Page 30 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Thirty

“G

randma.” My dad stood and went to grab for her but she held up her hand.

“I’m not here, boy-o. Not really here. She pulled me to you with that.” She pointed to the book.

“Your book of shadows. I thought it was lost.” He turned back to the book and hovered his hands over it.

“It wasn’t lost, it was hidden.” She looked over at me and smiled. “It was found by who it was meant to be found by.” She walked over and hovered her hands around my father’s face, almost cupping it. “I’ve missed you. But I can’t stay. Watch out for the darkness.”

“I love you.” His whisper was soft.

“And I you.” She leaned down to kiss his forehead, and then she was gone.

He looked over at me and I could see the devastation there. “You met her?”

I nodded. “She helped me find myself, my inner self, anyway, so that I could find my power. Even then, the Moon Goddess had to give me a push.”

“You met the moon goddess?” Ronnie leapt up and rushed over.

“I don’t actually know.” I lifted a shoulder and looked back at my dad, who nodded.

“We all do. She is the final push to connect to our power.” He patted my hair. “It’s why we can’t tell you what will happen, because she will only come when you are ready. And if you knew she would come…”

“I wouldn’t have tried so hard to connect with my power,” I finished, and he agreed.

“She has to allow the power to flow, a final blessing, you might say. But if she doesn’t think you aren’t ready, or trying, she won’t come.” He leaned down and kissed me.

“So…”

“So she thought you were ready, and able to balance your wolf and power. This time around you are doing everything right.”

“So my last life. I never shifted because I never balanced out my power and wolves. So this time, I’ll be able to wield my power and shift.”

“Wolves?” Ronnie whispered.

My eyes widened and my dad lifted a brow before he answered. “This time will be completely different. You’ll be able to do everything.”

My dad ignored my slip up. You will explain that to me when you can.

“I will.” I turned back to the book of shadows. “So you wanted me to do what with the book?”

My father looked at Ronnie and he shook his head. “She lost control when your ghost showed up.”

“Well, damn.” He pushed the book to me and looked over my shoulder until he found the page he was looking for.

“Focus back on your scent. It’s changed back and we need you to learn how to keep it going without focus.

Something that happens initially.” He tapped the page while I relit the candle in my mind.

“Can our wolves wield magic?”

“What do you mean?” My dad’s finger froze.

“Well, when I’m in this form, Nix can focus on keeping the power going.

And let me know when it grows too weak. If she can wield my magic herself as a part of me, then she can keep it going, and I won’t have to worry about it.

Even when I’m asleep.” I was even better prepared for Megan.

“And when I actually shifted, I could do the same when she was out.”

Ronnie smacked my dad on the back of the head. “Why didn’t you ever think of that?”

“I don’t know.” My dad laughed and turned to me.

“Yes, our wolves can use our magic, as the Moon Goddess blessed us and them. So you are one hundred percent correct. Nix can watch the magic while you are in charge and you can do the same when she is shifted. Loki has helped me multiple times in my life with my magic.” He looked at me sheepishly.

But I just smiled. “I had a question. Has a werewolf ever had multiple forms?” I tossed out the random question as I flipped through the pages of the book of shadows and stopped on one with a picture of a werewolf that was half shifted.

“They can. The stronger you are, the more you can hold a partial shift.” My father shifted his claws and covered his hand in fur, but it stopped midway up his arm. “If you are thinking about that shift…” He pointed to the picture. “You won’t be able to do that one.”

“Why not?” I was more interested in shifting into Nix and Megan so each would have their freedom.

I don’t need to shift Amy. Megan’s voice was soft, but I heard the scoff that came from Nix.

Everyone needs their freedom, Megan. Including you. Nix shook herself and nudged her into the clearing with the pot.

“Because…that isn’t a werewolf. That is a Lycan.” My father’s answer shook me back to the here and now.

“A Lycan?” I traced my finger over the picture. “I thought they were extinct.”

“Most are. The only one left is the king.” My dad pulled the book away from me and switched back to the page he’d originally settled on.

