Page 17 of Fated
Beta Aiden’s voice rang out from the front, pointing to various packs as they passed. “That’s the Blackwater pack—their alpha is a master strategist. And over there, the Ironclaw Pack, led by Alpha Thorne. He’s not to be underestimated.”
Lena’s gaze flitted from group to group, noting how the dynamics shifted with each introduction. The Blackwater wolves stood tall and imposing, while the Ironclaw delegation exuded raw power, scanning the room like hunters sizing up prey.
Unmated males tracked her movement through the crowd, their interest making Elara prickle beneath her skin. Each new masculine scent made her wolf pause, assess, then dismiss—none carrying that spark of recognition she both yearned for and feared. Her grip on her bag tightened as she fought the urge to expose her neck, to let their scents wash over her.
Aiden continued to scan the crowd before turning to Cian. “The alpha and beta from the Crescent Fang pack are attending this year. I think it would be smart for you and Ryker to get to know them. That connection could prove invaluable if they reintegrate. And with everything going on in the territory, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to have an alliance with Selene’s favored pack.”
“Selene’s favored?” Lena asked. The pack lore sparked excitement in her chest—reminders of stories her father and nan had shared of the first wolves, of bonds blessed by the Goddess Herself. Elara perked up at the mention of such ancient bloodlines.
Cian nodded. “Crescent Fang was the first pack ever blessed by Selene. Their alpha is said to be a direct descendant of Caelum, the first alpha.” His voice dropped lower, respect clear in his tone. “Their history runs deeper than most packs dare to claim, though they’ve been isolated for decades.” He exchanged a loaded look with Aiden. “If they’re here, it means the rogueshave everyone more rattled than we thought. I’ll keep an eye out for them.”
Elara pressed against the boundary between wolf and human with unexpected intensity, as if the mention of such ancient power called to something primal within her. Anxiety clawed at Lena’s throat even as her wolf’s interest burned like embers stoked by a sudden wind. The very idea of speaking to wolves who carried such ancient power made her mouth go dry. What could she possibly say to living legends?
Cian turned to her, nostrils flaring as he caught the stale scent of her unease. He leaned in, voice dropping to that authoritative murmur that had once chased away monsters hiding under her bed. “Stay close tonight. This will be overwhelming, but it’s important. Observe, listen, and remember that you represent Moonshadow. You’re stronger than you think, Lena.”
She nodded, grateful for his understanding even as she gripped the strap of her bag tighter. Ryker’s hand found her shoulder, his familiar touch centering her as he flashed his signature grin.
“Relax. You’ll be fine. Just don’t trip over your own feet—or mine, since we might end up mates and all.” His teasing carried an undercurrent of protectiveness that made her wolf settle slightly.
She shot him a glare but couldn’t help smiling. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ryker.”
“Anytime,” he said with a wink. “And if anyone gives you trouble, just point them out. I’ll handle it.”
Aiden shook his head, though affection colored his exasperation. “You’ll handle it by making more trouble, no doubt.”
Ryker shrugged, unbothered. “Trouble keeps life interesting. Besides”—his gaze swept the room with surprising shrewdness—”sometimes a little trouble is exactly what’s needed to see where everyone really stands.”
The group laughed, the sound easing some of Lena’s tension. Elara remained alert, as they stepped deeper into the crowd, scanning faces and scents with an intensity that made Lena’s skin prickle. Her wolf knew something was coming—something that would change everything. All Lena could do was hope they were ready for it.
CHAPTER NINE
KAI
The banquet hall buzzed with conversation, the low hum of leaders exchanging pleasantries, the clink of champagne glasses, and the scent of expensive perfumes and rich colognes filling the air.
Kai barely noticed. He stood slightly apart, just on the edge of his father’s presence, where the older alpha’s magnetic pull could do the talking. Years of watching Darius navigate these gatherings had taught Kai the value of the shadows—how to be seen without being noticed, how to observe without engaging.
But tonight? Tonight was different.
A scent hit him, cutting through the crowded space like a blade through silk—cranberries and rosemary. Earthy, crisp, and sointoxicating, it nearly knocked the air from his lungs. The purity of it sliced through everything—through the artificial perfumes, through the phantom traces of Ava on his skin, through seven years of carefully constructed certainty.
Kai froze, heart stuttering in his chest. The air hummed with tension as Orion’s low, insistent growl resonated inside him. Unlike his usual steady presence, the wolf swelled within Kai’s consciousness as if trying to break free from the confines of their shared body.
“Mate.”
Kai’s stomach twisted. He wanted to look away, to deny it, but the truth gnawed at him with the ferocity of an animal caught in a trap. The pull was undeniable—primal and ancient, everything the stories had warned him about. He resisted, body going rigid with the effort, muscles straining against Orion’s unprecedented strength. There was no way he was ready for this. Not when he was still desperately holding on to the faint taste of Ava on his tongue. Not when their morning promises were so fresh in his memory.
He glanced around the room, trying and failing to maintain his composure as he searched for the source of that maddening scent. His breath came faster now, each inhale drowning him deeper in cranberries and rosemary until his head swam in it. His eyes darted across the room, landing on a group of women, and then—
“There,”Orion whispered through their connection.
Across the banquet hall, her presence cut through the noise, drawing all his attention like a magnet. She was here. Reddish-blonde hair cascaded down her back in soft, natural waves. The strands danced like firelight in the ambient glow of the chandeliers. Her strappy satin ivory dress molded to her curves, accentuating the swell of her breasts and the sensual lines of herhips and ass. The elegant neckline framed the slope of her neck where the pulse point at the base of her throat beckoned him.
His fangs ached with a sudden, primal yearning to sink into that tender flesh, to claim her as his own. Her full lips, painted a deep umber, shot a jolt of desire through him. His body responded to the subtle promise of her curves, to her scent that guaranteed a rich, heady aroma that would bloom when aroused.
She was everything that scent suggested—an energy that prickled against his skin like static electricity. A presence that commanded attention, demanding acknowledgment without a word spoken. Her power resonated with something deep in his core that always felt vacant.
Until now.
