Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #3)

Chapter One

Almost one and a half years later…

“Are you ready?” Wendy bounced on her toes.

Her long hair shining in the curls that we painstakingly styled this morning.

She looked gorgeous in her pale pink dress.

The black grad gown hung open around her shoulders as she finished her makeup.

I looked around at everyone in my living room and I couldn’t stop smiling.

“You guys look amazing.” And they did. Micca’s red hair was braided over her shoulder, her graduation dress a dark canvas to her stunning beauty.

Hanna’s black textured bob was such a drastic change since our first year.

She had let it grow out these two years, and then showed up this morning like this. “Hanna, your hair is stunning.”

“I liked the long hair, but this feels like me.” She smiled and ruffled her hair. She slipped her graduation gown over her white sundress. “Can you believe it’s been almost three years? They said they would fast track us, but I didn’t actually think they would.”

Toya came out of my room with her stunning gold dress clinging to her curves and her grad gown in her arms. “Why?” She smiled a little sadly.

“With all the attacks that we’ve been dealing with, fast tracking us back to our families is still the best thing to do.

” I nodded as I walked over to her and grabbed the grad dress.

Toya pouted before pulling her braids over her shoulder.

“I shouldn’t have to graduate with this oversized garbage sack of a grad dress covering my body.

Not after you spent the last two years torturing me into shape.

” I threw my head back and laughed as I helped her into the grad gown.

“Dramatic.” I shook my head as she turned.

“She isn’t lying.” Micca walked over to the long mirror I had propped up against my living room wall. “Before meeting you, my father called me rolly poly because no matter what I did, I was always fat in his eyes.”

I gasped. “You were never fat.”

Micca gave me a small smile. “You guys never made me feel like I was. But in my pack, they did. My dad actually sent me to school because my sister was getting married and she didn’t want her new pack to know that she had a fat sister.”

“Micca…” Wendy walked over to her and hugged her. Micca tried to smile again, but she shook her head as a tear fell. “Why didn’t you ever tell us?”

“Because you never made me feel fat or bad about myself. At first, to be honest, I was terrified that if I pointed it out, you guys would look at me differently. But then I realized you would never do that. I put it past me. And I wasn’t that person anymore.

” She unzipped the black gown and twirled in a tight black dress that showcased her body perfectly.

“You have always been stunning. Your body had nothing to do with it.” She stopped spinning as I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her and I stared into her eyes.

“You have been gorgeous, inside and out, from the day I met you. This body, if it makes you happy, then we are happy. But I need you to listen to me when I say this.” I waited until she nodded.

“Your worth is not now or ever, based on your weight or your looks. The worth of a person is based on their personality and their achievements. I need that to sink in before you go back to your pack and allow them to make you feel anything else.”

Micca nodded and cried in earnest. She hugged me. “It’s stupid, I know, but my father called me. They are traveling here for the graduation, and he told me not to embarrass him.”

Wendy snorted. “He knows you’re top of your class, right?”

Micca shook her head. “Today was the first time they talked to me since I started school.”

I pulled her back and kissed her forehead. “If you have any issues today, and I mean anything. You call me. I’ll handle your father and your pack.”

“You can’t do that, Amy.” Micca laughed and shook her head.

“Of course I can.” I bumped my hip into hers and then turned to face everyone.

“You’re all from different packs, and you’re different ranks, but my wolves have claimed you.

No matter where you go, how far you roam, you are our pack, our family.

” I watched as those words sank in. “No matter how long we go in between seeing each other, or who you mate with, or which rank you settle into.” I looked at my unranked girls, who I knew for a fact held a rank now.

Hanna and Wendy looked at each other and smiled.

“You are now and forever ours. Ours to love and ours to protect. Whether it is from asshole parents, angry pack members, or Goddess forbid abusive mates. I will show up, no questions asked.” As soon as I finished, everyone came over and we hugged.

Family, whether blood, bond, or chosen, were what mattered.

We walked out of my apartment together, and I glanced next door. Rowan had disappeared after my heat, and I left him be. We both had things to focus on and I think we both realized that we were just distracting each other from what was important.

