Page 11 of Chosen Destiny

The truth was that I might remember things, but I still wasn’t fit to lead. I’d thought I could do the right thing by handing myself over, but again, I would be playing right into Queen Kel’s hands. Worse, if I submitted and she killed me, she’d turn her focus on Samuel. He would be as big of a threat as me.

But leaving Bodey with her wasn’t an option. “What do we do?” I asked, needing their help. I had no clue where to go from here. “We’ve got to bring Bodey home.”

Jasmine cleared her throat. “I have an idea.”

CHAPTERFOUR

Every head turned toward Jasmine,and she wrung her hands as if she didn’t like the attention. To her credit, she stood taller and said, “Remember what I told you, Samuel, and Bodey in the car on the way to Lynerd’s?”

I stared at her. Between regaining old memories that somehow felt like new ones, the fight, and the deep ache from losing Bodey, my head was foggy.

“Can you just tell us?” Samuel rubbed his temples. “It’s been a long day, and I don’t feel like guessing.”

She lifted her hands. “Yeah, sorry. My best friend back at university is a wolf shifter from the Midwest pack. I’ve met her dad, and he’s one of the strongest alphas in that region. He holds a position similar to the royal advisors here. They might be willing to help.”

That dangerous feeling of hope spread through my chest, anchoring me in the present. Bodey had brushed her off, but I had been planning on talking to her about it later. Now was the perfect time.

Miles steepled his hands. “Why would they consider helping us? It would put them on Queen Kel’s radar.”

“They already are.” She stepped closer to us. “That’s what I was trying to tell you, but you were all more focused on Lynerd, and rightfully so. When Queen Kel visited them a year ago, she made it clear they should follow her. They told her no.”

My brows rose. “Then why is she attacking us?” The Midwest would be easier to take down—they had smaller numbers than we did.

“Because we’re closer.” Carl took a few steps back and leaned against the counter. “Even though we’re larger than her packs, we’re spread out farther, and she can easily retreat into her own territory to regroup.”

The Midwest was almost half our size, and the wolves did live close to one another. Their supreme alpha, King Sutton, lived outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Dan pursed his lips. “Not only that, but their cities are larger, so there are more humans around.”

I didn’t care why we’d been attacked first. One thing was more important than hearing any more theories from Jasmine or anyone else. “There’s something we need to address.” I pointed at Zeke. “We need to execute him.”

Zeke tensed and glanced down at the knife protruding from his chest.

Theo gasped. “Callie, you can’t be—”

“Serious?” I cut him off, glaring at him. “Oh, I’mdeadlyserious.”

Jack snorted. “I know now isn’t the time, but damn, I’m so glad we protected her.”

“Man.” Lucas shook his head yet still didn’t smack his friend.

“Listen to my son—he has my pack’s best interests at heart,” Zeke practically croaked.

“Your pack’s bestinterestsat heart?” I wrinkled my nose. “Killing the kingandthe queen, then kidnapping the princess to block her wolf and hide her memories, were only inyourbest interest. Don’t act like you’re the victim here.”

Forehead wrinkling, Theo blinked. “Dad, you did all that? Working with Queen Kel was shitty, but this…”

“None of us are fans of Zeke.” Michael patted my back. “I know we’re reeling from Bodey’s capture, but killing Zeke won’t fix it.”

I cut my eyes to the man I now saw as a father figure. Not even my adoptive dad had shown me much affection, saving most for Pearl and Stevie. “It might make us feel better.”

“It might, but we’d regret it soon enough.”

“Fine.” They were right. Death was too much of a blessing for Zeke. He should stay alive and suffer for what he’d done to my parents, which meant stripping him of every inch of power, beginningnow. “He needs to go somewhere he can’t hear our conversation. I don’t trust him. For all we know, this could be an act he set up with the queen.”

“It’s not.” Zeke laughed dryly, then groaned. “Believe me. I wish that wasn’t the case, but the Southwest queen and I are no longer working together in any capacity.”

There was no stench of a lie, but that wasn’t enough proof for me. “Remove his cell phone and take him away. Also, get the witch to heal him enough so he doesn’t die, but I want him to feel the pain of his injury and heal on his own.” I smiled sweetly and batted my eyes. “That was what he did for me.”

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