Chapter Two
I packed the last set of clothes I’d need for the Convergence and tied my bag shut. I looked around, trying to figure out if I’d left anything behind. I didn’t have many possessions, and the fact that they could fit into this bag was pretty sad. I’d never had much of anything, too worried about Dad smashing my stuff in a fit of rage, and everything important was kept on digital files on my phone or in the cloud. I had all of my photography saved there, and that was what mattered most.
A knock came at my door, shaking me out of my thoughts. I went into instant panic, picking up my bag and getting ready to bolt the moment the door opened.
“Ayla?”
I smiled at the voice and relaxed. My brother Wesley was the only person in this family who wouldn’t hurt me. “Come in.”
As he stepped inside he grinned at me, his smile almost exactly the same as I remembered from my childhood. He was four years older than me, but he’d always seemed so much bigger, even before he shot up during puberty and filled out with lithe muscle. He’d moved out to his own apartment a few months ago, and it felt like I never saw him anymore, even though he came back and visited fairly often. He had made growing up here better, and other than Mira, he was the only other person in the Cancer pack who gave a damn about me.
“Wesley!” I cried, launching myself into his arms. He hugged me tight, a bit too tight, and I hissed in a breath.
He pulled back, his face pulling down into a frown. “You’ve been beaten up again.” He looked back toward the door. He hated how our father treated me, and always tried to be kind to me to make up for it. It was almost enough.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I said, pulling at the string of my bag. My travel and photography books were sitting beside it, still waiting to go inside. I was hesitating on bringing them with me or leaving them here. They’d be heavy if I had to do any serious walking, but now that Wesley was here, I knew I’d have to bring them with me. There was no other option.
Photography had always been my passion. I loved being able to capture beauty in one still shot, to present it to the world through my own eyes, and Wesley had been sure to nurture that. Dad had always made it very clear I was an outcast, especially in my own house. It was a good year if he bought me new clothes—after I’d stopped growing, he’d sometimes go years without getting me anything new. Even when the seams were ripping and there were obvious holes, he kept forcing me to wear them. Food was kept to a bare minimum as well, and beyond that all the other luxuries I should have enjoyed were absent. No phone, no computer, not even when I’d needed it for school.
The moment I’d turned sixteen, he’d sent me to work at the grocery store in town, and had the entire paycheck funneled to him. Payment for putting up with me, he always said. Having him as a father and the alpha of my pack made it impossible for me to do anything else. I couldn’t fend for myself or go behind his back, because he was the ultimate authority. All he had to do was use his alpha command, a unique power gifted to the alphas of every pack, and everyone had to do what he said. Including me.
Wesley had been the only one who had ever bought me anything nice. When I’d shown interest in photography at a young age, he’d sneaked me books on the subject. I’d poured over them, devouring each one voraciously. Oftentimes, he’d take the old ones back and bring me new ones, since having too many books would raise Dad’s suspicion. But the ones I really liked, he let me keep. He’d even faked breaking his phone one time so he could give it to me, and when I’d told him that I wanted to go to the local community college, he’d bought me a camera and said, “Do it.”
The only reason I’d been able to graduate with a degree was due to his help. He convinced Dad that it wouldn’t do for the alpha’s daughter not to go to school, and our father reluctantly allowed me to go. I got an earful all the time about what a waste of money my education was, but it was worth it in the long run. I ran a hand over the books, watching Wesley smile as he remembered bringing them to me.
“You pack your camera?” he asked.
“It got smashed.” I looked down, sadness filling me. If I’d just kept my damn mouth shut, I’d probably still have it. I pushed the emotions down. I couldn’t let anyone see how much Brad and the other bullies affected me, not even Wesley. I gave him a smile, trying to make it convincing. “At least I don’t need it for school anymore. I can just use the phone camera, even if it’s old.”
“You would never have dropped it,” Wesley said, frowning again. “Who broke it?”
