Luna Touched

As a Zodiac Wolf, my fate was tied to the stars. Too bad my stars were more crossed than aligned. Being the outcast of the Cancer pack had taught me that all too well.

The sea lapped up to meet my bare feet like an eager puppy trying to gain its owner's affection. I dug my toes deeper into the cool sand and looked out over the water. It was beautiful, I couldn’t deny that, but not in the way the rest of my pack said it was. Members of the Cancer pack talked about its call, like something deep inside of them being answered. For me it was a pretty picture, nothing more. I could photograph it all I wanted, but I never seemed to capture the essence of what they were talking about.

My only hope was the upcoming Convergence, which would unlock my wolf. If I could feel the connection to the sea that the rest of my pack did, maybe they would start to feel like my own people as well. Right now, they were no better than strangers. Sometimes, more like enemies.

I shoved the loneliness aside. It could easily consume me, if I let it. Instead, I focused on the dark ocean once more, trying to frame a shot. The moon just brushed the horizon, casting out reflections onto the water that shifted with every breath of the sea. It really was peaceful, and even if I didn’t feel a pull to the sea, I did feel it toward the moon. That alone let me know that I belonged in the Cancer pack, even if nothing else did. Not that anyone else in my pack agreed with me.

I lifted my camera, deciding to try and snap a few pictures before the moon rose higher. I should have been home packing for the Convergence, but here I was, taking pictures instead. I’d use any excuse to get out of the house for a while.

I held my breath as I took the shot, trying to get it crystal clear. I snapped another one in quick succession, just to be sure, and lowered the camera so I could look at the tiny screen. Before I could decide which photo was better, a rustle from the bushes alerted me that I wasn’t alone. I turned away from the water, trying to see what had caused the disturbance. For a moment, nothing moved and I figured it must have been an animal.

Something dark burst out of the brush, and I took an involuntary step back. A large gray wolf bounded toward me, and three more dark shapes joined it in a rush of fur and claws. Damn. It was too late for me to run, and I didn’t have shoes on, besides. While it was fine to run around on the sand barefoot, I couldn’t say the same about the sharp rocks above. If I wanted to make it to safety, I’d have to cross them.

The four wolves surrounded me like I was their prey before shifting back into their human forms. Their leader, Brad, was muscular and intimidating even when he wasn’t in his wolf form. With blond hair and blue eyes, he would be handsome if he didn’t look like he was always about to pick a fight with someone. The other two men were his thugs, Owen and Chase, and they sneered at me from their much less attractive faces. Brad’s mate Lori made up the fourth member of their group since she always clung to him like a barnacle. They were all naked after their shift, but none of them were bothered by that, and they displayed their Cancer symbol proudly—their Zodiac pack marks. Brad had his mark on his chest, while the others had them on their arms. Then there was me—I didn't have one at all.

“Ayla,” Brad said my name like a snarl. “What are you doing out here all alone?”

A pang of anxiety went through me. Brad was never friendly, and he wouldn’t be talking to me at all if he didn’t want something. Being the son of the Cancer beta, he looked down on me. I was technically above him in rank, but no one cared.

Lori giggled and tossed her perfect strawberry blond hair. She stood at Brad’s shoulder, a possessive hand on his arm. As I tried to gauge my chances of escaping unscathed, Owen and Chase leered at me. They all ran in the same circle, the sons and daughters of the most influential Cancer pack members. I was the only one who wasn’t invited, even though I should have been at the forefront, being the daughter of the alpha. Having human blood made me the outcast of the pack instead.

“I asked you a question, mutt,” Brad snarled, kicking sand at me.

Swearing under my breath, I held my camera higher, trying to avoid getting sand onto the lens. Wesley had just bought this lens for me the last time he’d visited, and I couldn’t let these idiots mess it up.

“I’m sorry,” I snapped back. “I didn’t realize your stupidity required answering. Anyone with two eyes and basic brain function can see what I’m doing. But you’re obviously missing one of those. I’m still not sure which one.”

Brad moved too quickly for me to counter, shoving me to the ground. I hit hard, my elbow taking the brunt of the trauma as I held my camera up in an attempt to save it. This was exactly why Mira told me to keep my mouth shut, I thought as I tried to roll away—and directly into Chase’s foot. Shit. He kicked me hard in the stomach and pain shot through me as I instinctively curled in on myself.

“Where’s your Cancer armor?” Chase asked as he kicked me again. “Oh right, you don’t have any.”

I gasped in air, trying to catch enough breath. “Thanks for the reminder, asshole,” I managed to get out.

