Page 108 of Chosen Destiny

Jack flinched and gagged. “Please, stop. The thought alone is enough to make me want to die.”

Man, you bring this shit onto yourself,Lucas replied from his spot on my other side. He glared at the guard he’d been fighting, and I noticed he had a stab wound in his right side. We’d all taken a beating.

You two shut up,Miles interjected, not acting at all like the calm person I was familiar with. He was in the corner of the room closest to the stairs, blood pouring from his nose.This isn’t the time to bicker among ourselves or with her.

I lifted my wolfish head, giving the illusion of confidence, though my limbs were shaking from fear. This was my worst nightmare—Bodey being captured again… or killed.

“Ah, I must admire your attempt to be strong, but we both know I have you by your metaphorical balls,” Kel said, moving closer to Bodey. She reached out a hand like she might cup his. “Or your mate’s.”

A deep, threatening growl vibrated my chest. She wanted to get a rise out of me, and I wasn’t falling for it. But the thought of her touching him, especially in that way, had me wanting to kill her on the spot. No one but me touched my mate, and if they dared, then Kel and Lynerd would feel my wrath. Maybe not today, but eventually.

“Oh, mates.” Kel rolled her eyes. “So predictable. I told you he’d be your downfall.”

Baby, you need to run,Bodey linked, pushing his determination and fear into me.Get out of here. If she gets you—

I’m not going anywhere.And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it. Using his tactic, I filled our bond with my determination and resolve.Don’t say anything like that ever again.

His fear cooled my rage-hot blood slightly, but not enough to make a difference.

Lynerd’s gaze kept flicking between me and the back door.

I wanted to laugh. Was he pretending he wanted me to leave, or did he actually want me to go so he could slit Bodey’s throat right then and there? Either way, I wouldn’t give Lynerd the pleasure.

“Kel, we can live as allies.” Across the room from me, Samuel lifted his hands and winced. He took a step closer to me. The way he favored his right side told me he was injured, but I couldn’t tell where. He pressed, “We don’t have to be enemies.”

“Enemies?” Kel snorted and flipped a hand. “In a moment, you’ll all belong tome.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, and I huffed, shaking my head. It was probably best that I was in animal form. I was almost tempted to hand myself over, but my mate would pay the price.

Dina spoke up. “You won’t get away with this.”

“I already have.” Kel’s cold gaze swiveled to me, and her lips curved over her teeth. She pointed at me and said, “Submit to me, or your mate dies.”

I had every intention of doing just that, but my wolf refused to lower our head. I flashed back to when I’d been separated from her and unable to submit to Zeke, Charles, and Trevor. I hadn’t understood then, but now I knew that had been my wolf shining through.

Once again, she refused to listen to me.

If I didn’t do something quickly, my mate would lose his life. I could feel that my wolf was desperate not to lose him either.

Realization hit me.

Kel wouldn’t let Bodey go. She’d kill him as soon as I submitted, and my wolf knew it.

Thatwas what I’d been missing during my time as queen. I’d relied on the judgment of human Callie more than my wolf. Maybe if I started listening to her and not fighting her, we’d make a great team.

I relaxed and allowed her to take over.

Our consciousnesses merged.

Attack on my command,I linked to the former advisors. I couldn’t relay the message to Dina, but I counted on her to spring into action as soon as we made our move.

I had to pretend to consider submitting to get close enough for the attack.

Taking a deep breath, I prepared to argue with my wolf, keeping my head lowered slightly, but the merge we’d done had stopped her from fighting me, both sides now working together.

Kel laughed. “That’s what I thought.”

“No,” Bodey growled. He tried to jerk away from Lynerd, and the blade cut deeper into his skin. More blood trickled down his neck.Don’t do this. You have to protect our people. I need you to be safe.

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