“No one,” I said, shrugging. I tried to play it off, overly casual, but Wesley had always been good at seeing through my lies.
“I know you’re not going to tell me.” He sighed and I relaxed, not wanting to try to evade the questions. It was still early, and I wasn’t awake yet. “When I’m alpha of the Cancer pack, things are going to change. They’ll be better, I promise.”
I huffed and shook my head. “I’d like to believe it.” I stuck the books into the pack and zipped it shut again. “Who knows when that’ll be, though.”
My only hope now was being mated at the Convergence. If it was with someone from another pack I would get to leave Cancer territory, but even if it was someone in this pack, I’d never have to return to this house. It had never felt like home, anyway.
I looked up at Wesley and gave him a crooked smile. “Hey, if I do get mated to someone from another pack, maybe I can buy a new phone so we can stay in touch. One that isn’t cracked this time.”
Wesley laughed, though it seemed more forced than usual. I knew he wanted me to stay here with him, but he just didn’t understand. As kind as he was to me, it didn’t make up for everyone else being total dicks all the time.
“You should do that.” He paused, running a hand through his shiny brown hair. “I came up to get you. Mom and Dad are already in the car, and you know how they hate waiting.”
Of course. They were probably already annoyed I was holding them up even though the sun had barely risen. I nodded and left my room without a backward glance. It had been a place to sleep and hide for the last twenty-two years, nothing more. I didn’t have a home, not yet. Hopefully, I’d find one soon. Of course, with my luck, I’d probably be back here once the Convergence was over.
I locked the front door behind me as Wesley walked up to our parents, who were saying something I couldn’t quite make out. Stepping off the front porch felt final, even though I didn’t know for sure whether I’d be mated right when my wolf was unlocked. Some people had to wait years ‘til their mate came of age, and a very small group of people never got mates at all. I prayed I wasn’t in that category, but it wouldn't surprise me either.
When I approached the SUV, Dad was giving me a dark look, his mouth pressed into a scowl. I could almost hear him saying, hurry up, you good for nothing half-breed. I could feel Jackie’s eyes on me as well, filled with hate as she waited for me to get into the car. I sighed. This was going to be a long ride.
I wished I could have ridden with Mira, but when I dared to ask last night, Dad growled and said I shouldn’t be associating with her anyway. Her family was at the very bottom of pack hierarchy now, thanks to her father’s actions. Besides, Dad needed me to ride with him, all to keep up appearances, of course.
There were other vehicles parked in our long driveway, all idling and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Everyone really was waiting on me. I didn’t realize so many of the Cancer pack were going with us this time. The beta and his family would be staying behind, so that meant no Brad to deal with at least, but there were several other people who would be hostile. At least I’d have Wesley and Mira with me, and the chance to meet several of the other packs.
“The drive’s going to take about fifteen hours,” Wesley said as I climbed into the backseat next to him. I’d been overjoyed to find that he was coming with us when he’d first texted me to let me know. Even though he’d gotten his wolf four years ago, he was coming for me.
“Have your bag
?” Dad asked. His blue eyes met mine in the mirror. Though we shared them, I knew all he saw when he looked at me was his human mistake, not a daughter of his.
“Yes,” I said.
“And you packed everything in it?” he continued, curling his lip as if talking to me was bringing him physical discomfort.
“Yes,” I repeated.
“Good. With any luck, you won’t be coming back here. I can’t wait to hand you off to some other poor sucker. Let you be their problem.”
“Amen,” Jackie muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. I couldn’t see her, since she was sitting directly in front of me, but I didn’t dare roll my eyes. She liked to punch, and she wasn’t shy about hitting my face.
Wesley gave me a strained smile, but I looked away from him, and for once, I held my tongue. I’d never been to a Convergence before—Dad had never let me go, not even when Wesley came of age—and I could put up with their torment for a few more hours. With any luck, it would be the last long car ride with them.