As he kicked me again, I curled around my camera, trying to protect it and the softest parts of myself. The others joined in, and I gritted my teeth and resigned myself to the beating. It wasn’t any different than other beatings I’d endured. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe through the pain. Soon it would be over. They wouldn’t kill me, no matter how much they hated me. For better or worse, I was still pack.

That plan was shattered the instant my camera was ripped out of my hands. My eyes flew open, and I struggled to my feet, pushing Chase and Owen away as Lori dangled the camera in front of me.

“You like taking pictures, don’t you, little mutt?” she asked.

“No!” I yelled, reaching out for my camera, but she tugged it back and out of reach. “You can do whatever you want to me. Just let me have that back.”

Lori dropped the camera into the sand. “I don’t think so. The mutt needs to learn her place, once and for all.”

A handful of blows from Brad came, hitting my back and sending me to my knees. I could only watch as Lori stomped on the camera with her shifter strength. The sounds of glass and plastic breaking were worse than the sounds of flesh on flesh.

Something inside of me broke. That camera was my only connection to the outside world, to a world where no one judged me for my half-breed heritage or for being born under the wrong stars. It was the only thing that brought me joy and gave me the smallest semblance of freedom.

I snarled, baring my teeth at the four of them, ready to fight. They must have sensed the change in my demeanor because they stepped back and fell into defensive positions. I couldn’t take all of them—hell, without the Cancer crab armor they had, I could hardly take one. But the rage that boiled in my blood wouldn’t let me just walk away from this like everything was okay. Something dark inside me woke up and rose to the surface, something wild and dangerous, just begging to be released. A power I’d felt before, that was always just out of reach. Maybe now was the time. Tension simmered in the air, snapping back and forth between all of us, waiting for the perfect moment to break.

“Hey!” The shout was distant but enough to distract all of us.

Lori turned away from where she still had her foot on the broken shards of my camera and snarled something unintelligible. My best friend Mira ran toward us, long black hair streaming behind her like a curtain. She had her bikini on as if she were coming to swim. Really? I couldn’t help but think. At a time like this? I knew she loved swimming, but we were all getting ready for the Convergence.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Mira asked, coming to a stop beside me. Her eyes were on the other wolves, but I knew the question was for me.

“Stay out of it, Aquino,” Brad snarled. “You’ll walk away from this if you know what’s good for you. We’re teaching the mutt the lesson she’s been begging for from the moment she was born.”

“No way,” Mira said. Stubborn, loyal Mira. She never knew when to back away from a fight, especially when I was involved. She had my back, even if she didn’t agree with why we were fighting.

I was one to talk. I’d do the same for Mira under any circumstance. Still, she shouldn’t have come here. This was my battle to fight, and she could get in serious trouble if she was seen standing up to the beta’s son. She’d already been punished once by the alpha—she didn’t need another mark against her.

“Mira,” I said under my breath. She twitched, so I knew she’d heard me, but didn’t turn to acknowledge me. “You need to go,” I continued, though I knew she wouldn’t listen to a word I said. “Please.”

“If you have a problem with Ayla, you have a problem with me, too,” Mira said, and dropped into her own defensive stance. She really wasn’t going to let it go. I sighed and followed suit, raising my fists again.

Brad looked between us for a moment and laughed. “Neither of you would win. You don’t even have your wolves yet.”

“Yeah, but we’ll still whoop your asses a little bit,” I said, forcing the words out through the lingering pain with a wild grin. Then I let my eyes drop. “I bet at least one of us could get a knee to the balls, with yours just hanging out like that.”

Brad growled at me and his hands shifted into claws. Mira glanced over at me like, Really? I shrugged. She was going to get on my case about being mouthy when she was almost as bad?

She rolled her eyes but then turned to Brad and added, “Do you really want to risk it right before the Convergence?”

Lori ground my camera into the sand a few more times before stepping back over to Brad. “It’s not worth it,” she murmured, just loud enough for me to hear. “I think she got the message.”

Brad looked between the two of us, and then back at Lori. “You’re right. She’s not worth our time, and with any luck, she’ll soon be some other pack’s problem.”

He shifted back into a wolf and the others followed him, then they sprinted back up to the rocks and into the bushes. Just like that, the tension bled from the air, leaving my entire body throbbing with pain, and a broken camera all I had to show for my smart mouth.

My shoulders sagged, and before I knew it, my knees were giving out. I searched around in the sand to examine the shattered pieces of my camera, but there was nothing salvageable. I let them all slip through my fingers as I blinked back angry tears.

Mira crouched beside me, resting her hand on my back. “Goodness,” she muttered as she took in the bruises forming on my arms. “What did you say this time?”

“They just came out of nowhere,” I said. “Even if I’d been nice they still would’ve gone after me for something.”

