Star Cursed (Zodiac Wolves #2)(63)

“I talked to a few of them, yes,” Kaden said, brushing away my concern. “They’ve agreed to a meeting tomorrow with their alphas. I'd like you to come with me.”

"Of course. I'll do whatever I can to help." Hope filled the hole that frustration had hollowed in my stomach from my conversation with Wesley. This felt like the biggest break we'd had yet.

"I’m confident they’ll be willing to listen. They aren’t allied with the Leos, and we've always had a good relationship with them."

I nodded. "And if there was ever a pack that would fight to not be controlled by another one, it would be them."

"Exactly." Kaden reached for the bag on his shoulder. "I got you something while I was away."

My eyebrows darted up. "You did?"

"It's something I've wanted to get you for a long time, but I never had the opportunity until now." He handed me a box, messily wrapped as if he hadn’t had time to properly do it. Or maybe he just sucked at wrapping gifts.

I didn't care though. I couldn't remember the last time I'd gotten a wrapped present at all. I tore the paper off with perhaps a little too much vigor, and then gasped when I opened the box. A new, professional camera was packed inside, its black edges gleaming proudly in the daylight. Happy tears immediately filled my eyes as I looked up at Kaden. "How...?"

"Jack and I managed to stop at an electronics store in Winnipeg during our trip." Kaden ran a hand through his hair. "Do you like it? I wasn't sure what to get, but the guy at the store said this was a good one. I know you lost yours at the Convergence, but I hope this one is a decent replacement."

"It's amazing." I traced the lens cover with one finger. This was the nicest camera I think I’d ever seen in person. I couldn’t even imagine the possibilities of all the photos I could take with it. I wrapped my arms around Kaden's neck, careful not to crush the box between us. “Thank you. I love it so much, and it means the world that you got it for me."

Kaden brushed his knuckles down my cheek. "You've been working so hard these last few weeks. You deserve it."

We kissed again, and I squeezed him tight, amazed that he'd gone out of his way to get me a present like this. I remembered him listening in while Mira talked about how I'd lost my camera, but I'd never expected him to do something about it. My throat tightened with emotion as I realized it meant he trusted me too. I could take pictures of the entire camp, but he knew I would never do anything to betray the pack or our location to others.

"I'm so excited." I tore off all the packaging and pulled the camera out, inspecting every angle of it. "Now I can actually take photos again without relying on my shitty phone camera." I held the camera up and pretend to take a shot of Kaden. "Say 'cheese!'"

He scowled and held up a hand in protest. "I regret buying you this already."

I grinned and held the camera out of his reach. "Too late. It's mine now, and there's no taking it back."

"Just watch where you point that thing," Kaden grumbled. Back to his old grumpy self. Except I knew now that was all an act, designed to protect his big mushy heart.

I laughed and took his hand, then dragged him back to the cabin so I could show him just how grateful I was for his gift.





Chapter Twenty-Seven





The Sagittarius pack tended to roam the northern, more sparsely populated parts of Canada, and they were hard to track down sometimes. We were lucky they'd decided to stop only a few hours away from where we'd been living, and that Kaden had been able to find them and make contact.

We drove to their location the next day, but parked a short distance away and trekked the rest of the way, up a hill to where the pack had made camp in a large clearing. The first thing I saw were the many rows of tricked-out camper vans and RVs, followed by some tents that had been set up. Soft music filtered on the breeze, along with the smell of campfires and food cooking.

As we approached, two people suddenly appeared out of the bushes, their movements silent and graceful. Each one held a bow in their hands, cocked and ready to shoot. The Sagittarius were excellent archers, training in the skill from the time they were small children, and when they used their pack power—archer's sight—they never missed, no matter how far away their target was.

"State your purpose," the male said.

Kaden inclined his head slightly. "I am Kaden Shaw, alpha of the Ophiuchus pack, and this is my mate, Ayla Beros. We're here to speak with your alphas."

"You may pass," the female said before they both stepped aside.

We stepped into the camp, and I was impressed by how the Sagittarius had settled in with large tents set up in the center along with several fire pits burning. People sat on portable chairs just outside their RVs and drank beers, while kids danced and played around the tents. They looked so much at home, I understood why they never wanted to live any other way.

Two people walked toward us, both of them flashing warm smiles. They were both in their fifties or so, with dark hair and features that made me think they had some Inuit blood, as did many in their pack. A mixture of confidence and power radiated from them, marking them as the Sagittarius alphas.

The male reached out and shook Kaden's hand. "Welcome. It's good to see you again."