Page 77 of Chosen Destiny

I took a tentative step forward, expecting to meet the invisible wall, but when I didn’t meet resistance, I moved faster.

Callie, wait,Bodey linked, but my feet had a mind of their own. He growled in frustration.

I ran through the door, Bodey, Samuel, and Lucas right on my heels. Tears dripped down Chelsea’s face as she rolled Dina onto her back and placed her hands on her chest.

She lifted her head toward the cloudless sky and stared at the moon, crying, “Goddess, please help me save her.”

I slowed as realization slammed into me, taking the oxygen from my lungs. Dina’s heart was barely beating. My mouth dried.

Chelsea’s hands glowed, and her breath caught as she gritted her teeth and channeled her magic into the high priestess.

The world seemed to stop. I forced my eyes away from Dina and toward the woods. Our enemy wasn’t far away.

I wanted to ask what I could do to help, but Chelsea kept her face skyward as her lips chanted the same sentence over and over.

Bodey wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled my back against his chest. He linked,We need to get you back inside. Standing out here will make it easier for Kel’s witches to find you.

I tensed but didn’t fight his hold. I linked with him and Samuel,We need to get the unconscious wolves away before the enemy witches do something worse to them.Fighting witch magic was hard enough—the thought of so many of our people unconscious and vulnerable to witches’ whims made my skin crawl.

I have a group heading to them now.Samuel came beside me, his gaze locking with mine.I’m going with them this time.

No.Bodey tensed.If they take you—

They have enough of our people.As Chelsea murmured continuously in the background, I took a step away and turned to Bodey. I needed him to understand that even though he and Samuel were two of the most important people in my life, all my people mattered to me too. The purpose of my position was to protect them, not leave them defenseless.I’m going with him.

Bodey’s brows furrowed.

The queen sends her people out with no regard for their well-being. Bodey, we’re supposed to protect them. Wecan’thide. That isn’t right.Stevie and me leaving wasn’t happening. I wouldn’tallowit to happen. I’d agreed not to run out there right away because we didn’t know the risks, and we’d held everyone else back too. Now we understood what we were up against.

Conflict warred in my mate’s gorgeous indigo eyes. He didn’t like what I was saying, but he also agreed.

I’ll head out there now,Samuel linked as his bones broke and re-formed. Fur sprouted over his body as his clothes ripped away. He landed on all four paws and raced toward the woods.

Though I knew he was strong, it didn’t feel right to let him go out there alone.Lucas, can you shift and go with him?I wanted to go, but I needed to make sure Chelsea didn’t need anything first.

I’m on it.Lucas didn’t hesitate. He shifted and was soon only a few paces behind my brother.

Miles and Jack joined us, with the former advisors right behind them. I knew leaving their mates behind was the last thing they wanted to do, but they had responsibilities just as Bodey and I did.

I turned to Chelsea, but she was still chanting at the sky. I wanted to stay and help, but I couldn’t do anything here.

The mates stepped onto the back deck, and Jack groaned. “Stevie, if you love sex, you’re going to march your hot ass right back inside that house.” He crossed his arms, glowering at her.

My sister rolled her eyes. “I’m not worried about you holding out.”

That was not a conversation we needed to hear, especially with Dina barely holding on to life.Chelsea is trying to cast a spell, and we need to back up Samuel and Lucas. The former advisors can stay here and keep watch while the four of us join them.

Everyone nodded. We knew the enemy witches were coming toward the houses, so there was no reason for me to stay put when I could help my people.

I hurried to the woods with Bodey, Jack, and Miles behind me. When I reached the first thicket of trees, my skin tingled, and my fur tried to sprout. I forced the shift back, linking with the others,I’m going to stay in human form. We might need to talk to the witches, and it’ll be easier to carry the wolves back with human legs and arms.

I’ll do the same,Bodey replied, catching up to me and running at my side.

The two of us will shift in case we run into trouble,Miles linked, and I heard his and Jack’s bones crack behind me. Soon, both of them were in wolf form and flanking Bodey and me.

Have you found anyone yet?I linked to Samuel, my muscles burning from how hard I was pushing myself.

No, but Jasmine, Theo, and twenty more pack members are near the unconscious wolves,Samuel replied.I told them to hold back. But they don’t see any enemies.

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