Page 6 of Chosen Destiny

A laugh bubbled in my throat, but my kid version was frozen in terror. Even then, I’d known I couldn’t defend myself and that Zeke was involved in what had happened to my parents.

“No,” I murmured, but Zeke already had his arms underneath me, pulling me out. My skin felt as if it were on fire as I was jostled and cradled against his chest.

He murmured in my ear, “Say another word and your parents won’t be the only ones you mourn. Samuel is still alive.”

I swallowed hard and focused on the connection I knew was Samuel. After Zeke did whatever, I would find my brother and tell Michael about the strange fight between my parents and Zeke moments before the explosion.

My heart panged. That wouldn’t happen. Adult me knew the outcome: I’d lose seventeen years with my brother and Bodey.

Bodey.

I needed to snap myself out of this memory so I could find him. But Fate was being a bitch, keeping the very thing I wanted most desperately in life just out of my grasp.

“So where—” Nick started, but the soft sound of approaching feet cut him off.

“Where is he?” a woman’s voice asked from behind Zeke.

Zeke turned to her, and the world swirled around me. My body throbbed from every spot he touched, and my skin burned from the chilly breeze that wafted across me. Zeke’s chest rumbled as he replied, “He’s here. You’ll get him once you do what you promised.”

The woman took in a shaky breath. “Fine. Bring the girl to me.”

“Are you sure about this?” Nick asked from his spot beside the car. “Maybe—”

“Go check on the witch and make sure she doesn’t have something that will hurt Caroline,” Zeke commanded, but his arms tightened around me and shook faintly.

The hair on the nape of my neck rose.

“Fine.” Nick sighed. “I can do that.”

I heard Nick walk past us, and Zeke’s heartbeat quickened.

Something was about to go down.

As the man approached the witch, the woman said, “On your knees.”

The wind picked up, rushing past us toward Nick, and forced him to his knees.

“Zeke!” Nick yelled, but Zeke stood still.

Something wet hit my face, and I opened my eyes to see a tear drip off Zeke’s chin and fall on me.

He was crying.

“Take this sacrifice to bind the girl’s wolf,” the woman chanted. “Bring the girl to me.”

Zeke moved forward without hesitation as more tears hit my face. He laid me on the ground, and Nick’s eyes were so wide that the whites showed all around.

The witch’s dark-blue hair hung in her face, and her dark skin glistened from the magic churning within. She held out a hand. “I need the knife.”

“Knife?” Nick’s voice quivered. “Zeke, what the fuck is going on? Tell her to let me go.” The wind continually whipped around him, causing him to stay frozen on all fours with his head raised, staring at us.

Something sharp lodged in my throat. When she met me, Dina had said I had blood magic all over me. This had to be it.

I watched the witch, who had to be Salem, take the knife from Zeke and yank Nick’s head up with her free hand. Her face twisted, and she murmured to Nick, “Please forgive me.” Then she slit his throat. “With this sacrifice, lock down the girl’s wolf until a mutual exchange of blood occurs between her and her mate.” She lifted the knife, the blood dripping off the end onto her fingertips.

Blood trickled from the corners of Nick’s mouth, his skin already pale from the knife’s direct blow.

Salem walked over to me and rubbed a bloody finger over my forehead. Her bottom lip quivered. “This seals the sacrifice, and the wolf will be bound from now until the exchange of blood happens.”

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