“You know, if you didn’t torment them, they’d probably leave you alone in the first place,” Mira said. “I keep telling you this.” She helped me stand, leaving her hand on my shoulder as I swayed, trying to catch my breath and balance.

“I can’t help it.” I wanted to pick up more pieces of my camera, but what would be the point? Lori had broken it beyond repair. “They say such stupid shit. They’re practically begging for me to call them out on it.”

“They shouldn’t be talking about you like that. You’re the alpha’s daughter, and they need to answer for that.”

“Yeah, right. You know my dad’s even worse.” I glanced down at my arms. The new bruises only added to the fading ones from the alpha. As long as I could remember, he’d been making bruises all along my body. Never my face, though. He did have appearances to keep up, and beating your daughter didn’t lend itself kindly to the gracious alpha persona he worked hard to protect. But everyone knew he treated me like an outcast, and he didn’t care when people like Brad behaved the same. Mira was angry for me, but I’d long since accepted the fact that I’d never be the daughter he wanted. It was my lot in the world, and I tried to take it in stride.

I knew why he beat me, even though it didn’t make any logical sense. I hadn’t asked to be born half-human, but Dad loved to punish me for the affair he’d had with my mother, even though I’d had no say in the result. Everything about me was a constant reminder to him of his mistake. My birthday outside of the Cancer sign dates, my lack of Zodiac mark, and my absence of pack abilities made it easy for him to hate me.

His mate, Jackie, even seemed to find my red hair offensive. I fingered a strand of it, whipping around in the light breeze. It set me apart from everyone else in the family and served as a constant reminder that Dad had screwed up and gotten some human pregnant. I’d tried to say that one time, when I’d been angry and my mouth had—once again—taken over. All it had earned me was a shot to the face from Jackie.

Mira was still focused on the bruises, fretting over them like the mother I’d never had. “They should look better before the Convergence,” she decided finally. “You’re lucky that I decided to come have a swim before we leave tomorrow. Who knows what would have happened if they had their way with you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, shrugging and making my way back over to my shoes and jacket. “The bruises just prove that I’m not a true Cancer. I could call up the armor if I was.” The crab armor was a Cancer ability all pack members had from birth, allowing them to protect themselves. All except me. I sighed. “At least once I get my wolf, I’ll heal faster.”

“Lots of things are going to change after the Convergence,” Mira said softly.

The Convergence happened twice a year, at the summer and winter solstices, where all twelve Zodiac packs gathered to discuss issues, recognize new pack alphas, and bless newborn babies, among other things. This Convergence was at the summer solstice, the day before the start of Cancer season, and it would be in Montana, in the Sun Witches’ territory.

Mira and I would finally get our wolves at the Convergence too, now that both of us were twenty-two and considered of age. We were the only Cancers getting our wolves at this Convergence—all the other pack members got theirs at the winter solstice. Except me, of course. I’d been born in March, another sign that I didn’t belong in this pack.

As for Mira, she should have gotten her wolf at the winter solstice too, but she’d been forced to wait another six months, all because her father had challenged the alpha on something he didn’t agree with. Mira hadn’t been involved at all, but Dad knew punishing her was a blow to her entire family. It wasn't fair, but that's how our alpha worked. And when he gave an alpha command, we had to obey.

There was one other event at the Convergence too, the mating ritual, when anyone who had gained their wolf could try to find their fated mate. I hoped beyond hope that my mate—if I had one—would be from another pack. I’d do almost anything to get away from my dad and the rest of the Cancer shifters.

“I hope we’ll get mates from the same pack,” Mira said, her thoughts following the same vein that mine had. She’d said it so often that I almost expected it. I made a noise of affirmation but didn’t say anything. I wanted to stay with her, of course. But if she ended up having a mate in the Cancer pack and I didn’t, it wouldn’t make me too sad. Getting out of here was top priority.

It was the one thing my father and I agreed upon. He wanted me gone just as much as I wanted to leave. “I hope you’ll end up as some other pack’s problem,” he’d started saying the moment I’d turned twenty-two.

Thinking of my father sent my mood spiraling. I had to get back before he sent someone to get me. I turned to Mira and gave her what I hoped was a convincing smile. “Whatever happens at the Convergence, we’ll always stay friends and never lose touch.”

Mira hummed happily, taking my hand in hers and leading us back up the beach. I knew she meant well, but once she settled in with her mate, things would change. They always did. We’d drift apart, even if we did end up in the same pack, and the thought sent a shiver of wrongness through me.

I glanced back at the ocean and the scuffed sand where Brad and his gang had come after me. Will I ever feel like I truly belong anywhere?

