heartbreak. What I wouldn’t give to have many more nights like thisandhave Bodey here beside me.

The four of us played for what felt like only minutes, but the night sky engulfed us. Samuel yawned, and Dad picked him up in his arms. “I’ll get this little one to bed. Care, head up to the study. I want to go over some things with you before you go to bed.”

Heart soaring, I nodded eagerly. I wanted to do everything in my power to make Daddy proud. He was counting on me to help find a way to unite the packs, especially with the new queen of the Southwest. Daddy said he knew her and she had lofty goals, and we needed to be united and strong so she would never attempt to take over our lands. Though he made me promise to keep that part to myself. He didn’t want to worry the alpha advisors.

“Come on, Caroline.” Mom took my hand. “Let’s grab you a snack before Daddy steals you away from me.”

I loved our late-night snacks. They usually involved ice cream or chocolate, and on the best occasions, chocolate ice cream. She’d sing to me as she made my snack. That had to be why I always focused on music and lyrics now—they often held so much meaning.

I was getting answers about my past, but I desperately tried to pinch myself awake to help Bodey.

When we followed Dad onto the back terrace, an overly musky scent hit my nose.

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