Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(62)
Weeks passed, and leaves began to fall from the trees, the air growing colder and colder as fall settled in all around us. The moon grew full, and Kaden and I led the pack on a hunt through the forest, where I helped take down a white-tailed deer for the first time. I still couldn't access my magic no matter how hard I tried, but among my fellow shifters, I felt more connected to my wolf side than ever before.
The solar eclipse crept ever closer, and I’d never wanted to dig my heels in to stop the passage of time more than I did now. Yet at the same time, I was excited to see my brother again. Wesley and I kept in touch almost every day, and we'd settled on a location for the meeting—a cabin in Oregon that had belonged to our father. I'd never been there, but Dad had taken Wesley a few times on father-son expeditions, leaving me at home with Jackie. Though I had no interest in visiting anywhere that reminded me of my parents, Wesley said it was a perfect location because it was outside any of the packs' territories, but easily accessible to all of them. I wasn't totally convinced, but I didn't have any other suggestions either. Now the trick was getting some of the other pack members to actually show up.
"Ayla, are you listening?" Wesley asked.
"Yes, I'm here." I shook myself out of my thoughts and began pacing along the shore of the lake while clutching the phone to my ear. I realized I’d let Wesley talk for a few minutes without soaking in a single word he’d said.
“As I was saying, the Leos have everyone cowering in fear,” he continued. “You know I’ve been reaching out, but the other alphas are hesitant to even talk to me, let alone agree to a meeting."
“I know you’re doing the best you can,” I said, rubbing at my temple with one hand. "At least the Pisces alpha agreed to come. That's a start. Now that he's said yes, others will follow." I hope, I mentally added.
Mira had texted me yesterday with the news that the Pisces alpha had finally been convinced to come hear us out. I suspected she and her mate had been relentless in badgering him until he'd finally caved in, and I'd never been so thankful for such a persistent friend.
"I think the Libra alpha will come too," Wesley said. "He's definitely interested in hearing what we have to say."
"Good. Hopefully, more will show up too." I sighed as I gazed across the sparkling waters of the lake. "You’d think they’d all be more averse to being controlled by the Leos.”
"Each pack believes it won't happen to them, or that if they keep out of the conflict, they'll be safe." Wesley sounded exhausted as he spoke. "We both know that's bullshit, but I can see how they might think that."
"I guess." I had a lot less faith in the other Zodiac Wolves after they'd abandoned our pack to die at the Convergence. We were supposed to be united, and yet at the first sign of blood, they'd all turn tail and fled. Now it was nearly impossible to get them to even speak with us. It almost made me want to say screw it and let them fall under the control of the Leos if they weren't willing to lift a hand to stop it. The only reason I didn't was that I knew that come back around to hurt Wesley's pack, and Mira's, and eventually my pack as well. If the Leos and Sun Witches became too powerful, we were all doomed to fall.
We said our goodbyes and hung up, promising to speak again soon. I had the brief urge to throw the phone into the water, but I knew that it wouldn’t accomplish anything. Instead, I gripped the phone tight and breathed through the feeling of hopelessness that ran through me.
A twig snapped behind me, and I spun, ready for a fight.
Kaden stepped out of the shadows. “Good form."
His words sent me back in time, to when he was more my enemy than my lover and had to teach me out of sheer necessity. So much had changed, and even with all the hardship, I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.
I launched myself at Kaden, who opened his arms to me. He’d been away on a trip to get supplies, and even though it had only been a few days, I’d found myself missing him terribly. I reached up and drew Kaden’s face toward mine, tilting my head back so we could kiss.
I’d meant it to be something sweet, something brief, but the moment my lips touched his, I wanted more. Kaden seemed enthusiastic enough to deepen the kiss, hands sliding along my hips to bring me closer to him.
Then Kaden let out a grunt and drew back. “As much as I’d love to keep doing that, I have news.”
I grimaced. "News?"
“Don’t make that face, it’s good news,” he said. “I’ve located the Sagittarius pack. They were roaming close enough to our lands that I was able to catch the scent of them and follow them.”
The Sagittarius pack were notorious nomads with no set pack lands and no place to truly call home. They liked it that way, and I’d heard that some shifters went to the Sagittarius pack if they felt like they wanted to live a truly free life. They were also the only pack that had been friendly with the Ophiuchus pack before the Convergence, though we hadn't been in contact with them since.
“That’s great,” I said. “What happened? Did you talk to them?” I looked over his body on impulse, trying to see if he’d been attacked. I didn't think the Sagittarius pack members would hurt him, but so many things had changed over the last few months. For all we knew, they'd gone and joined the Leos since then. Besides, I was just as protective of my man as he was of me.