I packed the last set of clothes I’d need for the Convergence and tied my bag shut. I looked around, trying to figure out if I’d left anything behind. I didn’t have many possessions, and the fact that they could fit into this bag was pretty sad. I’d never had much of anything, too worried about Dad smashing my stuff in a fit of rage, and everything important was kept on digital files on my phone or in the cloud. I had all of my photography saved there, and that was what mattered most.

A knock came at my door, shaking me out of my thoughts. I went into instant panic, picking up my bag and getting ready to bolt the moment the door opened.

“Ayla?”

I smiled at the voice and relaxed. My brother Wesley was the only person in this family who wouldn’t hurt me. “Come in.”

As he stepped inside he grinned at me, his smile almost exactly the same as I remembered from my childhood. He was four years older than me, but he’d always seemed so much bigger, even before he shot up during puberty and filled out with lithe muscle. He’d moved out to his own apartment a few months ago, and it felt like I never saw him anymore, even though he came back and visited fairly often. He had made growing up here better, and other than Mira, he was the only other person in the Cancer pack who gave a damn about me.

“Wesley!” I cried, launching myself into his arms. He hugged me tight, a bit too tight, and I hissed in a breath.

He pulled back, his face pulling down into a frown. “You’ve been beaten up again.” He looked back toward the door. He hated how our father treated me, and always tried to be kind to me to make up for it. It was almost enough.

“Nothing I can’t handle,” I said, pulling at the string of my bag. My travel and photography books were sitting beside it, still waiting to go inside. I was hesitating on bringing them with me or leaving them here. They’d be heavy if I had to do any serious walking, but now that Wesley was here, I knew I’d have to bring them with me. There was no other option.

Photography had always been my passion. I loved being able to capture beauty in one still shot, to present it to the world through my own eyes, and Wesley had been sure to nurture that. Dad had always made it very clear I was an outcast, especially in my own house. It was a good year if he bought me new clothes—after I’d stopped growing, he’d sometimes go years without getting me anything new. Even when the seams were ripping and there were obvious holes, he kept forcing me to wear them. Food was kept to a bare minimum as well, and beyond that all the other luxuries I should have enjoyed were absent. No phone, no computer, not even when I’d needed it for school.

The moment I’d turned sixteen, he’d sent me to work at the grocery store in town, and had the entire paycheck funneled to him. Payment for putting up with me, he always said. Having him as a father and the alpha of my pack made it impossible for me to do anything else. I couldn’t fend for myself or go behind his back, because he was the ultimate authority. All he had to do was use his alpha command, a unique power gifted to the alphas of every pack, and everyone had to do what he said. Including me.

Wesley had been the only one who had ever bought me anything nice. When I’d shown interest in photography at a young age, he’d sneaked me books on the subject. I’d poured over them, devouring each one voraciously. Oftentimes, he’d take the old ones back and bring me new ones, since having too many books would raise Dad’s suspicion. But the ones I really liked, he let me keep. He’d even faked breaking his phone one time so he could give it to me, and when I’d told him that I wanted to go to the local community college, he’d bought me a camera and said, “Do it.”

The only reason I’d been able to graduate with a degree was due to his help. He convinced Dad that it wouldn’t do for the alpha’s daughter not to go to school, and our father reluctantly allowed me to go. I got an earful all the time about what a waste of money my education was, but it was worth it in the long run. I ran a hand over the books, watching Wesley smile as he remembered bringing them to me.

“You pack your camera?” he asked.

“It got smashed.” I looked down, sadness filling me. If I’d just kept my damn mouth shut, I’d probably still have it. I pushed the emotions down. I couldn’t let anyone see how much Brad and the other bullies affected me, not even Wesley. I gave him a smile, trying to make it convincing. “At least I don’t need it for school anymore. I can just use the phone camera, even if it’s old.”

“You would never have dropped it,” Wesley said, frowning again. “Who broke it?”

“No one,” I said, shrugging. I tried to play it off, overly casual, but Wesley had always been good at seeing through my lies.

“I know you’re not going to tell me.” He sighed and I relaxed, not wanting to try to evade the questions. It was still early, and I wasn’t awake yet. “When I’m alpha of the Cancer pack, things are going to change. They’ll be better, I promise.”

I huffed and shook my head. “I’d like to believe it.” I stuck the books into the pack and zipped it shut again. “Who knows when that’ll be, though.”

My only hope now was being mated at the Convergence. If it was with someone from another pack I would get to leave Cancer territory, but even if it was someone in this pack, I’d never have to return to this house. It had never felt like home, anyway.

