Fates Entwined

64

CHAPTER EIGHT

The sounds of hundreds of shifters outside of my tent were almost overwhelming, their voices overlapping and feet crunching through the snow, while a few wolves howled in the distance. Today was the winter solstice, and we were all getting ready for the Convergence, hosted by the Capricorn pack this time. I stood up from my folding chair and pulled the flap of my tent open to peer outside as a particularly loud shout caught my attention.

My breath misted in the air in front of me as I looked out at all the shifters milling about. A few of the other Cancer pack members were setting up their tents, or walking between bonfires to chat with each other. I still could hardly believe that I was here with the Cancer pack again, instead of with the Pisces pack. Not only that, but I was here as the Cancer pack’s alpha female. I rubbed my hand over my chest. Even though I couldn’t actually feel the pack mark over my heart I knew it was there, though I kept expecting to wake up and find it had all been a pleasant dream.

Movement caught my attention, and I turned toward it with a smile, feeling my mate approaching. Wesley waved and held Adriana’s head close to him as he picked up his pace to a light jog to reach me faster. She babbled and giggled at being jostled around in the carrier, and I just shook my head with a smile as they approached.

“Hey,” I said, and couldn't stop grinning at the sight of Adriana in her baby carrier on Wesley's chest. She had a cute little hat on, and despite the cold air, she looked happy to be outside, especially with Wesley.

“Hey, yourself,” Wesley said as he stopped in front of the tent, and then leaned over to kiss me.

“How was everyone?” I asked. He’d left about half an hour before to say hello to the other alphas and to make sure everything was running smoothly, while I stayed behind to finish unpacking Adriana's things and get us settled in for the night.

“Stella and Jordan just arrived with the Leos. But Ayla and Kaden aren’t here. I saw their beta, Clayton, and his partner here representing the Ophiuchus pack.”

“That makes sense. It's too soon for Ayla or Kaden to travel so far with a newborn.”

Wesley hummed in agreement and bounced Adriana a bit as she fussed. “I haven’t had a chance to speak with Ethan or Madison yet, they were both busy.”

“There will be time, I’m sure, once everyone is settled in. It’s hectic out there, isn’t it?”

Wesley sighed. “Tell me about it. I can hardly hear myself think.”

I was about to ask about the Pisces pack when two figures I recognized all too well were walking quickly toward our tent. My heart immediately sank into my stomach. “Don’t look now,” I said through teeth gritted in a fake smile, “but Adriana’s grandparents are headed this way.”

Wesley ignored me completely and looked over at them. I kept my smile in place as they approached. If looks could kill, Aiden’s parents would have incinerated me on the spot. None of us had spoken since that awful phone call two weeks ago. I had planned to visit them after the holidays to get my sparse belongings and try to work things out with them in person. I’d hoped that we’d be able to come to an agreement that would benefit both of us—and most importantly, Adriana. Meeting them on my own terms would have made me feel a lot more comfortable, but it looked like we were doing this right now, whether I was ready or not.

“Hi,” I said as they looked between me and Wesley. “Ruth, Kevin, this is Wesley, my mate. Wesley, this is Ruth and Kevin, Aiden’s parents.”

For a moment neither of them said anything, and my anxiety skyrocketed. I hoped that we could keep things civil between us now, but from the tension in the air, it looked like that might be out of the question.

"I'm glad you're here," I said, keeping my voice polite. "I've been wanting to talk to you."

"We have nothing to talk about," Ruth said. "You've kidn*pped a member of the Pisces pack and we want her back."

"kidn*pped?" I asked, startled. "She's my daughter!"

“We’re not looking for a fight,” Kevin added. “We just came here to get Adriana and take her home.”

I growled low in my throat. “No."

“It wasn’t a question,” Ruth said, crossing her arms. “It’s a demand. Adriana needs to be back in the Pisces pack, where she belongs.”

Wesley stepped forward, teeth bared as he wrapped his arms around Adriana. “No one is taking my daughter,” he said. “She belongs in the Cancer pack, with her mother, my alpha female.”

Ruth shook her head. “Adriana isn’t your family. I don’t know what Mira has been telling you, but she is Aiden’s child. She deserves to be back with her pack. Adriana is all we have left of him.”

“She is also my daughter,” I said. “And I’m part of the Cancer pack now.”

“Adriana is a Pisces and she must be raised with her pack." Kevin glared at Wesley, not backing down.

“Then I’ll make her a Cancer,” Wesley said.

Ruth took a step back and put a hand to her chest. “You can’t do that! It’s not right.”

“Adriana will always be a Pisces." Kevin stepped closer to Wesley, his finger just a few inches away from his chest. It was either very brave or very stupid of him to get so close to an alpha like this.