Twisting Her Fate
Chapter 12

In the morning, the group get ready and head toward the Aquamarine pack. The group are so used to living in hotels and out of bags that they take it all in their stride. There are no extra nerves as they drive, Lani manages to lighten the mood with an insane amount Leilani always tries her best to keep everyone happy and she is trying a little harder in order to get Connor out of her mind. A one-night stand is not meant to linger in her mind the way he has been lingering.

of snacks that she went out early to buy and a car ride filled with her out of tune singing and terrible jokes.

The large black car pulls up outside the front of the pack house and Arlo pulls on a baseball cap. Overnight he decided that he has no interest in talking to these people at all.

It is just him and his team going. Is there any reason for him to introduce himself at all? He doesn't want sympathy from them. He doesn't want to rekindle anything. He wants nothing from these people at all, so why bother? He actually has no desire for these people to even know that he is alive.

Just a simple disguise, not because he is scared, just because if he can get in and get out without being recognized, then that would be for the best.

Leilani laughs and places. A big kiss on Arlo's cheek flicking the brim of the cap.

"I like it"

Finlay takes the lead. Usually Leilani is the one to lead proceedings, but she has chosen to stay back with Arlo.

As Leilani looks around she can't help being a little shocked. This was nothing like what she was expecting. But before she has a chance to question it, Arlo has already linked the group.

'This place has gone downhill since I was here'

The pack house is really looking worse for wear. The training area looks like it hasn't been updated in twenty years.

Even the usual scene of the manicured gardens and trimmed grass that is in most other packs is not present.

The Alpha, Luna and future alpha Arlo's twin brother, Ryker, walk out of the pack house. Leilani's scrutinizing gaze takes them in, they're dressed head to toe in designer brands, in complete contrast to the tattered surroundings of the pack. The Lunas clothing alone looks like it could have paid for a gardener for a couple of months at least.

That type of waste on keeping up appearances is tacky.

The pack should always come first. It's not the done way of leadership to devote resources to just the leaders and let the rest of the pack suffer.

Leilani squeezes Arlo's hand.

'I already don't like them'

Arlo chuckles darkly.

'Join the club'

The brothers surround Arlo and Leilani in protective formation. The Alpha steps forward, greeting Finlay with a handshake.

"Welcome to the Aquamarine pack"

Finlay nods, his silver eyes taking in the middle-aged mans appearance. He looks somewhat like Arlo, but his features are not so refined and he looks like he has aged badly, his body showing the lack of training and decadence that a standing Alpha should not have. Finlay is expressionless and cold when on assignment, his personality outside is gentle but only with the people he cares about.

"If you could give us a run down on the reason for calling us here"

He has no time for idle chatter or exchanging pleasantries with people that would sacrifice their son, especially when their son is as good as Arlo. He has no good feelings for any of the families previous packs.

"Is this all that is coming?"

"Yes"

Finlay is short with his answers.

"But you are all so young"

"Is that a problem? Because we can leave and you can deal with your problem yourselves"

Luna Janet purses her lips with the cold voice and unaccommodating tone, but bites her tongue. This is their last hope.

"Okay, I guess it is fine"

Finlay raises his eyebrows with a smirk on his handsome face. Janet sounds like she is making a massive compromise. Finlay would rather leave them to drown in whatever sh*t they have buried themselves in. "Are you sure? Because we are happy to get right back in our car"

They are the only crew that are tasked with the missions from the elders, so if they walk away, the pack is left on their own.

Ryker links his parents as he stares at Leilani. There is no way he can let them go without getting that girl into his bed. Alpha Charlie and Luna Janet lead the six into the house.

Leilani is finally able to get a good look at Ryker from the back. He has the same dark red hair as Arlo but that is where the similarities end. Arlo is slightly taller, he is broader, stronger, leaner.

