Fated Pack

By Kaleidoscope Press

We are at war.

The Dawning Pack has a generations old rivalry which is finally rearing its wolf’s head to bite us. My family gone, my pack reduced to a brave few — and all when my need to mate is at its height.

We need to build up our numbers, and I need to find my mate. But will I be able to find my fated omega when we are under attack? Even if we are drawn together, will he stay by my side in this uncertain time?

All I know is if I find my mate — my omega — I will do anything to keep him and my pup safe.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steamy eReads
• Release date: Mar 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005118617

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Kaleidoscope Presents

Fated Pack

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Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER ONE

There was no easy way to tell my two remaining pack members what I was going to tell them — this was the burden and the curse of being their alpha. Our situation had not so much entered dire straits as it had plummeted face-first into it. I was supposed to be courageous and strong for them, to keep our morale alive. Yet here I was, sitting in my car, parked outside the last safehouse we had on this side of San Joaquin County... and I didn't want to exit.

It seemed easier that way. Of course, I was only just gathering my thoughts, but trepidation caught me. Matt and Kenzie were expecting me. They didn't know the bad news yet... nor did they have any idea of what the worse news was going to be.

There's only three of us left. The proud, once-mighty Dawning Moon pack, now reduced to an alpha who's only held the position six months... a beta who still begrudges his family's decision to force him out of university... and then there's Kenzie, the last piece of the puzzle, the most loyal of us — although, sadly, I couldn't bestow her the rank of omega we needed. It just couldn't be — there was no way she could be my omega, not as long as I was alpha of the pack.

I just don't want to be with a woman.

Okay, get yourself together, Jesse, I said, breathing in. I was feeling the unruly discontent of my inner beast, the wolf inside me threatening to unleash my rage and built-up frustration from the ongoing war that's torn my pack apart. Remember those tips from yoga.

It seemed silly that I had taken up yoga — most wolves were far behind humans when it came to taking up practices involving spirituality that wasn't rooted in ancestral local, traditional beliefs. But a dearly departed pack member had introduced me to it, and I found it incredibly calming.

Olivia. I'm sorry we weren't there for you.

Matt and Kenzie needed to know.

I finally opened the doors and walked towards the motel room. As I approached, I could see the window curtains part enough to offer a peek of a small, blonde woman looking out. Kenzie was our best spotter. Never mind a mile away, give her a good vantage point, and she could spot a sneaking enemy three miles away — on a cloudless night.

Password, I heard Kenzie challenge me from inside the room as I placed a hand on the handle.

Is this necessary? I said, amused but also impressed by her professionalism. War was war.

Password.

All wolves forage for their future, I murmured, the wisdom of my forefathers coming through as I echoed their old motto. When my older brother Wilson was alpha, we had taken it back, made it our own. Those were also his last words, when the Bone Tribe finally got to him and executed him as their ages-old blood feud demanded.

Blood feuds. Pointless, worthless warfare. And for what? I don't even know what I'm fighting for. I fight the Bone Tribe because that's what a Dawning Moon alpha does. I have half a mind to suspect that the Bone Tribesmen do the same, too, without any real reason to fight me, beyond that's what they had been doing all their lives.

Wilson lost. Countless others lost. Now Olivia.

Kenzie opened the door. Matt was sitting in a rocking chair against the wall, holding a shotgun. I didn't have to glance down into Kenzie's extra-large sweater sleeves to know she was hiding a knife inside. All good? I asked.

Boring, but that's the kind of day I like, these days, Matt said with his Southern drawl.

That's all good, then, Kenzie echoed. Any news from Olivia's mission?

Mission. We'd made war such a part of our lives that we imbued our speech with everything military. Mission. War. Battle. Soldier. I sighed, shaking my head.

They got the message instantly. Kenzie, who had hardly known Olivia, shook her head — but Matt was visibly upset. She had been a sister to him, and she had taken it upon herself to go deep through Bone Tribe territory in northern California in hopes of connecting with a neutral pack to join our side. No dice.

Then we're down to three, Matt said. We can't really go on like this. And boss, we've been hobbling along without an omega.

I'm ready, Kenzie added, nodding insistently. I can be the pack's omega.

As much as I wanted to accept the offer, I had to shake my head. Listen, I've got another strategy. And Kenzie... I know you're the most sincere, most genuine wolf I've ever met. But you know why you can't be the omega. It wouldn't work for me; it wouldn't work for the pack.

So, it has to be a man, Kenzie said, her voice neutral.

I nodded slowly. I'm gay. I make no attempt to hide it. Maybe that's why the Bone Tribe hates us that much, even more than they did when my dad or my brothers were alpha.

The truth was that would have been a stretch — homophobia was highly uncommon among shifters, but it still existed. Especially when the shifters adopted local human prejudices. Could it be that was why our rivals fought us with such ferocity? Because I was gay? Or was my sexuality just a peripheral element of it — like they thought that because I was gay, I had to be weaker, a less masculine alpha?