I looked up at Wesley and gave him a crooked smile. “Hey, if I do get mated to someone from another pack, maybe I can buy a new phone so we can stay in touch. One that isn’t cracked this time.”

Wesley laughed, though it seemed more forced than usual. I knew he wanted me to stay here with him, but he just didn’t understand. As kind as he was to me, it didn’t make up for everyone else being total dicks all the time.

“You should do that.” He paused, running a hand through his shiny brown hair. “I came up to get you. Mom and Dad are already in the car, and you know how they hate waiting.”

Of course. They were probably already annoyed I was holding them up even though the sun had barely risen. I nodded and left my room without a backward glance. It had been a place to sleep and hide for the last twenty-two years, nothing more. I didn’t have a home, not yet. Hopefully, I’d find one soon. Of course, with my luck, I’d probably be back here once the Convergence was over.

I locked the front door behind me as Wesley walked up to our parents, who were saying something I couldn’t quite make out. Stepping off the front porch felt final, even though I didn’t know for sure whether I’d be mated right when my wolf was unlocked. Some people had to wait years ‘til their mate came of age, and a very small group of people never got mates at all. I prayed I wasn’t in that category, but it wouldn't surprise me either.

When I approached the SUV, Dad was giving me a dark look, his mouth pressed into a scowl. I could almost hear him saying, hurry up, you good for nothing half-breed. I could feel Jackie’s eyes on me as well, filled with hate as she waited for me to get into the car. I sighed. This was going to be a long ride.

I wished I could have ridden with Mira, but when I dared to ask last night, Dad growled and said I shouldn’t be associating with her anyway. Her family was at the very bottom of pack hierarchy now, thanks to her father’s actions. Besides, Dad needed me to ride with him, all to keep up appearances, of course.

There were other vehicles parked in our long driveway, all idling and ready to go at a moment’s notice. Everyone really was waiting on me. I didn’t realize so many of the Cancer pack were going with us this time. The beta and his family would be staying behind, so that meant no Brad to deal with at least, but there were several other people who would be hostile. At least I’d have Wesley and Mira with me, and the chance to meet several of the other packs.

“The drive’s going to take about fifteen hours,” Wesley said as I climbed into the backseat next to him. I’d been overjoyed to find that he was coming with us when he’d first texted me to let me know. Even though he’d gotten his wolf four years ago, he was coming for me.

“Have your bag?” Dad asked. His blue eyes met mine in the mirror. Though we shared them, I knew all he saw when he looked at me was his human mistake, not a daughter of his.

“Yes,” I said.

“And you packed everything in it?” he continued, curling his lip as if talking to me was bringing him physical discomfort.

“Yes,” I repeated.

“Good. With any luck, you won’t be coming back here. I can’t wait to hand you off to some other poor sucker. Let you be their problem.”

“Amen,” Jackie muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. I couldn’t see her, since she was sitting directly in front of me, but I didn’t dare roll my eyes. She liked to punch, and she wasn’t shy about hitting my face.

Wesley gave me a strained smile, but I looked away from him, and for once, I held my tongue. I’d never been to a Convergence before—Dad had never let me go, not even when Wesley came of age—and I could put up with their torment for a few more hours. With any luck, it would be the last long car ride with them.

As we drove, I reached for my camera just short of a dozen times before it really stuck in my brain that I didn’t have it anymore. I wanted to capture the beauty of the land zooming by, and I soaked up all the sights from the trip, trying not to miss even a second of it. When we entered Seattle, I practically vibrated out of my seat trying to contain my excitement at being there. I’d never been anywhere but the Cancer pack territory on the coast north of Vancouver, and certainly never to the States. I’d spent my life reading about cities like Seattle, and I wished I could freeze this moment forever in a photo. I even snapped a few pictures with my phone, though the quality would never come close to that of my camera.

I’d always had the half-baked notion in the back of my mind that I’d run away to a big city in America to escape my life. It was a half-formed plan at best, but it was all I could do to make my existence bearable. I would daydream about coming to the States and hiding from the Cancer pack forever in one of the areas where there were no wolves. Now I knew it was only an escapist’s fantasy, not logical in the slightest. The best I could hope for was a mate in another pack, and I’d still have to see the Cancer pack a lot of the time. I couldn’t fully escape them, not really.

Soon the cities faded away, and we crossed into the more rugged areas of Montana. The sun was setting, and we were getting close now. Wesley had fallen asleep beside me, and I wanted to jab him with my elbow so he could share the anticipation as we drove down a small road through dense forest, the trees closing in over us. Suddenly we emerged into a huge clearing covered in tents, and my breath caught at the sight of all the shifters there.

We’d made it to the Convergence.