Twisting Her Fate
Chapter 31

The two within the stormy pack, the two in the privacy of the alpha bedroom, have completely forgotten about the phone call. It was funny at the start, but they have other things to worry about. Two minds are consumed with each other, the purpose of the whole thing has flown out the window. The tangling of bodies and rolling pleasure taking precedent over infuriating someone not really even worth their time.

Dinner is set up in the meeting room. Connor decided to start using the meeting room as the dining room for the large bunch, to keep their conversations a bit more private and to give the other pack members a bit of peace of mind. Such a large, powerful group coming in is quite unsettling for the weaker wolves, unsure whether there's going to be an uprising or what is happening.

Connor has tried to reassure the pack and explained that the group are welcome guests while skirting around the actual reason for their prolonged stay. He is happy to announce straight away that Leilani is his intended Luna, but he doesn't want to put that type of pressure on her yet. He doesn't want her to be scared off by his pack members calling her Luna or seeking her out for advice until she is ready to take on the role. He doesn't want to force her into anything, wanting her to arrive at the decision herself. He just figures that it's easier just to keep the elite group and the stormy pack members slightly separated until everyone can feel comfortable and titles are established. The group being around the pack house in a less intrusive way also helps the pack to accept them. Connor is playing a dangerous balancing act but thinks it is working.

The meeting room is full of chatter as the clinking of cutlery on plates. Everyone eating and drinking their fill as they celebrate. Looking at Gabriel's schedule for the week, knowing that they can make another strike the next day.

Connor would prefer if things slowed down a little, but he just has to make the best with the time he has. He knows that the group travels frequently, so they need to get as much torment to the two done in a short period of time as they never know when the next assignment will be.

"And then there was nearly steam coming out of the receiver when Connor asked Maggie who, it was so funny"

The room erupts in laughter. Connor just watches, he assumed there were not many secrets between the group and now he knows that it is true. Maggie? It could have been a salesman and Connor would still have no idea, he hardly even has a recollection of the conversation at all, just fond memories of a very talented mouth.

"Did you coach him into it?"

Leilani looks at Connor with eyes full of affection.

"No, he did it all himself"

"Hey, hey, hey don't celebrate my achievements, it wasn't an act, I had no idea who Maggie was at that moment"

Laughter fills the space once again as Connor joins the conversation naturally, joining the group, seamlessly slotting into the family dynamic.

***

In the morning, Gabriel rolls off Maggie. Her idea was to get Connor back for the hurt she had been caused. While Maggie waking him up to have s*x is usually one of his favourite things, her desperate need coupled with the strange feeling he has inside made for a borderline mechanical session that left them both thoroughly unsatisfied.

"Remember that we are meeting my parents today"

"I haven't forgotten"

"Good because I want our wedding done"

"And it will be done on my twenty-fifth birthday like it has always been planned"

Maggie watches as Gabriel storms out of the room. He has been acting strangely, carrying a lot of tension that he never had before. Maggie doesn't care as long as she becomes his wife in two weeks, all these years will be worth it. She will finally be Luna of the half moon pack.

Then she can pull Gabriel into line, no more sleeping around for him. While she likes being able to do the same, she has never appreciated Gabriel doing it. She should be the only focus, the only one he desires. She is enough.

She needs that mark, she needs to reject Connor, she needs him to know, even if he is f*cking some sl*t it is only because she didn't want him.

She needs that mark because that is victory, over Connor, over all the nay sayers, of all the people that said that Gabriel will replace his fated mate. Maggie wins, everyone else can be damned.

She will always come out victorious, because that is what she is, a winner.

That is what she deserves, nothing less, only the best.

***

In the stormy pack, Connor had rushed to Leilani's side as soon as he felt the tell-tale signs of the impending pain. He held her tight but it wasn't anything like the last time. He was in his office working and Leilani and the guys were training. The boys were shocked when an anxious man charged at them, taking Leilani in his arms and holding her close to his chest. They hadn't even noticed that anything was wrong with her at all.

As the five men watched on, Connor didn't care at all as he lovingly tended to the hurting she wolf. As they watched the strong alpha wolf, who is stronger than any one individual in their group. Whispering soft words to Lani, rubbing the silent tears with his thumb, cradling her with such tenderness. The five look at each other. The only thing that they could hope for is for someone that they love so dearly is to replace someone that will love them as much as they do. If not even more and from what Connor displays, they can see it even if Leilani hasn't seen the depth yet.

They can see that he isn't just using her for the loss of Maggie. They can see that he isn't just making do. They can see the seriousness of his conviction. They get a glimpse of how she will be treated.

But they can only approve, they will not actively help Connor, it is not up to them to sway her decision either way, even though Connor is good, there is still a selfish desire to keep her with them, while Connor hasn't shown his thoughts on them as a whole package. They know the deal.

After the bond fiasco, Leilani doesn't dwell on it at all. She isn't about to sook about taking the pain when she has been handing out the pain on purpose.

Leilani works through the pain easily this time, just seeking comfort in Connor's warm embrace. This time she doesn't make a peep, she doesn't even move, just gripping onto Connor. Her wolf doesn't fight this time, she also taking comfort in the safety and security offered by the large alpha wolf. When it subsides, Leilani looks up at Connor.

"Would you like to go for a run?"

Connor places a kiss on her temple.

"I would"

Leilani waves to indicate to her brothers that she is fine and they resume training as Leilani and Connor walk hand in hand toward the tree line.

Just inside the cover of trees, just away from prying eyes, Leilani stops as she slowly starts to shed her clothing, her usual playful attitude replaced by a serious expression. Somethings can be playful, but this to her, is not one of those times. Connor watches as he starts to remove his clothes with matching speed, neither hurried nor the slow teasing pace, just periodic piece by piece.

Two piles of clothes sit on the forest floor, one men's and one women's. Two naked figures stand next to the piles, one large, one petite. They watch each other, but this time not with eyes filled with lust, just two people looking at each other in their purest form. No word is spoken as they both slightly hunch at the same time.

What appears in the place of the two figures are two wolves, one of the most purest white and one silver.

The large silver wolf takes a step forward, meeting in true form the one that his human wants as his Luna. The white wolf stays still, neither cowering nor moving to meet him. Two wet noses touch before the silver wolf runs his cheek along the white wolf, imprinting his scent. The she wolf is strong, she is fearless and she is intelligent. He rolls his large snout over the top of her head, her head pushed into the thick fur of his chest area.

That is when she finally moves, sniffing his scent, feeling his size. She licks his cheek before yelping and running into the trees. The large silver wolf stands alone in the trees, his head slightly tilted as he watches the playful white wolf bounding through the trees. From his very first moment, he has been the alpha of the pack, playing is something that he has never done, shouldering a large responsibility from very first moment he opened his eyes.

Another playful bark sounds through the trees as the white wolf disappears at high speeds. The silver wolf lets out a playful bark that sounds almost too gruff and sounds strange in his own ears as he takes off after his mate, chasing after his Luna.