"We came to offer our help in getting revenge on the Leos," Kaden told Wesley. "And in return…"
I shot Kaden a sharp look, knowing he was going to say he wanted the Cancers to submit to him, but that was before we knew Wesley had become the alpha. Surely he wouldn't suggest such a thing now?
Kaden paused, meeting my eyes with a frown, and then continued. “In return, I want the Ophiuchus pack accepted back into the Zodiac Wolves.”
A rush of relief went through me, and I was pleased he'd changed his mind because of me.
“The Cancer pack is small now.” Wesley sighed and he suddenly looked tired, and much older than his twenty-six years. “Nearly powerless. I don’t know how much help we’ll be. We don't have the numbers to stand up to the Leos. Hell, right now I'm just trying to keep us alive."
"It must have been difficult when you became alpha," I said, my voice softening as I imagined what Wesley must have gone through. While grieving the loss of our parents and me at the Convergence, and recovering from his own near death, he'd had to become a leader to what remained of the Cancer pack and make sure they were safe. My respect for my brother grew ten-fold, and it was no wonder he looked a lot older now.
"It was no picnic, that's for damn sure," Wesley admitted. "I'd always wanted to be alpha, just not like this."
“I went through the same thing,” Kaden said. “I had to become alpha and keep my pack safe when my parents were killed by the Leos. It was before I was ready, but I managed to make do as best I could. If you’re anything like Ayla, you'll be fine."
Wesley nodded at him. "Thanks. I'm trying my best."
I made a little sandwich of cheese, crackers, and salami as I considered my next words. "The attack on the Cancers was only the beginning. Jordan plans to take over all of the Zodiac Wolf packs. They have the Sun Witches on their side, and they’re nearly unstoppable already."
Kaden finished his beer and set it down. "If you join forces with the Ophiuchus, we can fight the Leos together. You know they'll come after you again at some point. You can hide on this island all you like, but someday they'll find you."
"What are the other packs doing?" Wesley asked. "We haven't reached out to any of them yet, in case they were working with the Leos."
I handed Kaden another beer as I spoke. "Most of them seem to be watching and waiting at the moment, but if you join us, the other packs might as well. No one wants to be ruled by the Leos, or have their pack nearly wiped out like the Cancers."
Wesley stared out at the waves as he considered our words. "Even before I was alpha, I swore I'd do things differently than Dad. Better. Yet here I am, planning a war with the Leos, just like he did for decades."
"This is different," I said. "They struck the first blow, and this is much bigger than a feud between two packs. This is about the fate of all the Zodiac Wolves."
"That's true." Wesley tapped his fingers on the side of his beer. "I want to keep my pack safe, but I fear you may be right. We won't ever be truly safe until the Leos are stopped."
"Then you'll join us?" Kaden asked.
"Yes, I'll form an alliance with you," Wesley said, his face grim.
I let out a breath. “Good. Mira is talking to the Pisces alpha too, so hopefully, we get his support. But we'll need more packs to join us."
"I can try contacting some of them, but it would be better if we spoke in person to their alphas," Wesley said. "Especially since I'm a new alpha, and you two…" He spread his hands and shrugged.
I nodded slowly as I considered this. The different packs lived all over the US and Canada—it would take time to visit them all. A phone call would be a lot easier, but Wesley was probably right that they might not listen to us that way, if they even took the call.
“We need to call another Convergence,” Kaden said.
"Good idea," I said. "And this time the Sun Witches are not invited."
"That could work." Wesley sat up a little straighter. "We'll invite only the Cancer allies and the neutral packs, although I don’t know if anyone will listen to me, or if anyone will come. None of them helped us during the Convergence, after all."
I looked over at Kaden, determination sliding through my veins. This was the most progress we’d made in a long time, and if this went according to plan, we might have a fighting chance against the Leos for once. “We have to try."
Chapter Twenty-One