Toya caught my eye, glanced at his door, and then looked back at me with sad eyes. “Do you regret it?”

I snapped to her and lifted my brow. “Regret what?”

Toya bobbed her head to the sides. “Rowan…the bullshit…”

“Staying an extra year just to graduate with us.” Wendy cut in and Toya pointed to her.

“That too.”

I shook my head. “No.” I waved my hands and gave a tiny chuckle. “I didn’t have time for the bullshit, and Rowan and I…well, we both had more important things to focus on.”

“You could have graduated early.” Hanna pointed out. “But you stayed.”

“We are supposed to graduate together, plus the extra courses were amazing.” I smiled and put my arm around her. “How could I leave you all alone?”

Micca laughed. “You’re not our mom.”

“I feel like it.” I pulled them all into the elevator. “Come my little ducks, time to graduate and then tomorrow, tomorrow you leave me.” I dropped my head to hide the actual sadness in my eyes.

We’ll still talk to them daily. Nix chastised me.

I will miss them. Does Toya know where she is going yet? Megan was hovering over my power, a giant plant now, with blooms almost ready to burst. I smiled as I looked at everything we had accomplished this last year. We three had grown as close as ever, and together we nurtured our power.

We did an amazing job. Nix’s voice was proud. I’ve been wondering what happens when the blooms open.

“I don’t know. But I’m excited to find out.” I whispered back to them and then refocused on my friends. “Toya…have you heard news about what pack you’re going to?”

The conversation around the elevator ground to a halt. Toya looked back and gave a tiny shake. “The council said they would be here to preside over the graduation, and they would give me my assignment then. There is also another big announcement going to be made today.”

“It’s a big day.” I smiled.

The elevator door opened, and the girls squealed. “Yes, it is.” Toya smiled as everyone parted. Jara, Sterling, and a few others stood at the front desk. Even Brandon was there. “Happy birthday Amy!”

“Happy birthday!” Everyone cheered as we walked out. I shook my head in disbelief.

“What is all this?” Toya grabbed my hand and pulled me to the desk. Gifts were lined up on the table next to a cake. “We don’t have time for all of this.”

Wendy smiled. “We… uh, lied.. The ceremony starts in an hour.”

I bumped her shoulder. “You guys suck.”

“Come on. Open your gifts.”

Sterling and Jara came over. “Happy birthday Amy. Our mates helped us pick out your gift.” I took the package.

“You didn’t have to.” I unwrapped the gift and found two books. “What are these…” I picked the first up and opened them to realize that they put together photo books. It was their families, their pups. “Guys.” I felt choked up.

Sterling stepped up. “All of us thought that after everything you have done for us, that you have become family.” Sterling came next to me.

“Here are the presents you got the pups for their last birthdays. Since you couldn’t leave the school, we wanted to make sure you knew how much they loved them.

My kids call you Auntie Amy and in the back they wrote you a letter. ” I wiped away a tear.

Jara nodded. “You have always been so nice to us, and when my mate came in last year, she fell in love with you.”

I waved them off. “I will cherish these for the rest of my life.”

Jara grabbed and opened his book. “My pups are a little too young. More like Sterling’s last one, but my mate sent you a message. And her phone number. She wants you to call, and when you have time, we would love for you and your mom to come visit.” I gave them both a hug.

“I love these. Thank you so much.”

“Here.” The girls all huddled around me next and handed me a gift.

“Guys, you didn’t have to.” They just smiled as I unwrapped another photo album. I opened to see all of us. Together, training, laughing. I started to cry. “You bitches are ruining my makeup.” I wiped under my eyes. “This is amazing.”

“It took us a while to pick the pictures.” Hanna smiled.

“And find a big enough album.” Micca joked. She was right, it was thick.

“Wendy’s idea.” Toya bumped into her with a smile. “Do you like it?”

I nodded, giving a watery laugh. “I love it.”

“Toya had the same idea that Jora and Sterling’s mates did. We all wrote you a letter.”

“Guys.” I put down the album and hugged my friends. “I’m going to miss you so fucking much.”