They follow the Alpha, Luna and future alpha into the pack house and sit down on the couch opposite. Arlo peaks under the brim of the hat and checks out the internals. It seems like there hasn't been a single bit of maintenance done on the place since he left. The last coat of paint was painted by his own hand, but with so many adolescent rough wolves tearing up the place, it looks a lot older than seven years.

Ryker stares at Leilani as he sits opposite, even with large hands holding her waist and the other boys obvious protection of her. It still doesn't stop his wandering eyes. Leilani is dressed conservatively today, a plain black long sleeve blouse that covers most of her a*s; it is so long, and baby blue jeans, her hair just hanging loosely around her shoulders.

Arlo peers at his so-called family, who were so anxious to get rid of him back then, they do not look impressive at all. Back then he thought his family was all powerful. Looking at the weaklings now, it is hard to see the shadow of the people he once went all out to please, the people that, no matter what he did, it was never enough.

Ryker has the same eye color and hair color. Back then it was like he was looking in a mirror, now it is like he is looking into a picture of his future self in maybe ten years if he stopped training.

Ryker's body is holding a lot of extra weight, his cheeks are chubby, but instead of that making him look younger and cute, the weight coupled with the unhealthy complexion just looks prematurely aged.

Everyone always said that Ryker was the handsome one and he could never measure up. Looking at Ryker now, either he is imaging what he sees in the mirror or he has left Ryker in the dust. Finlay is even more impatient looking at their faces up close.

"So what is the issue?"

All the boys glare at Ryker, while they are used to the looks that Leilani receives, coming from someone they already collectively despise is pushing the boundaries of tolerance.

"The Aquamarine pack has come into a slight bit of financial trouble"

Finlay only leans forward, his elbows on his knees, his chin on his hands and a look of impatience seeping from his pores.

"Yes?"

The whole squad prefers straight forward answers, skirting around things just irritates everyone. They were all looking forward to a couple of days at home which got delayed because of this and now they are just wasting time. "Well, we have found a solution"

Madden scoffs to himself, earning a snicker from the others. Janet keeps pausing for dramatic effect. Is she waiting for applause? If she has a solution, why are they here? A packs poor financial situation has nothing to do with the elders at all. They are not available to sort such things. You can't manage your money? You probably don't deserve your pack.

"A pack that is close and on par with ours only has a daughter born to the alpha pair. So we have proposed marriage in return for some financial help, but they want Ryker there, to live with them and take over their pack with their daughter" "And?"

It sounds like a fair deal, Aquamarine can't possibly expect financial help and then still get to stay put. If they are bringing nothing to the table, where would be the incentive? Looking at Ryker, it is not like he is a catch, as well as his undisciplined attitude, his weak body, he also has a wandering eye. Aquamarine should be paying someone to marry him.

"Well, we only have one son. If he goes, who is meant to take over our pack? We are after a loop hole in which the woman has to follow the man, not the other way around"

Leilani holds Arlo tight, but Arlo is long since immune to such things. Hudson scoffs sarcastically.

"Well, maybe you should have had more than one son"

The others snigger heavily and Charlie and Janet are perplexed by the blatant lack of respect coming from the group and the near hostile aura emitted from the six. Five sets of eyes are staring at them as if they can see through their bodies into their rotten souls. One set of eyes is completely obscured by the brim of a hat.

"Well, we did have two, but one was so useless and weak that we had no choice but to get rid of him"

Leilani finally speaks, her sweet voice comes out with a side of venom. If looks could kill, then the three in front of them would be sliced and diced and then burnt to a crisp with a flame thrower.

"Maybe your view of the world is distorted and you threw the priceless treasure so you could worship the sh*t"

Arlo's hands on Leilani tighten, she is usually the diplomatic one, but once someone attacks what is precious to her, even if they do it unknowingly, she is on the defensive. Sometimes it is hard to believe that she is the youngest in the group, as she is fiercely protective of her brothers.

Janet looks at the girl that she hardly paid any attention to before, thinking that she was some random wh*re that the men bought.

"What did you just say to me?"