Moon Touched (Zodiac Wolves: The Lost Pack #1)(8)
That explained how he’d known exactly who I was. I shrugged Wesley’s hand off. “I’ll stay away as long as he leaves me alone. I want nothing to do with the Leos.”
When I was just a baby, the Cancer pack and the Leo pack had waged a war against each other until the other packs intervened and made them call a truce. There wasn’t a clear victor, and because of that, there was never any concrete resolution. The animosity still hung around between our packs like a dark cloud.
I’d spent my childhood listening to Dad rant about the Leo pack and its alpha. Apparently, Dixon Marsten was constantly plotting ways to undermine us, or better yet, take over our pack entirely. I didn’t know if it was fact or just Dad being paranoid. Both alphas refused to let the past go, always blaming anything bad that happened on the rival pack, and it perpetuated the old hatred. Dad was always scheming, half of his energy devoted to trying to deal with the Leo pack, once and for all. Almost every meeting he had at the house had something to do with gaining allies against the Leo pack or trying to get the neutral packs to join us. There were other rivalries among the rest of the twelve Zodiac packs, but no one had as many reasons to hate each other as Leo and Cancer did. Even the elements were natural enemies—fire and water.
I shook my head. I hadn’t been old enough to remember the worst of the war, so I didn’t understand the dynamic as well as other pack members did. I’d never seen the Leos actually do anything to us in years, but the scheming and manipulating and hatred continued. Maybe it was because I was an outcast of the pack, but I’d never understood why bygones couldn’t be bygones.
I followed Mira and Wesley to the Cancer banner. People were setting up tents almost everywhere we walked. The Convergence started tomorrow, during the summer solstice, and most people had arrived already, though some would trickle in during the night. We were lucky that the Convergence was relatively close to Cancer territory this year. To make it fair, the Sun Witches changed locations every time, rotating between six different spots so they didn’t show favoritism among the packs. At the previous winter solstice, the Cancer pack had to leave an entire day early just to make it on time, and they’d driven through the night.
As if thinking about the Sun Witches had conjured them into being, I watched as six women in flowing robes walked past. Shifters melted out of the way for them, falling silent and bowing their heads in respect. I could almost taste the difference in the air as they glided by. I sneaked glances at them as they passed, though it would have been better to just keep my eyes on the ground.
All the packs worshiped the sun god Helios and the moon goddess Selene, and the witches were concrete evidence of a connection to the divine. I’d never seen one in the flesh, but I’d been raised on tales of their astounding power as everyone had. They were allied with the Zodiac Wolves, unlike the Moon Witches, and it was terrifying to think what would happen if they weren’t.
One of the witches turned to look at me as she passed, her eyes such a pale color they seemed to absorb hues from the very air around her. My breath lodged in my throat, pulse pounding wildly. I couldn’t break her gaze. Something twisted inside of me, trying desperately to get out. It felt as if I’d been caught doing something wrong and my body was compelling me to shout it from the rooftops.
The moment passed, her eyes sliding over me almost as if I wasn’t there. My breathing eased, and the strange feeling vanished. I glanced over at Mira, who didn’t seem to be affected the same way I was. Maybe it was because I was half human? I shook my head and tried to put the weird feeling out of my mind. Maybe I was just being paranoid.
I sent a silent prayer after the witches anyway. They had a better connection to the gods than I could ever hope for and thus could twist fate around to their bidding. Whatever god might hear me, please let me be mated with someone in a pack that will treat me well. I just want my life to be better. It was a simple thing, so simple. Couldn’t I have this lucky break after years of being stuck in my own personal hell?
And if I didn’t get a mate… Well, at least I’d have my wolf and would be able to defend myself better. I’d become stronger and quicker, and if I was stuck in the Cancer pack, I could outrun and outsmart everyone who wanted to hurt me.
It would have to be good enough.
Chapter Four
I woke to Wesley shaking me. I hadn’t even remembered falling asleep the night before. We’d all been up late setting up tents and getting everyone settled, and then Mira and I had watched the other shifters for hours, before finally crawling into our tents and passing out.
“You said you wanted to see the Sun Witches bless the babies,” Wesley said when I groaned in protest. “It’s almost time.”
“I didn’t realize it would be this early,” I grumbled as I dragged myself out of my sleeping bag. I was so not a morning person, even on the best of days. If it were up to me, I'd stay up all night and sleep the day away.
Wesley had helpfully let me know that the food tents were close to where the Sun Witches performed the rituals, and I was curious about the blessings since I’d never seen magic in action before. I met Mira outside, who looked almost as sleepy as I did, her dark eyes still clouded and missing their usual spark. Despite her tiredness, she had a grin at the ready, and I couldn’t help but match it. Today was the Convergence, and everything would change.