Page 42 of Pandemonium

With a shudder, China sat up and looked at the males. Benecio was sitting on a concrete bench looking pissed. The handful of males around him appeared wary and disgruntled.

“My destiny is out there, though.”

“It is. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t forge another path. Destiny can be changed because of free will. If you don’t go through with meeting Benecio, then your destiny will change paths.”

“And he’ll want to fight Demi’s mates for her. I can’t allow that, not when I could maybe do something about it. I feel like I have to be here.”

There was a knock on China’s window and she about jumped out of her skin. Vale leaned down as China lowered the window. “You almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Sorry. They’re getting anxious. We should either get this over with or leave.”

“It’s up to you,” Abbie said, putting her hand on China’s shoulder.

“Let’s do this before I lose my nerve or barf all over my favorite tennis shoes.”

China opened the car door and climbed out. She inhaled deeply to settle her nerves, but something that smelled good caught her attention. Her lioness sat up in her mind, curious. Interested.

“Do you smell that? It’s like really good cologne.”

Vale inhaled. “Nope. I just smell lions and grass.”

China hummed and looked at Abbie, who was looking at her curiously. “Let’s go,” China said.

“As you wish,” Abbie said.

Their small group walked toward the males. As she grew closer to them, her lioness started to fuss, clawing at her insides and yowling complaints.

“What the hell?” she whispered, rubbing the space over her heart. “Calm down.”

“Who are you talking to?” Reign asked.

“My cat.”

“What’s she doing?” Abbie asked.

“Going crazy.”

“What is the meaning of this meeting?” Benecio demanded, rising to his feet.

China stopped abruptly. She inhaled, but didn’t smell the good scent anymore, which made her lioness furious.

She looked over her shoulder but didn’t see anyone. Her cat yowled in misery.

China turned back to Benecio. He was such a bastard. “I came to see you because Abbie said we were destined to meet.”

“I told her already that I wasn’t interested in anything she had to say. I will have Demi or I will slaughter the pride to get to her.”

“You’re an ass,” China said, throwing up her hands. “I’m fucking glad you’re not my heart-match, that’s for damn sure. Why are you so closed minded? Why are you insisting on Demi? She’s mated! She’s not going to give them up for anyone, especially not you.”

“Shut up, female,” a male next to Benecio said, flashing his fangs at her.

“Butt out,” she said, her ire rising. She couldn’t figure out if she was more pissed about losing the good smell or Benecio’s behavior.

Another male advanced with a growl and China took a step back. The males’ eyes were all glowing gold, their beasts close to the surface.

Shit.

“We’re leaving,” Vale said. He put his arm in front of China to push her behind him.

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