As we drove, I reached for my camera just short of a dozen times before it really stuck in my brain that I didn’t have it anymore. I wanted to capture the beauty of the land zooming by, and I soaked up all the sights from the trip, trying not to miss even a second of it. When we entered Seattle, I practically vibrated out of my seat trying to contain my excitement at being there. I’d never been anywhere but the Cancer pack territory on the coast north of Vancouver, and certainly never to the States. I’d spent my life reading about cities like Seattle, and I wished I could freeze this moment forever in a photo. I even snapped a few pictures with my phone, though the quality would never come close to that of my camera.
I’d always had the half-baked notion in the back of my mind that I’d run away to a big city in America to escape my life. It was a half-formed plan at best, but it was all I could do to make my existence bearable. I would daydream about coming to the States and hiding from the Cancer pack forever in one of the areas where there were no wolves. Now I knew it was only an escapist’s fantasy, not logical in the slightest. The best I could hope for was a mate in another pack, and I’d still have to see the Cancer pack a lot of the time. I couldn’t fully escape them, not really.
Soon the cities faded away, and we crossed into the more rugged areas of Montana. The sun was setting, and we were getting close now. Wesley had fallen asleep beside me, and I wanted to jab him with my elbow so he could share the anticipation as we drove down a small road through dense forest, the trees closing in over us. Suddenly we emerged into a huge clearing covered in tents, and my breath caught at the sight of all the shifters there.
We’d made it to the Convergence.
Chapter Three
As we parked, I craned my neck to see over the rest of the cars, my legs aching from the long drive. I was eager to leave the car and escape the oppressive weight that filled it. Outside, there were tents everywhere, covering every spare inch of ground, and I’d never seen this many people before in one place outside of a city. Excitement thrummed through me, mixing with the anxiety that had been building up for weeks. My entire fate rested on what happened at the Convergence.
I got out of the car and stretched the travel strain out of my body, taking in the sights and scents of the Montana forest around the campground. It reminded me a little of Cancer territory, although the trees were different here and there was no smell of saltwater in the air. A couple of wolves bounded past me into the forest, and I caught sight of the Aquarius pack mark on them before they slipped away.
I left my bag behind since it was so heavy, planning to come back for it later, and followed Dad and Jackie through the parking lot with Wesley at my side. I caught his eye as we wound through the cars. He grinned at me, excitement pouring off him. It was infectious enough that it chased away most of the anxiety.
“Lighten up, Ayla,” he said. “We’re here now.”
I nodded and relaxed a little. If he wasn’t nervous, I didn’t have to be, either. He’d been through this, and he’d be sure to pass on any important information to me. Besides, tomorrow I would finally get my wolf, allowing me to become my true self. There was no reason to be worried. Right?
“Don’t do anything stupid,” Jackie tossed over her shoulder. “All eyes will be on the alphas and their families. Especially Wesley, as the alpha heir.”
“Yeah, we wouldn’t want anyone to suspect we’re not the perfect nuclear family,” I said, sarcasm dripping off every word.
Dad spun around and lifted his hand like he was about to hit me, but then checked himself. He glanced around at all the people nearby, before speaking in a low growl. “Watch yourself, Ayla." He infused power into the words, giving me an alpha command that wrapped around my throat like a vice, forcing me to obey. "Or you’ll regret it.”
“Dad, stop,” Wesley said, moving to stand at my shoulder. He couldn’t officially challenge our father, not unless he wanted to fight for the role of alpha. Which would probably leave one of them dead. I touched Wesley’s arm to show everything was okay—I couldn’t bear the thought of possibly losing him. Someday he would be alpha, but until then, I could handle it.
We kept walking, pretending nothing was wrong, but there would be no relaxing as long as I was around my parents. I couldn’t wait to get away from them. It was one of the perks of coming to the Convergence—I didn’t have to always hang around my pack. I’d get a taste of how it would be to live among people who didn’t hate my existence. Surely not every pack had the same toxic views toward half-human shifters. I knew I couldn’t be the only one to exist. The more we mingled with humans, the more likely we were to interbreed with them.
