Free Racing Destiny (Dirt Track Dogs Book 5) by P. Jameson Page A

love you.”
    “I love you too.”
    “I’ll see you before I leave. I’ll come by to tell Gracie.”
    “Okay. Try to rest.”
    “Bye.”
    Destiny hung up the phone, setting it carefully on the side table.
    It was time to finish this.
    The tears fell faster as she made her way to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
    The water washes clean what can and cannot be seen. This is why we use the water to see what we cannot know.
    Destiny stared at her reflection in the mirror. The damn fortune cookie wisdom was the last thing she needed right now. She flipped her middle finger at it and turned to step into the shower.
    ***
    Diz charged through the forest, running full speed. He’d done one lap around DTD’s ten acres, and he was going to do at least another. He hated leaving Destiny alone but he couldn’t stay. He was going to fucking lose it if she’d mentioned his mate again, if his name came off her lips in that way that was barely a breath for the pain it caused her. He couldn’t stand the scent of sadness that filled the room, marking out everything they’d done. He couldn’t stand seeing her in that kind of pain.
    He had to find a way to fix it. Needed to get his wolf alone, wear him out so he could make the animal see they were facing a civil fucking war.
    He’d find a way to make his animal submit. There had to be a way.
    It’s okay. I’ll keep trying to see her. We’ll fix this, Diz .
    He gnashed his teeth. No. Damn it, no. That wasn’t what he wanted. Finding his mate wasn’t the answer to their problem.
    His shoulders sank, crushing him under the weight of guilt as he pushed forward, pressing his animal to the limits. But the wolf just ran, not the least bit worried about losing. Cocky bastard.
    Alright, fucker. Let’s fight .
    He inhaled deeply, scenting the cool air mixing with Dessy’s sweet scent that lingered on him.
    Smell that? There’s going to be more of that so you’d better get used to it.
    His wolf chuffed, and for the first time tonight, Diz tried to listen, to really feel what the animal felt. They’d been at odds longer than he’d even realized. The mental struggle over what Diz wanted but wouldn’t admit to and what his wolf wanted had done damage, but he’d been so busy ignoring it, he hadn’t realized just how much.
    What is it, you goddamn bastard? What do you want?
    Mate. Mine. Young. Family. Mine .
    Yes, Dessy. All that, with Dessy.
    Not mine .
    Diz ran harder, faster, his breath chugging in and out of the animal’s lungs.
    Why can’t you bond with her? Why can’t I have her? Tell me.
    Not mine.
    You stubborn asshole. She’s the one. She’s what we need .
    This didn’t make sense. None of the others had problems with their wolf bonding. Was there really no choice in their mating? Was it really just fate’s way or no way? Because he couldn’t accept that. Not after tonight. Not after feeling what he felt with Destiny.
    I won’t let you win. Do you understand me? I’ll make her mine whether you like it or not .
    Not mine .
    Diz snarled a warning to the animal and ran faster.
    Okay, so the wolf wanted his mate. Diz wanted Dessy. He couldn’t give one fuck about the female intended for him. He wished her a good fucking life, and maybe a “sorry to leave you hanging” but other than that, she didn’t matter to him.
    His little bobcat mattered and that was all.
    Wolf roared at that, and Diz slowed.
    So… that got his attention.
    That’s right, bastard. My intended means nothing to me. Nothing, you hear? I don’t want her. Never will.
    Another vicious sound tore from his throat, but Diz was only encouraged.
    She isn’t mine. My intended isn’t mine. Dessy is mine .
    Snarling and snapping his disagreement, wolf dug his claws into the soft ground.
    Dessy is mine. Intended is nothing .
    Wolf howled loud enough to wake the moon.
    Is this what it would take? Forcing his animal to watch him deny his intended? Because he’d do it in a New York fucking minute.
    Diz