Fates Entwined

CHAPTER ONE Fated mates. Everyone wanted one, right? After all, an entire war had been fought to ensure that every shifter could find their perfect match. The idea that the stars could choose the right partner for us, who would love us and accept us for the rest of our lives, was irresistible. But what happened when the stars chose the wrong person? Despite the summer heat, a shiver ran down my spine as the setting sun cast an orange glow on the vast meadow before me. The sky looked as though it had been painted with a fiery brush, igniting the world in vibrant shades of gold and crimson, but I barely even noticed. No, my gaze lingered on the way the light glinted off the Leo alpha's golden hair and slid along his tanned, muscular arms. Even across the sprawling field, with his back to me and dozens of other shifters around him, he stood out like a beacon I couldn't ignore. With a huff, I tore my eyes away and turned toward the nearby bonfire as it sent sparks into the sky. People said you couldn't fight fate, but staring into the fire, I couldn't help but think there must be a way to tame its flames. There had to be, because I refused to be consumed by this fire that burned within me for the wrong man. "You okay, Stella?" my brother asked, tearing me out of my thoughts so quickly that I actually jumped. "Fine." I cleared my throat. "Totally fine." Kaden gave me a look that made it clear he knew I was full of s**t. "You've been tense ever since we got here." That was the problem with being close to your sibling, you couldn’t hide anything from them. But if Kaden found out what was really on my mind he would completely lose his s**t, and that was the last thing we needed tonight. "It's just weird being here," I said, fumbling for an explanation that would appease him. It wasn't a lie either. Just not the whole truth. His face softened. "I know what you mean. Our pack's first real Convergence." My shoulders relaxed a little. "I still can't believe it's happening, especially after the last two were such a disaster." At the previous summer solstice, the other Zodiac Wolves had practically chased us off. Then at the winter solstice, we'd spent the entire Convergence fighting the Sun Witches and their allies. It hadn't gone well. Kaden nodded, his chest puffing out with obvious pride. "Now the Ophiuchus are finally accepted as true members of the Zodiac Wolves. We've proven ourselves, and no one will prevent us from taking part in the Convergence alongside the other packs." I couldn't help but grin as I gazed out at the meadow before us, taking in the various packs gathered together in a sea of colors and scents, their voices intermingling like a symphony. "Who would've ever thought we'd get here?" Kaden glanced over at his mate, Ayla, who was taking photos a short distance away, and obvious love shone through his eyes. "We've all come a long way in the last year." "Mom and Dad would be proud of you," I said, trying to ignore the pang in my chest whenever I thought of them. He clasped me on the shoulder. "And of you. I'm proud of what we've accomplished together." "Let's hope the other packs never doubt our place again," I said, crossing my arms. "We've more than earned it." "They won't," he said, with a touch of a growl in his voice. "We'll make sure of that." As the bonfire crackled and danced in the fading light, I caught a glimpse of golden hair moving through the crowd toward us. Jordan. Raw alpha power emanated from him, a force that drew me in despite my best efforts to resist. My heart raced and my stomach churned with a mixture of dread and something else I refused to acknowledge. Even though I'd been avoiding Jordan ever since the Leos had arrived yesterday, it seemed like he was always there in the corner of my eye, lurking at the edge of my thoughts. So far I'd managed to stay away, and if I was lucky, I'd make it through the entire Convergence without talking to him. Then we would go home, and I could put him out of my thoughts completely. Out of sight, out of mind. I made the mistake of glancing his way for a second and my breath hitched as his sky blue eyes caught mine. Something flared in his gaze and he picked up his pace. I quickly looked away, knowing my time was running out. I couldn't face him. Not now. "I just remembered I need to grab something from my tent," I said, trying to sound casual. "I'll be right back." "Sure thing," Kaden replied, distracted by another pack member approaching him. Taking advantage of the moment, I slipped away from the bonfire as quickly as I could. Without looking back, I made my way into the forest that wrapped around the valley where we'd all gathered, knowing the dark trees would shelter me. The cool shadows offered a respite from the heat of the clearing, and I used my Moon Touched gift to cloak myself in invisibility, wanting nothing more than to disappear from the world for a while. Within the woods, the cool, damp earth beneath my feet grounded me, and the scent of pine and moss filled my lungs. Birds flitted overhead, their joyful chirps filling the air with a harmonious melody that blended seamlessly with the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Still invisible, I stopped and let out a long breath, allowing my shoulders to relax.To my dismay, Jordan strode confidently into the forest behind me, his movements fluid and graceful, like a predator stalking its prey. Just seeing his cocky smirk made my chest clench. His father had killed my parents, and I'd spent my entire life hating the Leos.