Conflicted - Twist Of Fate

Danger.

As I leave the bathroom I realise how much time has past. Everyone is sitting down, the dinner started. As I find my seat next to Aiden the table is quiet. Leo & Ethan looking down at their food. Leo's expression filled with pain, while Ethan looks worried and also very tension.

I watch Aiden as he looks up and tries to smile. I see the pain behind every movement. "I'm sorry Aiden, I can't" I shake my head. Knowing they've already figured it out.

Leo stands, banging the table as he walks out of the room. Anger radiating from the alpha.
Ethan stands to follow, a small sad smile on his face. "We can't blame you for wanting your destined mates, Armina, but becoming the Luna of the Eclipse pack, it does make you our enemy" he shakes his head. Walking away too.

Enemy?

Why not peace?

"Has he not insisted on peace for years?" I ask Aiden as Ethan leaves. Aiden nods. "Seems peace is only when it suits him" Aiden says darkly.

His eyes meet mine.

"We need to talk" he says gravely.
As we walk around to the gardens, Aiden is quiet.
'Summon your mates' he mind links, 'We aren't linked yet' I look at him. Dread filling me.
'Try, now' he orders. Knowing something bad has happened I try. Tristan the first to respond that they'll be right there. As Aiden sits I watch his body sag. His emotions crazy between fear, dread, anger, sadness, and worst of all betrayal.

Tristan & Nate arrive quickly, their eyes watching Aiden uneasily. They both bow slightly, a very strange behaviour for any alpha to do to any other than a royal. Let alone another packs beta. The anxiety coming off them in waves. I realise it's their fear of me rejecting them due to Aiden. Their respect for him as my father. Their packs debt to him for their fathers mistakes. My mates were good men. I know it.

Aiden stands straight. Staring them both down. "Do you both swear to protect my daughter, no matter the cost?" Tristan & Nate instantly respond "with our lives" a respond Aiden accepts. "Will you protect her against your own pack members if necessary?" He asks, a question that has my heart racing. "Without hesistation" Tristan answers while Nate nods in agreement.

"Okay,
First things first. I Aiden Carter reject Blood Moon as my pack and sever all ties. I reject Ethan Mason as my Alpha and declare myself rounge" I see the pain in his eyes as I panic. "What are you doing? They'll kill you?" His scent changing instantly. Tristan responds quickly, taking out a knife from his back pocket, cutting his hand. "I Alpha Tristan Hayes invite you Aiden Carter to the Eclipse Pack, I swear to honor and protect you as one of our own" Aiden shakes his head in horror, "Please Aiden, you can find somewhere else when this is settled, you can't be killed please" I beg. Wolves already on edge near the castle as the scent of a rouge spreads. Aiden looks ready to kill as he takes the knife from Tristan.
"I accept, and pledge my allegiance to Luna Armina of the Eclipse Pack" I panic, "That won't work" I yell, then shock sets in as the smell vanishes.

It worked.

Nate looks confused while Tristan stares at me in wonder. His eyes filled with hope and love.

"You accept us?" He asks, his icy eyes glowing with pure happiness for the first time. I smile, "We have a lot to discuss" I look to Nate, "the three of us do, but that is my plan" They both move closer to me as Aiden coughs loudly.

I hate to interrupt, but we have a problem. I didn't do that for fun.

Remembering what led us here I turn back to Aiden. "What happened?" I demand, remembering Ethan's words.

"Ethan has lost it. His stating that Armina joining you makes your pack too strong. His talking of rallying other packs. He wants to tell them Armina, Leo is trying to talk sense into him but.." his eyes stare into the distance. "His also hurt right now, you're not safe" Aiden looks down. "If everyone knows about you, then knows you're mated to the biggest and most dangeous werewolf packs leaders, even the lycans may feel threatened. Then if they make allies inside Eclipse. You aren't safe anywhere. I don't know what to do" his heart breaks. His voice filled with worry.

"No one will touch her, our pack is loyal" Tristan growls. Aiden laughs, "Loyal?" Nate touches Tristan's shoulder, calming him. "We sentenced 72 wolves to death after we killed our father. Every rapist. Every cruel, heartless scumbag was offered rogue or death. Most chose the later. We've trained our pack well. It is not what it once was" every word from Nate's mouth filled with sincerity.

Aiden is quiet in thought for a while. Then he nods. "I guess I'll see that for myself, we leave first thing in the morning" nodding to the alphas as he walks away. "Don't go marking each other until we're out of this place" he calls over his shoulder.

"You're accepting us?" Nate asks again, his eyes bright, I nod, smiling. Aiden is coming with us. Whatever comes, we will work it out. We will protect each other. "You two are hard not to love" I smile, looking between them. Nate jumps, lifting me into the air as he smashes his lips against mine. A light hearted happiness surrounding him.

Tristan is quiet, a sense of worry coming from him. When Nate puts me down I walk towards him; concerned. As I touch his face his eyes water, "I don't deserve you, you'll change your mind" he states, I smile. Forcing back tears. "You have always deserved better than you've had, Tristan. I Armina Carter accept you Tristan & Nate Hayes as my mates & Alphas" I smile, feeling the bond strengthen as Tristan pulls me to him. His mouth on mine as the fireworks explode within me, just as strong as that first time.

There is danger to come. Threats we will have to face together. But right now, it doesn't matter. I have my mates.