Page 31 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Thirty-One

“U

gh.” A groan from behind the chair had me slapping my hand over my mouth. “Are you trying to kill me, pup?”

“I’m sorry.” I looked at my dad, but he was bent over, dying of laughter. “Dad?”

“Did you see how far he fell back?” Tears were trailing down his cheeks as he cackled.

“Rude.” Ronnie stood and dusted off his shirt. “The both of you are rude.”

“I really didn’t mean to do it.” I turned to my dad. “What did I do wrong?”

“Well, for one thing, you definitely weren’t thinking about the size of the wisp. All your power rushed to fulfill your wish, and it was as big as it could get.” My dad wiped his eyes and his laughter finally trailed off. “But Ronnie, you know it doesn’t cause harm.”

“I know, but I have never seen one that big, and it scared the shit out of me. Sue me.” Ronnie settled back into the chair.

“Try to picture it the size of a softball.” My dad motioned me to try again.

I closed my eyes. “ Iccas lumin torcanta .” I pictured the light a lot smaller than before and when I peaked out of my one eye, the light floated silently above my upturned hand.

“Perfect.” My father clapped as Ronnie got up and came closer to me, while my eyes were glued to the light. I was doing it, this was my power, and it shone silver and bright. “Now I want you to toss it up in the air, play with it. Focus on the light and what you can do with it.”

So I followed his instructions. I tossed it up in the air, almost as if I was playing with a ball and the light followed my command. Ronnie had his nose buried in my neck, and if it was any other man, I might have felt uncomfortable, but this was my uncle.

“Are you having Nix watch the power going to your scent?” Ronnie pulled back and asked.

It was Megan and Nix together, but I nodded. “Yeah. That way, I could focus on this.” I tossed the ball in the air again. Then I focused on making it smaller, then brighter, and each time the light responded to my intentions.

“Well, it’s working perfectly. You might have an issue with having Nix watch it constantly, but even earlier, when the light was enormous, there wasn’t a hint of your original scent.” Ronnie nudged his forehead against mine. “Proud of you, pup.”

“Thanks Uncle Ronnie.” I turned back to my father, and he was excited.

“This is promising. Now we can spend the rest of the time practicing other spells. When we aren’t working though…” My father trailed off and looked a little pained.

“What’s wrong?”

“I know the book is yours, as it was intended for you…but.” My dad looked sad.

“You can take it every night until I leave and copy it into yours.” I offered a solution. I knew I would have to take the book with me, but this way, we both could have a version of the book.

My father looked a little dumbstruck. “That would be amazing.”

“You didn’t think of that, did you?” Ronnie poked out a finger. “Why is your daughter smarter than you?”

“She gets her brain from her mother.” My dad grabbed the original book, and his. “You sure?”

“Of course.” But I grabbed his arm. “But you have to make me a promise. One you won’t break.”

“Of course, Amy.” My dad had this quizzical look on his face.

“I want you to only have the book in your room. And you can only work on it when you are alone. If anyone shows up or knocks, you put it away in your safe before you open the door.”

“Okay. But why?”

“Aurora.” My dad looked a little dazed when I said her name, but then shook it off. Then Loki took over his eyes. “Don’t worry pup, I will promise you. The witch has no power over me.”

“Then will you do the work for him, so there are no chances?”

“Anything for you, pup.” Loki leaned over and kissed my cheek. “You smell like my pup, but not. I don’t like it.” I smiled up at him.

“I don’t like it either, but I have to do it.” I told him, he nodded in understanding and I watched as he receded and my father was back. “Loki said he will work on your books for you, so that whatever is messing with you won’t allow you to break your promise.”

My father looked a little hurt, but then he nodded. “It’s smart. He doesn’t seem to have any issues ignoring Aurora’s advances.”

“Exactly.” I kissed my father’s cheek. “Try to be fast. I still need to figure out what the heck is wrong with you.”

“We’ll work as fast as we can.” I nodded and turned to leave. “Wait. One more thing.”

