Page 23 of Destined Mate

He’d done his research when he’d received the Luna’s Summons. He knew that the Cross Creek’s alpha had been a woman of Asian descent, and the alpha he’d seen was clearly that. And hunters had attacked her pack.

He’d found pictures of Li Li and of her mate, Jerome. And speaking of the alpha mate, why did Wesley feel as though he knew that omega? He was certain he had never laid eyes on him before.

Yet there was an inexplicable familiarity to him, an unspoken connection that tugged at Wesley’s consciousness. Watching the omega dash back into the fray almost sent his heart into overdrive. His wolf had nearly panicked—just stark raving insane when that happened.

Even now, a cold sweat broke out across his skin thinking about it, and a jolt of fear shot through him, a sensation he hadn’t felt in years. The sight had been terrifying.

“Wesley? I’m going to need a bit more than that. Strange how?”

Wesley huffed, annoyed with himself for just throwing that out there and then trailing off. “There was this battle happening between wolves and hunters.”

“Wolves and hunters?” Keith raised an eyebrow. “Now, that’s interesting, all things considered.”

“Right?” Wesley frowned, still feeling the unsettling residue of fear and adrenaline clinging to him. “I saw an omega. He was helping others despite the surrounding chaos.”

“And?”

“And then he ran back into the fray. Just like that.” Wesley snapped his fingers as he replayed the scene in his mind. “Heshifted into wolf form and ran straight toward the damn danger. It scared the hell out of me and my wolf.”

Keith leaned forward. “Are you saying you think you saw the attack against Cross Creek?”

Wesley sighed and swung his legs out of bed, resting his elbows on his knees. Moonlight spilled through the heavy drapes, casting a silvery beam across the carpet.

“Wesley? Come on, man, don’t just leave me hanging here.”

“I don’t know, Keith. Maybe it’s just nerves about the challenge, or maybe….” Wesley paused, unsure how to articulate the deep-seated feeling that something significant was happening. But that attack had already taken place.

“Or maybe it’s a premonition?” Keith offered, only half joking.

“Maybe.” Wesley rubbed his face tiredly. “But alphas don’t do that kind of thing, and this has never happened before.”

“Shit. I was kidding.”

“I know. I wasn’t. Either way, I feel like I need to be prepared for anything at this point.”

Keith nodded slowly. “All right then, that’s what we’ll do. Somehow. But for right now, let’s try to get some more sleep. We’ve got a big day ahead.”

As Keith collapsed on his bed, Wesley remained seated, gazing at the moonbeam on the carpet. He couldn’t shake off the connection he felt to that dream omega—somehow important and reassuringly familiar.

With a deep breath to steady himself, Wesley lay back. As he closed his eyes, he couldn’t stop his mind from replaying the image of that omega running bravely toward danger.

It tugged at something primal within him, and he was afraid of what that meant.

Chapter Seven

Jerome

JEROME WAS in the kitchen, assisting the cook in preparing breakfast. He wanted to ensure the meal was perfect so no one caught the attention of the new alpha.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that his efforts might be futile, and someone might still end up on the receiving end of a backhanded slap.

The last few hours had been sheer hell. The rogue alpha, Elmer Woodhouse, had seized control, his presence as commanding and ominous as Jerome had foreseen in his haunting vision.

With him were his two betas: Clyde Puckett, a hulking figure with a perpetual sneer etched into his rugged face, and Albert Shipley, whose cold, calculating eyes seemed to pierce right through you. They were every bit as ruthless and merciless as their alpha, exuding an aura of menace that weighed heavily on everyone.

And they knew it.

The pack had eventually been allowed to bury their dead after the rogue alpha was assured they were sufficiently cowered, and they’d completed the task quickly.

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