pouring the coffees, Mila turned to him and whispered, “You okay?”
“I want this over with,” said Dominic, his voice equally low. He didn’t like being in Joel’s house. Didn’t like that Mila was in Joel’s house. His wolf really didn’t fucking like that his mate was on the asshole’s territory.
Dominic had worried that she’d find it hard to see the life her predestined mate had built with someone else—he’d have understood, would have comforted her even though it would have hurt him to see that this pained her. But she was fine, albeit tired. Likewise, her cat wasn’t tense or edgy. And that showed him that neither she nor Mila felt any regrets at the way things had turned out. Dominic had needed to know that.
“Here we go.” Adele placed three steaming mugs on the table and then settled on the chair opposite Mila. “Anything else you want to ask?”
Mila cocked her head. “Do you ever feel guilty for choosing Joel over your true mate?”
Her smile dimming, Adele froze with her cup halfway to her mouth. “Guilty? Well, um, I’d like to think that our predestined mates wouldn’t begrudge us happiness.” Her gaze dropped to the table. “It would be natural for them to be unhappy because we’d chosen another over them, but they could still want us to be happy.”
Dominic picked up his mug. “Mila stupidly feels guilty that she’s ‘stolen’ someone else’s mate. I keep telling her I’m with her because I want to be, but she still feels bad about it.”
Adele gave a wry smile. “That’s the thing about imprinting. It’s special, but it’s easy to feel guilty for renouncing your mate or claiming someone else’s.”
“Yeah.” Mila sighed. “But I guess life’s too short for torturing yourself.”
“Something Rosemary proved today when she shot you in the chest,” Dominic rumbled. His throat tightened at the memory. “Thank God for Helena. And for Evander, since he tackled Rosemary to the floor after you kicked the gun out of her hand. And for Dean, since he dived for the gun.”
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