Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(52)

Once we left the pack lands and pulled onto the highway, Kaden floored it, showing us what the car could do. He'd said it would take three days of almost non-stop driving to reach where the Ophiuchus pack was hiding, but maybe it would be sooner if we kept up these speeds.

“Hey, so you know how this is technically my car?” I asked with a grin. “That means you should let me have a turn behind the wheel.”

Kaden slanted a glance over at me that said, bullshit. “Hmm."

I raised my eyebrows at that non-answer. “Come on, what do you think I’m going to do? Drive us off a cliff? You’ve seen me drive. I’m not that bad.”

He tapped on the steering wheel for a moment. "Fine. Once I start getting tired, you can drive.”

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Wow, what a charmer. He’s even going to let me drive. I’m honored.”

"Let's just hope we don't run into any of your Leo friends along the way," he muttered.





“Left,” Kaden said with a scowl. "I said, left."

I gritted my teeth and backed up the car, then turned down the half-hidden road I'd just passed. We’d entered a densely packed forest a few hours back, and Kaden had directed me down all sorts of winding, dirt roads that looked like driveways, if that. This was certainly off the map, and I couldn’t imagine a cluster of buildings big enough to house the Ophiuchus pack out this far.

We'd left the Cancer pack three days ago and driven to Manitoba, where the Ophiuchus pack lands were located. But instead of heading to Coronis, we'd continued farther north, the area getting more and more rural and remote with each hour. Now we were getting close, and I was pretty sure I'd never be able to find my way out of here on my own. Shit, it would be a miracle if our Aston Martin made it without getting stuck in the mud. We really should have taken the SUV.

“Happy?” I asked as we continued down the sad excuse for a road, the trees forming a tunnel over us. “I had no idea you'd be such an annoying backseat driver, though I guess I should have known.”

Kaden shrugged. "You insisted on driving, even though I told you it would be tricky."

"Only because you looked like you were falling asleep at the wheel!"

"I was not." He sat up straighter. "Get ready to turn left again. Here!"

I quickly rounded the corner, determined not to miss it this time. When I did, the tunnel of trees gave way to a group of small, brightly lit cabins with smoke coming from the fireplaces, with a shimmering lake behind them. A much larger lodge stood in the center of them, like something you'd see at a fancy vacation resort.

"Oh," I said, as I stopped the car, taking it all in. "This is beautiful. The Ophiuchus pack is here?”

“Yes. Just like the Cancer pack, we have a place we can escape to in case of danger.” He hopped out of the car, obviously eager to be back with his pack.

When I opened the car door, I took a moment to stop and breathe in the air. The cozy smell of wood smoke and forest immediately soothed me. Even better was the sight of familiar Ophiuchus pack members chatting with each other, along with a group of pups playing in a grassy area by the lake. The sun had just set, and the last of summer's warmth still hung in the air, and everything about this moment felt perfect. This was where I belonged.

The pack members spotted us and waved, some of them calling for Kaden, and he waved back but walked toward one of the cabins right by the lake. This one was larger than all the other cabins, and though it was a far cry from his house in Coronis, I could still tell this was the alpha's home.

The door to the cabin opened, and Stella poked her head out. “Kaden!” She bounded down the steps and threw herself into her brother's arms. “I’m so glad you’re back,” she said, and then drew back and grab me in a hug next. "Ayla! Oh, thank the goddess!"

I stepped forward to hug her. “I’m so happy to see you again."

“I’m so relieved you’re both home safe." She ran a critical eye over my body as if checking for injury. I shook away her concern. All the wounds from the Leo pack were long gone at this point. The only mark I still had on my body was from where Kaden had bitten me, and I didn’t want to explain that to her yet.

"Come inside," Stella said. "I have pasta already cooking, and you can tell me everything that happened over the last few weeks. I'm dying to hear about it all."

"We'll tell you everything, but first I want to know how you're doing," I said as we entered the cabin. It was rustic inside and looked like it hadn't been updated in at least ten years, but it was comfortable too.

“Oh, you know, it's been a lot of work," she said as she went to stir the pasta. Under the kitchen lights, I saw dark circles under her eyes, and she looked older, as if she’d lived a year in the few weeks it had been since my capture. "People were not happy to leave Coronis, not one bit. We’ve gotten a lot of protests, which I get, but it's not like we had any other choice.” She shrugged. “But other than that, we’re managing.”

“That has to be rough." I reached toward Kaden unconsciously, putting my hand on his shoulder as I turned to him. “But now Kaden’s back, and he can boss everyone around. You’re too nice to do that.”

Stella’s eyes were caught on my hand on Kaden’s shoulder, and how he wasn’t shaking it off. Shit. She narrowed her eyes, gaze flicking between us. “Are you…?”