I was as masculine as anyone could get. Anybody who made that assumption was bound to face a very painful end. I definitely feel we need to start repopulating this pack. And I have a few ideas, I said. I had to be careful about how I was going to suggest this path. The worst-case scenario was that Matt and Kenzie would be so outraged they'd forsake their oaths and leave the pack.

Matt looked to the ceiling. I can call my cousins back in Texas. They'll take a while to traverse through all that territory, but you remember Travis, he's a good guy, and he'd have no problem loaning us four, five of his pack members. His whole group's massive. Got to be like thirty of them.

Even an alpha with a pack of thirty would hesitate to potentially lose a sixth of the pack to warfare that doesn't involve them, Kenzie countered.

It's worth a shot.

I nodded and looked to both of them. Yeah. Let's give that a go. We might be able to hold out for a week, maybe two... but longer than that, we're going to need extra numbers. Get in touch with your cousins, see if you can get us some help, Matt.

My beta nodded and started typing on his phone.

Kenzie stood up. Maybe it's time we consider requesting a truce with the Tribe.

Outrageous! They've slowly picked us off one by one, and now we're going to start horse-trading and playing politics? Matt said, raising his voice — he never did that, especially not around Kenzie, his fiancée.

I raised a hand, trying to calm my beta down. Hold on, Matt, there's a lot of merit in her suggestion.

Even if only so we can use the time to build up our numbers again, Kenzie added.

Exactly, I echoed.

Matt shrugged. I don't like it. And they know they've got the advantage here. Tribe's going to keep hitting us, and if they hear we're begging for a truce, they'll start doubling their efforts. That's my counsel to you, alpha. This could be a giant mistake. He shot a look to Kenzie, pleading for her to change her mind on the matter. I knew his concerns — with only three of us, his voice would be the lone one of disagreement if I made my decision based on a vote. Even Matt didn't want to be alone on this.

We need the time. But you're also right, Matt. We're going to have to hit them somewhere it hurts, so they need the time to recover, too. All we need is a month — well, if we're forced to negotiate, I'll even take a fortnight. Just enough time to get more wolves. And fill up all our vacant spots.

So, the omega thing, then, Kenzie said, breaching the topic again.

We're really going to have to think outside the box, guys, I said, stiffening up as I readied myself to tell them what I had in mind. Right now, our priority is finding new members, oath them into the pack. And this might even mean calling every possible thread we have. Blood bonds, marital bonds... As alpha, I'm going to have to ask you two to cancel your engagement.

Jesse... Matt said, standing up and slamming his fist against the wall next to him. I looked at him head on, recognizing immediately that he didn't look on me with betrayal so much as he did with surprise that we would have to take this last resort.

All of us are going to have to court new wolves. If we can link up with other packs, we can gain crucial allies against the Tribe. We're going to have to induce other wolves into joining Dawning Moon — and both of you are very prime candidates. Even me, I said, carefully picking out every word.

The opposition I was expecting simply wasn't there. There was a grudging acceptance for the current state of the pack. It's come to that, huh? both Matt and Kenzie said.

I hope you guys understand, I said. And also, know that just because you two would have to get married to other wolves, doesn't mean you guys can't keep what you've got going on. Plenty of wolves here in Cali know what arranged pairings are like.

But marriage under Luna is a sacred bond, Kenzie said, her voice cracking. I'm in, because this is a life or death deal. But I want to know, Jesse, as alpha, are you going to do this, too? The stakes are just as high for you.

I nodded, placing my hand on the edge of the curtains, peeking out to see if there was any threat incoming. I promise that I'll do my hardest to find a mate too... and that it'll be someone worthy of being named Omega.

CHAPTER TWO

I was holding the door open for him to leave. This date had been going well, but I had changed my mind as soon as I found out.

A few days after our last pack meeting, Kenzie called. I know you might find this intrusive, but I was hanging out with some wolves near Oakland, and I mentioned you and managed to get you a blind date. Don't know the guy too well, name's Eddie, but he's a nice looker — you'll agree, I'm sure, and he's pretty tough-looking. Could be the kind of guy you need in a pack. Anyway, I think you should give it a go. I'll text you his number.

I didn't put up a fight. Matt and Kenzie had thrown themselves into the dating scene, and now I was going to have to, too. I made the arrangements with Eddie and offered a night of wine and conversation at my place. He joked that he was more of a clubbing 'til 4am kind of guy, but he appreciated the change in pace.

But here I was now, opening the door and sheepishly telling him I appreciated him coming — but I was interested in a relationship, not casual sex.

And Eddie was married.

No hard feelings, Eddie said, slicking his hair back. Your town's pretty nice, pretty sweet. I totally get why you and Kenzie and all didn't just move out to LA or something. Me, I'm sick of small town living, I've always wanted to be in the urban sprawl. You know?

I don't, actually.

I laughed. If it weren't for the awkwardness of our last ten minutes, this would've been the cue for me to pitch him joining the pack.