Page 51 of Finding Embers and Stars (Twin Flames Duet #1)
Chapter fifty-one
I know my mates and Sage are surrounding me, but I’m struggling to process everything that’s come to light. After shifting back from Atlas, I don’t bother getting up. I’m pretty sure my legs wouldn’t hold me anyway.
All I can focus on is the pain and the anger rolling through me. It was bad enough when I thought my own father was beating me bloody every day.
Knowing that he is a fucking kidnapping rapist and I wasn’t even his child, is making me question everything I’ve ever known.
Jasper’s surprised gasp pulls me back from the edge. When I look up at him, I see so much hope on his face. He slides off his chair, landing on his knees before me.
The move has every male in the room growling at him. Rolling my eyes, I let out a very un-lady-like snort. My uncles immediately relax, but my mates only crowd closer, each of them squeezing in until they can touch me in some way.
When I meet Jasper’s eyes, I jolt in surprise. They are my eyes. The same shade of blue I see in the mirror every morning. Even better, they aren’t filled with disgust. Even though he just saw me shift from a male wolf to a female human, all I see on his face is awe.
“We have the same eyes.” So many things are flying through my head and that’s what pops out of my mouth?
Atlas’s chuckle rolls through my mind. “Give yourself some grace, Piper. Everything you knew about your family just got flipped upside down.”
Jasper chuckles, settling down on the floor in front of me like there is no better place to be. “I have so many questions, and I’m sure you do, too.”
A soft squeeze on my shoulder makes me look up. Hera is standing beside me, an apology clear in her eyes. I shake my head at her, sending thoughts that I know only she can hear. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Things had to play out the way they were meant to. I don’t hold a grudge over how things were. I would do it all over again to have Sage and my mates in my life. Your love and support mean the world to both Atlas and I.”
She blinks back tears, leaning down to kiss my cheek. “Love you too,” she whispers hoarsely.
Looking over at Jasper, she grins, all traces of sadness gone from her gaze. “Scoot over wolfie, it’s time I filled in some of the blanks in this story.”
He scoots over but looks confused as fuck. “I’m sorry ma’am, but who are you and how would you know the blanks in this story?”
Becca and Ash start jumping around both yelling, “Ohhhh, can I tell him!!?”
Letting out a heavy sigh, Rhoda pinches the bridge of her nose in exasperation. “Becca, I really hoped you would have matured at some point. You’re on the wrong side of forty, darling. And you, Ashley, are like eight hundred and forty.”
Ashley lets out a shocked gasp, bringing a hand to her throat to clutch her nonexistent pearls. “I wasn’t born for eight hundred of those years, thank you very much. And I look damn good for my age!”
Becca just shrugs, the mock scolding not making a dent in her wicked grin. “I’m a woman of the night and immortal. I see no reason to grow up.”
Roux leaps from his perch on Ivar’s shoulder, shifting to his human form as he lands in front of Becca. “You are not a prostitute, stop saying that!”
Looking over Jasper’s shoulder, I can see Sam leaning into Ivar, his silent laughter making it hard for him to stand up. Ivar has a slight pink tinge to his cheeks, and I can hear him muttering under his breath. All I can make out is ‘brats’, but I think it says enough.
I shake my head right along with Ivar. We are so blessed to have been welcomed into this family. I know this entire crazy circus of a conversation was made into a spectacle to help cut the tension in the room.
Hera gives my toe a subtle nudge with her own. Reminding me we aren’t here for the stand-up comedy, that’s just a bonus. Atlas pushes his calm support through my mind, helping me clear my throat and prepare myself to spell out our piece of this fucked up story.
“Jasper, my name is Piper. Sage and I left Alaska when we were eighteen, on the night we unlocked our shifts at the Ceremony of the Moon. All we had was each other and the magical trunks that Sage’s parents had packed for us. We drove in shifts, never stopping for longer than it took to grab gas and snacks until we got here, to the shelter.”
I think back on that first day, and the way Nox was waiting for us when we pulled into the parking lot. We were so scared of the unknown. Yet within seconds, he made us feel safe and welcome.
“Through the shelter, we were given a second chance at life, away from the Alpha Supreme. We ran for our lives, and we found a safe haven and a group of people that took us in and treated us like family from day one. Each person here is powerful in their own way, but we can worry about introductions later. For now, I’d like to introduce you to Mother Universe, who prefers to be called Hera. She’s basically our awesome grandmother.” I gesture to her and Jasper’s mouth drops open in shock.
“Behind me you will see Rhoda. While she looks like Hera’s twin, they are mother and daughter. I call her Amma, or grandmother, but Rhoda is also known as the Moon Goddess. To our right is Olive, the Shadow Goddess.”
Jasper’s face pales slightly. He looks as if he’s not sure if he should bow or run. Fighting my chuckles, I explain further. “She’s not the evil one. She’s the badass upgrade that can actually keep the shadows in check.”
I take a calming breath, and Sage squeezes my hand in support. “These are Sage’s parent’s and my adoptive ones. Mama Rose and Papa Rhett.”
I lean into Sage, taking comfort in her support. I hate being the center of attention, even within our family. And this is way more talking than I’m used to. I do much better with a keyboard than with speeches.
Atlas gently nudges my mind. I’m not quite done talking yet, no matter how much I wish I was.
I wait for Jasper to quit gaping like a fish and look at me before I drop the last few puzzle pieces.
“Sage is my soulmate. The totally platonic kind. Surrounding us are our mates. Maverick, Wyatt, Liam, Walker, and Milo. My wolf’s name is Atlas. He was meant to be my twin brother’s wolf. While my mom was pregnant with us, Richard made a deal with the Shadow Goddess and a Dark Fae to kill me. He only wanted a male heir, not a worthless female. The magic didn’t work as planned. My wolf was killed and so was my brother. Atlas and I were barely hanging on when Hera performed a miracle and fused us together. Atlas is now my guardian, and he was destined to be Sage’s mate. When we both shifted, they claimed each other, which made a new kind of bond where the seven of us are bound together as one family.”
I almost feel bad for Jasper. I just dumped a whole pile of information on him, but I knew if I stopped for too long, I wouldn’t be able to start again. The story is too hard to tell. I have to purge the whole thing at once or not at all.
Hera breaks the silence. Her calm presence filling the room. “Let me clear up some of those questions flying through your head. You’re on your way to a nasty headache. Your mate did not die when the bond snapped. It was broken by dark magic in the shadow realm, that’s why Rhoda didn’t feel it happening. The Moon Goddess has no sight in the Shadow realm, the same way the Shadow Goddess has no sight in the Light realm. Once Sasha was brought back to Earth, Richard enlisted the help of a dark Fae to skew her memories of you and to keep her under control.”
A pained groan rips from Jasper’s chest. He yanks at his hair and stands up to pace, clearly distraught at the knowledge that his mate wasn’t actually dead.
We all give him time, remaining silent in respect of the shock he’s going through. Stopping in front of me, he scrubs the tears from his face. “All of my questions can wait, except one. May I please hug you, Piper? And Atlas, when you shift back.”
He holds his hand out to me and as I lay my fingers in his calloused palm, I know I’ve found my father. My real father. He pulls me gently to my feet and straight into his arms.
I’m home. There is a part of me that’s bitter, knowing I should have grown up with this feeling. I shouldn’t have had to endure years of abuse at the hands of a power-hungry narcissist. After a hug that seems to go on for eternity, we finally ease apart, and Jasper drops a kiss on my forehead.
More tears gather in his eyes, but this time he’s smiling at me. “I’m so happy I found you and Atlas. I love you both so much.”