Zodiac Aligned

23

Jordan shot Kaden a scathing look at the word 'if.' “Once I’m alpha again, I'll get the Leos to leave peacefully and go back to our village.”

"It's a risky move," Ethan said. "It could be a trap, and even if it's not, we might fail. But if we win, we would gain two new allies—the Scorpios and the Leos.”

“If this works, I might be able to get the Taurus and Aries packs to turn against the Sun Witches too,” Jordan said.

Kaden scoffed. “All the Zodiac Wolves united? Seems impossible.”

“We’ll make it happen,” I jumped in, before Jordan could quip something else to Kaden. I didn’t need them to start arguing again. “We need to get all the packs working together if we’re going to free ourselves from the Sun Witches, especially if they have the vampires on their side now."

“The Libra pack will help you with whatever you need,” Ethan said. “But I think I should personally stay out of this fight."

"Probably a good idea," Jordan said with a nod.

"I'm going with you," I told Jordan. I couldn’t imagine losing him so soon after finally reaching a place where we were getting along. He was my brother, and despite our rocky path, I wanted him safe. I would do whatever I could to make sure he got out of this alive. "I can teleport us out quickly if something goes wrong."

"I'm coming too," Kaden said, and everyone turned to him in shock, including me.

"Why, so you can cheer on my opponent?" Jordan asked.

Kaden rolled his eyes. "With my invisibility, I can help you get in without anyone noticing. After that, it's all on you."

I was beyond surprised that he would offer to help Jordan with anything, even if he was only going because I was. Maybe he really was changing. Something inside of me softened a little. Another piece of my heart fit back together again.

"With Kaden's invisibility and my teleportation, we would only need a small attack force to infiltrate the Scorpios," I said.

Jordan shook his head. "Sneaking inside isn't an option. The Scorpios live in underground caverns, which are difficult to navigate if you're not familiar with them. I've only been there a few times with my dad, and I'm not sure I could guide us through."

"What do you suggest?" Kaden asked.

"We bang on their door and demand an audience." Jordan flashed a cocky grin. "I am the Leo alpha, after all. How could they deny me?"

We spent the next few hours making plans while Ethan's assistant brought us sandwiches. Clayton would begin getting the Ophiuchus pack ready to return to Coronis, while Ethan worked on setting up more defenses in case of another vampire attack. The rest of us would lead a small group of warriors to the Scorpio pack lands in New Mexico to reclaim Jordan's throne.

I just hoped it wasn’t a trap. If it was, I wasn’t sure how we would bounce back. Every time we lost a battle, it was harder to regroup. Watching friends and family die without a way to retaliate was demoralizing for everyone. I didn’t blame the others for feeling lost, tired, and on edge. I was right there with them.

These thoughts weighed heavily on my mind as I headed back to my room. I could have teleported, but instead, I found myself in the elevator with Kaden. Alone.

Had I done it on purpose? Maybe.

We stood facing each other in the elevator, the mirrored walls reflecting our expressions back at us. Kaden's masculine presence filled up the space, and we stared at each other without reservation. For the first time in weeks, it was like I was truly seeing him. All his strengths and weaknesses. All his desires and fears. Everything.

"I'm glad you're coming with us," I said, as the elevator kept rising. My heart raced as I looked into his eyes, feeling a pull toward him that I couldn't ignore. "Thank you for helping Jordan."

"I'm not doing it for him," Kaden said, his voice low and intense.

"I know, but I appreciate it anyway."

"I would do anything for you, Ayla. Anything. Even things I never thought I would do, like supporting the son of the man who killed my parents." He took a step toward me, his eyes smoldering. "There's no one controlling my strings anymore. I make all my own decisions now, and they all lead back to you."

The elevator door opened to my floor, and I stepped out, waiting for him to follow. "But the Ophiuchus will be leaving soon..."

"Yes. With you." Kaden exited the elevator, moving close to me. "I already told you I'm not letting you go again."

I began walking down the hallway toward my room, with Kaden by my side. "What if I don't want to go with you?"

"We both know you do."

I felt a flutter in my stomach as a wave of desire and fear washed over me. When we reached my door, I paused. "I don't know what I want."

"I do." He pinned me with his dark gaze. "Let me in and I'll show you."

CHAPTER TWELVE

Hunger brewed in his eyes like a storm, and it woke something in me, an answering call that felt as natural as breathing. I swallowed and told myself I’d insist that he leave at any second now. I really would.

But then I found myself stepping into my hotel room and opening the door wide, silently inviting him to follow me inside. As I waited to see if he would join me, I shrugged off my jacket and stared out the window, wondering what I was thinking. I'd invited the wolf into my nest—would he bite me in return? Was it terrible that a part of me hoped he would?

Kaden shut the door and approached me from behind, resting his hands on my shoulders. They were warm and possessive, and my body stiffened in response.

"You seem tense." He slowly moved my red hair to one side, then lowered his lips to my neck. "I can help you with that."