The Designated Mate novel Chapter 78

"What?" I asked self-consciously.

"Nothing, nothing," she muttered, shaking her head and focusing back on our surroundings. We conversed with a few unmated males again, just doing our best to blend in. I'd managed to pull Travis off into an empty hallway and corner him on our way out. I put my best act on, hoping to God that my 'I can't get enough of you' attitude was being realistically portrayed. My prayers were answered when he agreed with a wide smile, though slightly miffed that Grace would be joining us. We set a time and meeting point before I swiftly left. Grace and I met up just around the corner, sharing a giddy look for a few seconds before wiping the emotion away. We couldn't get too cocky or our guard could let down - that's when people got hurt and mistakes were made.

I couldn't stop pacing our room as the minutes and hours ticked by. My nerves wouldn't let up, I felt like my stomach was in my throat the entire time. Grace had thrown a few pillows at me every now and then to tell me to 'knock it off!' but it didn't change anything. I ignored the various movies that came and went, going over our exit route over and over in my head.

"I thought you were going to wear a hole in the floor before we got a chance to leave," she joked as we changed into dark, inconspicuous clothing that could still feasibly be normal outfits she or I would wear. The alarm clock on the side table read eleven o'clock exactly. The plan was seamless up until our getaway; the one thing I was worried about was timing border patrol correctly so we didn't run into anyone.

"We've got this, Pops. We can do this," she reassured me before giving me a tight hug and opening the door for me. I took a deep breath in and out before putting on my game face and walking out. My palms began to sweat the closer we got to our agreed spot. I could tell Grace was a little nervous as well. When he came into our line of sight, I felt light headed like I was going to pass out.

Not now, Poppy. Right now it's time for you to buck up and do this damn thing!

I squared my shoulders and held my head high as I came face to face with Travis. He smiled at both of us before motioning with his head for all of us to start walking. We fell into a comfortable pace side by side as he rambled on about some project he's doing on his house. I nodded and vocalized a few 'wow, that's awesome's and 'that'll look nice' at the appropriate times, Grace adding in a few comments here and there as well. My breathing began to pick up as we reached the treeline. I hardened my heart and stopped after we got a few feet in. Travis stopped and stared at me with a questioning look.

We were seconds away from crossing the border when a hand shot out in front of me. I ran full-force into it with my neck, knocking myself back on the ground and forcing all the air out of my lungs. I moved my hand to grasp my now-aching throat, but someone else beat me to the punch.

"Hello, Poppy," a familiar voice growled as the hand dragged me up to my feet. I gasped involuntarily, the action-inducing a coughing fit from my battered throat. I came face to face with my worst nightmare; Knox's Uncle. "Surprised to see me?" he asked followed by a dark chuckle. My eyes bugged out of my head, trying to figure out how this could've happened. We were so careful. So careful.

"I'm sure you're wondering how I caught onto this little plan of yours. Of course, I know that your mate - my nephew - was behind the whole thing because there's no way two measly women could've concocted this whole thing on their own," he sneered. When he said two measly women, my eyes snapped to Grace's thrashing form as she tried her best to fight away from the men holding her down. "Well, allow me to enlighten you. Does the name Williams ring a bell?" he questioned with a malice-filled smile. My face must've given away my shock because he laughed once again.