The closer we got, the less like a random jumble the tents became, and a pattern began to emerge. Banners were stuck into the ground with Zodiac symbols on them to represent the different packs. The campground had been divided into quadrants representing the four elements, and we headed to join the other water signs.
Winding in between the tents were hundreds of shifters in both human and wolf forms, all here representing each of the twelve packs. Shifters of all ages mingled with other packs than their own, sharing meals, laughing together, and dancing under the sun like they were at a music festival. I’d never felt such camaraderie between different pack members, even the ones who were on good terms. The Convergence was neutral ground, and no one had to be worried about potential schemes or any attacks. Fighting was prohibited here, and the Sun Witches made sure everyone stayed in line.
Dad pulled aside a Pisces shifter and asked him where we should set up, but I was too focused on trying to take everything in to listen to the details of their conversation. The male pointed toward the northern side of the clearing, all the way to the back. Dad nodded and we began working our way through the Pisces and Scorpio tents to the Cancer area.
I recognized more people than I thought I would. Many of the different alphas had visited our house for as long as I could remember. There was always business to attend to, figuring out land disputes, negotiating alliances, and distributing resources. The Cancer pack was one of the largest ones, and we were allied with the Pisces, Capricorn, and Aquarius packs. We’d had a long-standing rivalry—or worse—with the other largest pack, the Leos, along with their allies, the Aries, Taurus, and Scorpio packs. The remaining Zodiac Wolves—the Gemini, Virgo, Libra, and Sagittarius packs—all remained neutral at the moment, but alliances were constantly shifting and changing. By the end of the Convergence, it might all be different again.
We passed by the Aquarius and Pisces alphas deep in conversation, and before I could recall the last time I’d seen them both, Mira came running over. I paused, letting the rest of my family pull forward a little bit to give us the semblance of privacy. It wouldn’t do much, not with so many shifters around. Nonetheless, I’d never turn down an opportunity to distance myself from my parents.
“Ayla,” she said, eyes shining as she danced around me, practically jumping out of her skin. “Can you believe how
many shifters came this year?”
“No,” I said, grinning back at her. Her good mood was infectious, and despite the torturous fifteen hours I’d just spent in the car with Dad and Jackie, I cheered up. “It’s amazing. I knew there were a lot of shifters between the twelve packs, but seeing everyone together makes it feel like we could take on the whole world somehow.”
Mira lowered her voice and pulled me in closer to her. “Have you seen all the hotties here?” she asked, eyeing a group of younger Scorpio pack males as they passed by us, none of them wearing shirts. “Mmm, delicious. They’ve certainly been training.”
I laughed as one of them looked over and slanted a crooked grin at Mira. She glanced down demurely, but I could see the glee in her gaze. I opened my mouth to tell her that she wasn’t being as sneaky as she thought she was but thought better of it. Why ruin the fun? Almost everyone here already had their wolves, and they would hear even the lowest whisper.
As if to prove my point, Wesley glanced back at us with a smirk. He’d continued on with Dad and Jackie, but none of them were far enough ahead for Mira’s comment to have escaped them. Luckily, our parents were deep in conversation, but no such luck with my brother. Wesley rolled his eyes at me, but the grin on his face showed his amusement, and Mira’s face flushed with embarrassment. I looked between her and Wesley with raised brows. I’d suspected that she’d been crushing on my brother for some time, and she’d just confirmed it.
I shook my head. It wasn’t as if I could warn her off the scent. Wesley was a flirt, and everyone knew it. She’d have to deal with him on her own. He still hadn’t found his mate and made the most of it. I wondered if she secretly hoped they’d be mated tomorrow. Of course, half the fun of the Convergence was wondering who you’d be paired with at the mating ceremony—if you were paired at all.
“Come on,” I said. “Let’s set up our tents.”
Moon Touched (Zodiac Wolves: The Lost Pack Book 1) Page 2