“Lycans have two forms. A wolf, much bigger than a normal werewolf. And a half human half wolf form, like the ones you see in the movies. Weres can partially shift, but nothing that comes close to the wolfman form.” He pushed the book back in front of me.

“Now I want you to focus on this spell and try to create a wisp without losing the change in your scent.”

“A wisp?” I looked at the page and skimmed it. It was a step to step spell on how to create a wisp of light. A spell useful for seeing in the dark and one that doesn’t create heat making it possible to hold for long periods of time without being burned.

“Yeah, this was the first spell I learned from my grandmother. She said it is the safest option as a wisp has no way to ‘burn down the village’.” He smirked as his eyes took on a glossy look.

“You miss her.” It was a silly thing to say, because it was plain to see to anyone looking, but he nodded.

“I forgot her voice.” His own voice trembled. “But then she was here today and I remembered it vividly again. How she used to chase me around her cabin…being with her was the best part of my childhood.”

“Your parents?”

“Were a true Alpha pairing.” Ronnie cut in but his voice held so much venom.

“What does that mean, exactly?” I looked back at Ronnie, who looked away from my questioning eyes.

“My parents loved me.” My dad coughed as he glared at his Beta.

“In their weird, cold way.” Ronnie tossed out.

“They were just stoic.” Dad defended.

“They were mean, cold, and the only love and enjoyment you got out of life was from your grandmother.” Ronnie sat back in his chair and looked at me. “It was the world’s greatest favor when the king killed your parents.”

“The King killed your parents?” I felt like I was getting too much information. “How old is he?”

“Not the current King. The old one. He killed my parents right after the attack because we found out that they were working with rogues to kill certain Alphas and his predecessor.”

“Wait what?” My mouth hung open.

“A hundred years ago, we were attacked by the rogues.” Ronnie began.

“Your father had already taken over the pack, but your grandpa didn’t like it.

Your dad had won the King’s favor in a battle a few years earlier, and the King mentioned it was about time the new generation took over.

Because the King had requested the change, there was no reason for your grandpa not to hand the pack over.

” Ronnie launched into the epic story of the battle and how my dad nearly killed himself saving the old King.

“So why did it matter that dad was the Alpha instead of grandpa?” I turned and fully focused on Ronnie.

“Your grandpa wanted the power still, and he was pissed he was forced to give it up.” Ronnie leaned closer.

“Your father was stronger than he was too, but your dad wouldn’t have ever tried to take over the pack, the King saw that, and made it a point to push the point home at every meeting until your grandpa complied. ”

“But?”

“But he was pissed off and bitter. So he made an alliance with the rogues to kill every one of the newer Alphas that the king had appointed, as well as the king. They attacked us first, and killed your great grandmother, but when your dad caught a rogue and tortured him for information he learned their plans. ”

“Dad!” He tortured someone. That fact bounced around in my mind. How could he do something like that?

“You do what you have to do when you have so many depending on you, Amy.” My dad almost crumpled onto the desk beside me.

I could see it was wearing on him. The choices he made still haunted him today.

But his words struck a cord deep inside of me.

My father tortured someone to save the kingdom, but I could still see the act weighed on his soul.

“Anyway. We were able to save everyone, except for the King.” Ronnie pointed out. “A fact his son took to heart.”

“He hates you?”

“I wouldn’t say hate; but he blames me, that is certain.” My dad huffed out a breath and then got up. “Enough story time for now. Try the spell.”

I pulled my legs up and sat crisscross on the table. I grabbed the book and settled it on my lap. I read the words over and over, trying to memorize them.

Iccas lumin torcanta .

“Use the words at first, but once you get the feel of the spell, you can just put the intention out and your power will follow.” My dad patted my shoulder and I put my palm up and recited the words.

“ Iccas lumin torcanta .” A giant ball of light appeared over my hand and Ronnie flew back. He tumbled over the back of his chair with a thump and a moan. I stood with a jump and the light blinked out of existence. “Are you okay?”