Page 50 of Chosen Destiny

“Uh…” She pulled back and glanced at me. “I can, but Bodey doesn’t like me driving his car.”

I snorted. That sounded like my mate, and thinking of him like that seemed important… especially in this moment.

I could have offered to drive, but the thought of not touching Bodey made my skin crawl and my wolf snarl. Ihadto be near him.

“Jasmine.” Michael cupped his daughter’s face. “Callie can’t leave Bodey after being apart for so long and with him this injured. Her wolf will lose it. You have to drive. You’re the least injured of the three of us.”

My wolf settled, realizing Michael understood I couldn’t part from my mate. There was no way anyone could pry me away from him unless it was the only way to save him.

“Okay.” She inhaled sharply. “I can do that.”

“Good.” He released her and took a few steps back. “I’ll help Jack.” He shut the door.

Jasmine climbed over the center console and turned on the car, blasting the heat. I hadn’t realized how cold it was, but now I shivered at the realization. I lifted Bodey’s head and slid under his front half, then closed the door. Even though I was worried, being next to him gave me peace. He was safe from the enemy.

With my mind clearing, I linked with Lucas and Miles,Are you three okay?

Yes, we’re at the curve. Did you fight off Kel’s wolves?Miles asked.

For now. They could come back.I rolled down the window despite the chill, needing to listen in case they did.

I looked at Jack’s Navigator and found Samuel leaning against the back with the rifle in his hands.

He was prepared in case the wolves came back. Thank gods for him because I’d been totally focused on my mate.

I kept waiting for something else to happen, but Miles, Lucas, and Phil soon joined us. Samuel jumped into the passenger seat of the Mercedes, and once the rest got into the other vehicles, we pulled away. Jasmine drove fast as the sun rose, marking the sky with swirls of pinks, oranges, and blues. The sunrise was gorgeous, and if Bodey had been healthy beside me with “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran playing on the radio, this would’ve been one hell of a romantic moment, the sort I’d love to share with my mate. But all we’d managed so far were stolen moments between chaos, and our relationship deserved better than that. I had to believe things would calm down and we would eventually spend time together without danger hovering over us.

One day.

When we were half a mile from the main road, Jasmine tossed Samuel her phone.

“Uh… thanks?” Samuel arched a brow.

I ran my fingers through Bodey’s hair, hating the grease that clung to my fingers. With the dirt caked under his nails and all over his body, I feared I didn’t want to know where she’d kept him. My heart ached as I thought about the hell he’d endured just for being my mate.

“It’s unlocked.” Jasmine pulled onto the main road. “Put in the address to the house Russell rented. We’re supposed to meet him there.”

Her words were like a kick to the gut. I hated that we’d left Russell and his pack behind, but we’d had to. We would’ve made things more difficult for them if we’d stayed, given how beaten up we all were.

I laid my head back and tipped it down to stare at my mate. I’d give anything for him to open his eyes, but he was still out cold. My salvation was the fact that he’d turned his head to nestle into my lap and stomach, the jolt between us increasing. Even in his sleep, he recognized my touch and was leaning into it. My chest expanded to the point of hurting.

Thirty minutes later, Jasmine drove up to the house. She didn’t turn the car off, just nodded. “The code to get in is 9-0-8-1-2-4.”

My hand paused on the door handle. “Are you not coming with us?”

She shook her head. “I’m going to dump the car somewhere and head back.”

My brows furrowed. “Why?”

“The wolves around our vehicles could’ve gotten our tag numbers. They could locate us if we park here.” Samuel sighed. “Good catch. I’ll go with you.”

Shit. I hadn’t thought of that. “We need to do the same thing with the former alphas, Jack, Lucas, and Miles.”

“I’ll take Jack’s car since all three of them are injured, and I’ll talk with Michael.” Samuel opened the door and jogged to the vehicle behind us.

I sighed and looked back at my mate. Even though I was strong, I wasn’t sure how to get Bodey out of the vehicle alone, but I’d be damned if I didn’t figure it out.

Opening my door, I climbed out and placed my arms under Bodey’s armpits and around his chest. His cinnamon and sandalwood scent was mixed with sour body odor. I didn’t focus on that but rather on carefully dragging his body out of the back seat and allowing his feet to land gently on the asphalt.

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