“What is it?” I turned back to face my dad, and he was grimacing.

“This isn’t going to be comfortable. But it only has to happen tonight.” He hedged his words, and I just gestured for him to go on. “Ronnie has to sleep in your room tonight.”

“What?” both of us screamed.

“The last test is keeping your scent changed while you’re sleeping. Ronnie needs to be close enough to keep track.” My dad pointed to Ronnie, who groaned.

“I have to be up all night, don’t I?” My dad nodded and he groaned again.

“But you will have tomorrow off to recoup and sleep and I’ll have Beck with me.” My dad clapped his shoulder, and he dropped his head.

“I’m going to go take a nap then.” Ronnie waved and left the room after my father nodded.

“You can go. Keep your scent covered all day.”

“Okay. What’s next if I’m able to hold it during sleep?”

My father grinned. “Shifting.”

I widened my eyes. “What? Really?”

“You are ready. Nix and Loki have talked about it and she is ready. She is just waiting to ensure you are safe. So once we know you can cover yourself, then we can work on shifting.”

I jumped into his arms, and he laughed. “Oh my goddess.” I could feel tears choke me and my dad pulled back and cupped my cheek.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just so happy.” I smiled up at him and rubbed my cheek against his. “Thank you, daddy.”

“Anything for you, my pup.” My dad kissed my head and then turned me around. “Now go, you need to eat, but hold off on the wolfsbane still. Once we have you shifting, you can get back on it.” I nodded and ran out of the room.

“ Did you hear that, Nix?” I could hardly contain my excitement.

Of course. Her voice was a soft brush against my mind. I’ve been ready since you balanced your power. But this is important.

“ I know. We need to protect ourselves from Brandon.” I shivered as the thought of him standing over me while the doctor cut into me flashed through my mind. “He might not have done it this time yet, but I will never forgive him for killing our pup.”

The man doesn’t deserve forgiveness. His soul is as black as my fur. His wolf even agreed with him and his mistreatment of us.

Megan walked a little closer. Were you serious about me shifting too?

“Of course. Nix isn’t my only wolf.” I whispered as I entered my room. “You will come out as well. Why?”

I’ve been thinking. Megan’s voice was a little louder, stronger. Nix will be your main shift. The one everyone will see. And before you say anything, she has to be. She is the Alpha and needs to be out more than me. But I can be useful.

“ You don’t have to be useful for me to want you to shift. But what are you talking about?”

When you need to spy…or run away…or not be caught, you can shift into me and do what you need to do.

I’m not an Alpha, so no one will ever suspect it is you.

I look different from Nix, and my scent is different.

Even if I am seen or caught, you can wait until the coast is clear and get away and shift into her and I would disappear as if I had never been there.

Her words struck a cord deep inside of me. “That is genius.” I changed into workout clothes before I headed down to have lunch. “No one will ever know.”

“Know what?” I shrieked and wheeled to face Cass, my hand clutching my chest.

“What the actual heck, Cass. You scared the crap out of me.” She raised her hands and laughed a little.

“How was I supposed to know you didn’t hear me? You always hear me.”

“I was talking to Nix.” I wrapped my arm in hers and pulled her to grab food.

“Must have been important.” She grabbed a plate and filled hers next to me, and I did the same.

“It is. I just had an epiphany.” I grabbed a few steaks and Cass just laughed at me.

“Hungry?”

“Starved.” We grabbed a seat. “You excited about training today?”

“I am.” She bounced as she dug into her food. “I think I’m going to shift soon.”

“That’s exciting. Your birthday is in a few days. So it’s possible.” Cass groaned as I pointed my fork at her. “What?”

“Don’t remind me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My birthday. I can find my mate and that is all my mother has been on about. But I just want to focus on training. It’s become so important to me.”

“You can do both.” I pointed out, but she shook her head.

“Not according to my mom. I’ll mate and have to have babies right away.” Cass looked away.