Page 10 of Fated (The Bonded Legacy #1)

CHAPTER EIGHT

LENA

T he sun warmed Lena’s face, wind tugging at her hair as the Jeep rumbled along the winding forest road.

She sat in the back seat, trying to enjoy the warming pre-spring breeze, but her stomach twisted into knots that tightened with each mile closer to the summit.

Ahead, Ryker leaned his elbow out the window, sunglasses perched casually on his nose, while his father, Beta Aiden, drove with an air of calm authority.

Her brother, Cian, sat beside her, his commanding presence filling the vehicle even in silence.

Lena’s thoughts were a storm of contradictions as she stared out at the endless stretch of trees. Find my mate and leave everything behind? Or stay and choose from my packmates— perhaps someone like Holden with his steady hands and kind heart? Either way, will I be valued, or merely tolerated?

She glanced sideways at Cian, scrolling through his phone with the casual ease of someone who had his future perfectly planned.

Being twins had once meant sharing everything.

Same blood. Same strength. Same potential.

While Selene had marked his path clearly, she’d left Lena’s future as uncertain as a morning mist. The irony wasn’t lost on her.

They’d shared a womb, shared their first breaths, first steps, first shift.

Yet at the age of twenty-four, fate had given them vastly different destinies.

“So.” She hesitated. “What happens if I meet my mate? Would I have to leave Moonshadow right away?”

Cian looked up from his phone, his expression softening.

“Not necessarily. Every bond is different, and every pack has its own traditions. The most important thing is that you and your mate will make sure you’re where you’re meant to be.

If your mate is an heir or an elite warrior, you would likely join him, but who’s to say he wouldn’t join us?

Moonshadow has always been your home, and it would take someone truly special to pull you away from it. ”

Lena nodded, though her fingers still drummed an anxious rhythm against her thigh.

She’d always imagined finding her mate as something magical and perfect, but that was when she was convinced he would be from Moonshadow.

Now, the idea of leaving everything she knew—her pack, her friends, her home—made her nauseous.

“And if I don’t meet him?” She wasn’t entirely sure which answer she preferred.

Cian’s gaze softened further. “If you don’t, that’s fine too.

This summit isn’t just about mates; it’s about forging connections.

You’ll meet potential allies and learn where Moonshadow truly stands in the hierarchy.

There’s strategic value in that knowledge, whether you find your fated mate or not. ”

Ryker, who had been quietly listening, turned his head back toward her. “And if you don’t meet him, we get to mate instead. Lucky me,” he quipped, flashing her a teasing grin.

“Not this again,” Lena groaned. “Also, Dad offered me three options: a warrior, Jace, or you. What makes you think you’re the first pick?”

“Hey, I’m pure perfection in wolf form,” Ryker shot back with a lazy grin.

“Not my fault Selene’s still scouring the earth for someone worthy of all this.

” He gestured to himself with a sweeping motion.

“If it comes to that our pups would be legendary—your stubbornness, my charm. Perfect beta-heirs.” He tapped his temple like he’d solved a complex equation, then winked.

“Besides, despite how The Incident turned out, don’t forget how badly you wanted this.

” His eyebrows waggled suggestively as he patted his lap.

Lena smacked Ryker upside the head, fighting the smile that tugged at her lips. His joking always eased the tension she felt, even if the thought of mating still made her uneasy.

Beta Aiden snorted from the driver’s seat. “You two are impossible,” he muttered, though his tone was fond. “Ryker, focus on your beta training and making connections at the summit. You might find your own mate too, and then Lena will be spared your so-called perfection. ”

Ryker leaned back in his seat with a sigh. “Fine. But I’ve been thinking it’s not the worst backup plan. Especially if it will mean that Lena gets to stay, because I'll be the next Moonshadow Beta.”

Lena smiled at her best friend’s desire to keep her close to home.

She turned her attention back to the road ahead, nerves settling slightly as the Jeep climbed higher into the mountains.

The scent of pine and wildflowers filled the air, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what the summit might hold.

Perhaps she would meet her mate. Perhaps not.

Either way, she knew this journey was the beginning of something bigger than herself.

Hours later, that sense of standing on the edge of something momentous returned tenfold as the Jeep pulled into the summit lodge parking area.

The sun dipped behind the mountains, casting long shadows across the grounds as Lena stepped out, stretching her legs and taking in the breathtaking view.

Both she and Elara were alert to the thickness of power in the air.

Her wolf prowled anxiously beneath the surface, pushing closer to her skin as if trying to taste the concentrated presence of so many pack leaders and their heirs directly on her tongue.

The summit grounds were massive—more than she’d imagined.

Pack banners fluttered proudly in the wind, their colors vibrant against the clear blue sky.

Each banner told a story—some ancient and proud, others newer but no less determined.

Lena found herself wondering which one might someday be hers.

The thought sent a pang through her chest even as Elara’s curiosity pushed forward.

The lodge was an expansive structure, its wooden beams and stone accents blending with the wilderness.

Black SUVs and luxury vehicles lined the parking lot.

The scent of alpha auras hung heavy in the air, each unmistakable in their power, making Elara pace restlessly beneath Lena’s skin, muscles twitching with each new dominant note.

Ryker whistled low. “They really outdid themselves this year.” He swept his arm toward the lodge. “Look at this place. Do you think they’ll roll out a red carpet next?”

Cian chuckled, grabbing his bag from the back. “Every summit is a chess match. The moves you make here will echo long after we return home.”

Ryker snorted quietly. “And a chance for alphas to flex their muscles while betas do the real work of making alliances.”

Lena glanced around, stomach fluttering with nerves as she noticed the subtle shifts in body language from nearby wolves.

As an unmated female from a well-known pack, she drew attention—some curious, some calculating.

Groups of unmated females gathered throughout the lobby, their designer clothes and careful makeup a stark contrast to Lena’s practical traveling outfit.

Some moved with the fluid grace of trained fighters, while others carried themselves with the polished poise of those groomed for leadership roles.

A few shot appraising looks her way. Lena caught fragments of their conversations about eligible heirs and alliance possibilities, their ambitions as sharp as their perfectly manicured nails.

Moonshadow was respected, but here, surrounded by the gathered might of so many packs, she felt the precariousness of her position more keenly than ever.

She gathered her belongings and fell in stride with Ryker, following Cian and Aiden toward the entrance.

Inside, the lodge buzzed with activity. Alphas, betas, elite warriors, and their families mingled in the grand lobby.

The competing auras pressed against Lena’s skin like static electricity, making the fine hairs on her arms stand on end.

The scent of wood and pine mingled with the markers of different packs—cedar, rain, stone, forest—each staking their claim in the shared space.

Elara catalogued each wolf, alert for...

something. Something Lena wasn’t ready to name.

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 rogues have 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.