Page 64 of Destined Mate

Time sped forward, and the next time Jerome saw the elder, both the elder’s wife and son had left him. Elder Rodgers was bitter, poor, and isolated. His hatred and anger had prevented him from ever being accepted into another pack.

It ate at him like a cancer, its dark tendrils growing inside him until it overtook everything else. Finally, Jerome saw the old wolf go to bed one night and not wake up.

Jerome returned to himself just as Elder Rodgers stormed toward the door.

“In a vision, I saw you miserable and alone. Your jealousy and greed will destroy your family. No pack will ever accept you, either,” Jerome called out. “You’ll die poor and unloved.”

Rodgers stopped and turned.

“Did you hear me?”

“You’re wrong,” Elder Rodgers said.

“I’ve told you before—I’m never wrong.”

“You have twelve hours to get off my land,” Wesley added.

Elder Rodgers looked from Jerome to Wesley with pure derision before finally leaving, slamming the door behind him with an impressive crash for such an old wolf.

Once he was gone, the other wolves exhaled. Jerome noticed each of them looked far more relaxed now that Rodgers was no longer present.

“That’s the last we’ll ever see of him,” Jerome said. His mouth felt dry, the metallic taste of adrenaline and fear lingering from the confrontation with Elder Rodgers and the vision.

Wesley placed a steadying hand on Jerome’s shoulder. “Did you know your eyes turn white during your visions?”

“Yeah. It’s creepy, I know.”

Wesley gave Jerome an incredulous look, then chuckled softly. “Creepy? I think it’s sexy as hell, my mate. Your eyes transform into a milky white, like twin moons shrouded in mist.”

Jerome blinked. No one had ever saidthatto him. “You really are perfect for me, aren’t you?”

“I’m your destined mate.”

“Yes. Yes, you are. You really are.”

When they turned around, they met approving looks from two of the elders.

“Please believe us when we say we didn’t know how involved Rodgers was with the rogue alpha,” Elder Moore said.

“I suppose that leaves Horner next on the list?” Elder Dillard asked, glancing at the third elder, who sat stiffly, his thin lips pursed into a grim line.

“Indeed,” Wesley said evenly. “I think you need to go as well. That you’re friends with Rodgers doesn’t speak highly of you.”

Elder Horner shifted in his seat and frowned deeply—first at the alpha, and then at Moore and Dillard.

“This is disgraceful,” Horner muttered as he rose from his seat, adjusting his collar in an attempt to maintain somesemblance of dignity. “I’ll remind you I’ve been an elder for longer than some of you have been alive!”

“Please don’t let that stop you from following your friend,” Wesley countered coolly. “You also have twelve hours to get off my land.”

Elder Horner opened his mouth as if to say something more, but no words came out. Instead, he let out an indignant huff and left the room.

“Then there were two,” Wesley said. “Jerome? Do they stay or do they go.”

“They’re fine. They were a big help to Li Li.”

“Thank you for that,” Elder Dillard said. “We tried.”

“I know that you two did. She did too.”

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