Page 37 of Chosen Destiny

When we pulled up to the house, three people stood out front, including one who shouldn’t have been there.

My heart dropped.

CHAPTERTWELVE

Lynerd’swhite Infiniti sedan was parked to the left of the small house with gray siding. Lynerd stood several feet away from the brand-new, unpainted deck that led to the front door, his back to the street.

A man I suspected was Russell blocked the steps, arms crossed. He appeared to be in his fifties, which, in shifter years, likely put him in his eighties.

Behind him stood a young woman whose lips were mashed together. She twirled a piece of her chestnut-brown hair around one finger.

Jasmine gasped. “I didn’t think Katelin would come with him. Russell is very protective of her—if you can’t tell.”

I exhaled. These were the shifters Jasmine knew. I’d been fearful this might be a trap.

But something had gone wrong. I linked to Lynerd,What’s going on? You were supposed to wait for us before getting out of the car.

He glanced over his shoulder at us and frowned.I wanted to scope out the area, and I parked here to walk around. The brown-haired girl came outside, and we were talking until this man came barging out.

We had to calm the situation before things escalated further. “Jasmine, come on. They’ll want to see your face.”

“I agree.” Samuel put the car into park. “Seeing you should de-escalate the situation.”

Jasmine and I got out, and I linked with everyone,Stay put. Russell is already uncomfortable with Lynerd. Let’s not overwhelm him.I didn’t want him to feel as if we were teaming up on him, especially if he hadn’t brought many people. This place looked small.

I tried not to show my disappointment. They’d brought whoever was willing and able. Even a handful was more than we’d had moments ago.

“Hey, Russell and Katelin,” Jasmine said as we moved around the front of the Mercedes. “Is everything all right?”

Russell’s russet-brown eyes focused on her, and he straightened. “Depends. Do you know this man?” He nodded at Lynerd.

“He’s the Oregon royal advisor who came to meet us here.” I needed to be the one to answer since I was the queen. “Is there a problem?”

“He was snooping around and asking my daughter questions.” Russell’s eyes narrowed on Lynerd. “So I didn’t know if Queen Kel had learned about us coming and was trying to gather the proof to justify attacking everyone back home.”

I understood that. The queen had a way of gathering knowledge. “I don’t blame you, but he came here to make sure you were an ally.”

Russell’s jaw twitched. “If you don’t trust us, then none of this will work.”

“The same way you didn’t trust him?” I had to think of something fast. Saving Bodey hinged on this plan, and we needed them. If they walked away, I’d be back to two options—sacrificing my mate, which wasn’t an option, or handing myself over.

Katelin snorted, startling me.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and leaned against the white wooden door. “She’s got you there, Dad.”

He growled. “Maybe, but what else am I supposed to think when some random man starts sniffing around and then flirts with my daughter?”

I tensed. There had been more going on.

“Dad…” Katelin’s turquoise eyes bulged. “He wasn’t flirting.”

Russell huffed. “I’m a man. I know exactly what he was doing.” His nose wrinkled as he observed Lynerd.

What did you do?I linked, surprised.

Nothing, I swear.Lynerd didn’t even look at me and instead continued to stare at Russell, fueling the conflict even more.

I stepped between Russell and Lynerd, cutting off their view of each other. I extended my hand, wanting to pull Russell’s focus elsewhere. “We appreciate you coming to aid us. I know that wasn’t an easy decision.”

---