Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 129756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 649(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Adele stiffened. “Dean?”
“He’s one of my clients,” Mila told her. “A bobcat shifter. It turns out, he’s also a friend of one of Dominic’s past flings. Charlene told us his story and . . . wow.”
“His story?” Adele echoed, swallowing hard.
“He has premonitions, and he once had a vision of his true mate; saw her imprinted on another,” said Mila. “He tried to find her before that future could come to pass, but he was too late. Although Dean was able to convince her that she’s his true mate, she won’t leave the guy she imprinted on. But then, neither would I. It’s a shame he can’t respect that. Isn’t it, Adele? Shame he won’t just let you enjoy the happiness you’ve found with Joel.”
Panic flitted across her face. “I don’t—”
“He named you to Charlene; he told her about Joel too.”
Adele shot to her feet. “I need you both to leave.”
“He told her how you suspected that Joel was the predestined mate of your cousin.”
Adele paled. “Mila—”
“I already knew.”
Her lips parting, Adele stared at her, incredulous. “What?”
“I knew it the second I saw him when you first brought him to meet the pride.”
As if the shock of that was too much, Adele plopped back onto the chair. “But . . . you . . . you didn’t say anything.”
“He loves you; he’s happy. I let that be enough for me. You never said anything either.”
Her eyes falling closed, Adele let out a shaky breath. “I thought about telling him, but it would have destroyed me to watch him walk away.” Her eyes opened, glittering with guilt. “I know what I stole from you, but I need him. I love him. I can’t be without him. He would have chosen you over me.”
Mila shook her head. “I don’t believe he would have.”
Adele snorted. “I see how drawn he is to you. See how he worries about you, how he seeks you out, how easy it is for him to be around you.” Her voice cracked. “It kills me, Mila.”
Honestly, Mila never thought she’d ever find herself feeling sorry for Adele, but she did. “I know what it’s like to love someone who fate gave to another female. I don’t know her, true—she’s just a hypothetical person to me. But I’d be lying if I said I’d have been up front in your position. I wouldn’t want to lose Dominic.” Mila pinned the other female’s gaze. “You hear me? I’m happy, Adele. I don’t want Joel. I’m not interested in coming between you. But I can’t say the same for Dean.”
Her brows squished together. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that he’s the person who put the bounty on my head.”
“What?” Adele let out a surprised laugh. “No. That’s ridiculous. Why would he ever—?”
“He can’t talk you into leaving Joel, can he? Dean hoped that my being threatened would somehow stir up Joel’s protective instincts and make him see the truth—make him leave you.”
Adele vigorously shook her head. “No. No, Dean wouldn’t do that. He said he was happy as long as I was happy.”
“And I’ll bet he meant it. But I’m guessing he thinks he can make you happier than anyone else ever could. The name of the person who put the price on my head is Dean Preston.”
Adele flinched. “I just can’t believe he’d do that. No. No. You have to be wrong. He wouldn’t risk my cousin’s life. He wouldn’t do anything that would hurt me.”
“Where is he?”
“With his pride, of course.”
Mila shook her head. “They haven’t seen him in days.”
“Call him,” Dominic told Adele. “You’re in contact with him, so you must have his number. Call him. Arrange to meet him somewhere. You can ask him yourself.”
“And you’ll be waiting, ready to pounce,” Adele accused, her eyes narrowed.
Dominic shrugged. “If he’s innocent, we’ll have no need to pounce.”
Adele rubbed at her temples. “I promised myself I wouldn’t meet with him again. It’s not fair to Joel. Oh God, I’ll need to tell him everything, won’t I?”
“That’s up to you,” said Mila. “You might have a chance at convincing Vinnie to keep a chunk of the story quiet from Joel and the rest of the pride.”
Adele swallowed, and the movement looked painful. “He’ll leave me. Joel. He’ll choose you.”
Dominic’s nostrils flared. “Mila’s not a fucking option for him.”
Mila put her hand on Dominic’s thigh. “I think you’re wrong, Adele. Joel loves you. I’m not saying it won’t be a shock, and it might hurt that you haven’t been straight with him about a lot of things. But he will understand why you didn’t tell him you suspected I was his predestined mate. He’s more likely to be upset at you secretly communicating with your true mate. So be sure to remind him that although you may have been in contact with Dean, you refused to leave Joel—he’s your choice.”