“None of this.” Toya pulled back. “No tears.” She wiped her own face. “We won’t be stuck on our pack lands. We can visit. And there will be video chats, and movie nights, and-”

“And we will make sure we make time for each other.” Wendy finished. I was still in awe of her transformation through the years. She had become so strong.

“Yes. Yes, we will.” Hanna beamed.

It was my turn to look at her, and I was shot back to the very first time I met her.

A tiny little thing terrified in the bathroom.

I chuckled as I looked around. “We have come so far over the years.” I wiped my eyes.

“You all have become so strong. Completely different people. Micca, you have completely flourished into your rank, you have become a very strong Beta, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you became a Luna for some pack.

Same with you, Toya. You have grown so strong these last few years. ”

The two beamed. “It’s all because of you.” Toya bumped into me.

I shook my head. “You guys didn’t have to train.

You wanted to and you put in the work.” I smiled up at them.

I turned to Hanna and Wendy. “But it was you two that stood out. We all put in the work, but you two threw yourself into it. You two have grown the most, and I need you to realize it.” Toya and Micca both nodded.

“You two started as unranked.” I started, and my two friends furrowed their brows.

“But this last year, your wolves have stepped up. You have stepped up. And now you’re both Gammas.

” Their hands shot to their mouths, and they looked at each other.

“There is no way.” Hanna’s words were whispered, but I smiled.

“I felt the shift this last month. I wanted to wait until you both settled into your rank before I told you.” I grabbed their hands. “You are Gammas, and now you have the skills to perform those duties with my complete confidence.”

“That’s impossible.” Wendy shook her head. “No one in my family has ever been ranked.”

I felt my smile turn sad. “I think that has more to do with the training offered to your family than it does the wolves in it.” Toya and Micca nodded.

“There is always a rank in a family. At least one, every generation. The Goddess does this to give everyone the opportunity to change their fates. An unranked family can learn to be strong.”

Hanna reeled back from me. “What?”

I turned to her. “It’s something that a lot of wolves have forgotten, but even the strongest Beta and Alpha lines started as unranked families.

The only ones that have a consistent line of ranked wolves are the firsts.

The first Lycans, the first wolves, they have always been ranked.

But others, the Goddess will see who is worth it and then give them a blessing and a chance.

The families that are smart take the blessing and elevate themselves and their descendants.

” I grabbed each of their hands. “Your families probably didn’t know, or they weren’t given the opportunity to flourish.

But now you have the chance, and I am making sure you take it.

” I hugged them both until I heard someone clear their throat.

I wanted to roll my eyes. But I pulled back with a smile. “Brandon.” I walked over. “Thank you for coming.”

He smiled big and leaned in for a hug, but I pulled back. He laughed. “Still won’t let me close.”

He’s lucky I allowed him to touch me at all. Megan growled.

Why do you allow him to touch us? I shot back at her. Aren’t you worried about the mate bond?

Megan looked away, but then she turned back. There is no mate bond anymore.

I froze for a minute and then recovered. We will speak about this. Then I turned back to Brandon. “I am nothing but consistent.” I forced a smile. “Until I meet my mate, I won’t let anyone touch me. You should do the same.”

Brandon looked away. “Here.” He handed me a letter.

“Thank you,” I smiled and took it.

“Read it.” He looked at me expectantly.

I sighed softly as I opened the letter.

Amy,

I know you think I am just chasing after you instead of looking for my mate, but there is a reason for that. I was rejected our first year.

I snapped my head up and looked at him. “Is this the truth?”

His cheeks turned red from embarrassment, and he nodded to the letter. “Read it and then find out, I guess.” I turned back to the piece of paper in my hand.

It was a few months in, in the big cafeteria, one time I came with my dad to see you. Someone rejected me, and I couldn’t blame them. I was so head over heels for you. I didn’t leave much room for my mate.

Anyway, I wrote this to let you know I want you to be my chosen mate. But also my father has offered you a position as a gift. He told me to get you to call him.

But please, think about my offer. I cannot think of a more suitable Luna than you.

Love,

Brandon