Page 50 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Forty-Eight

T

he drive to the airport was silent. I took the time to gather my feelings about going back and what had just happened.

Ronnie and Lynn gave me the space I needed, which I was thankful for.

My phone started buzzing non-stop as message after message came in.

Confused, I opened my phone to watch the messages roll in from my mother. Finally, they stopped at the last one.

Mom- Amy, for the love of the Goddess, will you answer me?

I messaged back.

Amy- Mom? What’s going on? Why are you messaging me a million messages all at once?

Mom- Amy? Finally! I’m so happy I finally got a hold of you.

Amy- What’s going on? You ignored my calls and messages all summer and now you’re texting me a novel…

Mom- I didn’t. Or I didn’t mean to. I thought the same thing, that you were ignoring me the entire summer, but I realized today that you were blocked. I resent everything I sent you.

Amy- Why was I blocked? And why did you resend everything now?

Mom- I didn’t want you to think I didn’t think of you.

I wanted you to know I missed you.

…

Shannon, probably.

Amy-LOL

Mom, of course I knew you cared. I just figured you were leaving me to figure it all out. I was going to talk to you once I get home.

Mom- Are you on your way?

Amy- Yeah. We just got to the plane.

Mom- Good. Read my messages on the flight. We have too much to discuss once you’re home. I love you, baby.

Amy- Love you too mom.

I looked up from my phone and realized that Ronnie and Lynn had already gotten out of the car. I stepped out, slipped my phone back into my pocket, grabbed my suitcases from the trunk, and walked over to the plane.

Ronnie turned and looked me over. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. My mom was apparently messaging me all summer, but Shannon had blocked me on her phone.” I shrugged. “I apparently have a novel to catch up on during the flight back home.”

Ronnie chuckled. “She resent everything?”

“Yup.” I smiled, pulled my phone out as it buzzed. Another wave of messages coming in. “I think this will be a mess once I can sit and read it all.”

“You think it’s that bad?” I shoved my into his hands as another volley of texts came through. His eyes bulged at the sheer number of texts. He watched the screen for a moment and then handed it back. “It seems like she wasn’t the only person Shannon blocked from texting you.”

“What do you mean?” I furrowed my brow and clicked my screen back on, but I saw nothing but my mother’s texts.

“Open your messages.” He came around and looked over my shoulder. I opened my phone and clicked my messages and Brandon’s name appeared below my mother’s name. I grimaced as I saw the beginning of the text. I clicked it, not wanting to, but needing to, get this over with.

Brandon- I’m sorry if you get any of my previous messages. I was mad because I thought you were ignoring me. I figured out your number was blocked on my phone somehow.

As soon as I opened his texts, I saw the three little dots dance at the bottom. I grimaced again because that meant he was watching to see when I read his messages.

Brandon- Hey! How are you? How was your summer?

Amy- Hey…Who is this?

I had his number saved, but not to use it.

Shannon had tried to accuse me of texting Brandon behind her back and tried to convince my mom I was trying to ruin their relationship and steal him.

My mom made me unlock my cell and typed Brandon’s number into my phone.

When nothing popped up, she handed it back.

But Shannon swore I was lying or deleting it.

So for months my mom made me unlock my phone whenever Shannon started her bull up again she could look.

My mom saved his number after the third time.

Brandon- Oh…it’s Brandon. You don’t have my number?

Amy- Oh hi. No, I don’t have your number saved. You are Shannon’s boyfriend. Why would I have your number?

I hoped that pretending to be dumb would end the conversation, but I was not in luck.

Brandon- Shannon and I broke up.

Amy-That sucks. Anyway, did you need anything from me?

Brandon- I was wondering when you were coming back home.

Amy-Oh. I’m heading back today. Why? Did something happen?

Brandon- Nothing happened. I was just wondering. I can’t wait to see you.

Amy-Why?

Brandon- I just am.

Amy-Okay… I have to go. I’m getting on the plane. Bye.

I saw the dots pop up, but I put my phone on airplane mode and closed it. I looked up to see Ronnie laughing as he climbed onto the plane.

I stomped up after him and got to my seat. “What is so funny?”

Ronnie laughed harder. “You learned so much this summer pup, but there is one thing you still need to work on.” I tilted my head and he leaned over the aisle and flicked my nose. “Work on your poker face.” His chuckle broke up his words. “Your face was priceless. Pure disgust as you texted him.”

“Well…come on.” I shot him a side look, and he bent over his knees, laughing harder.

“I know, but in all seriousness. He is an Alpha. And most have egos bigger than a house. If you have that look on your face when he is trying to hit on you, or even talk to you. He will make your life a living hell in that pack.” Ronnie’s face fell serious.

“You don’t want to offend him if you can help it. ”

I nodded. “You’re right.” I wiped my face and settled into my seat. “But that is a worry for when we land.”

“True.” He settled back and Lynn peeked her head over the seat.

“Alphas are hard to deal with. I transferred from my previous pack because of a similar situation. Some men don’t take no as an answer.

” She took a deep breath. “Be careful how you handle the situation. Hopefully, you handle it better than I did.” She settled back into her seat and then the door to the plane was closed.

I took my phone and scrolled up to the top and started into the novel my mom sent me. I was lost in her messages within minutes. It started off normally. She messaged about her day, asked me about mine, but things took a turn after the first week. I felt my face tighten as I read further.

The plane had reached cruising speed, and the flight attendant came around. “Did you need a snack or drink?”

“Give me a glass of red wine. Whatever is on hand is fine.” I growled out.

Ronnie’s head snapped my way, but I ignored him. I was fuming, and I needed a drink to calm my nerves. This had gone so sideways. “What’s wrong, Aim?” I just held up my hand. I needed to finish reading. Ronnie nodded and waited.

The flight attendant brought me my drink, and I downed it. I handed her back the glass, and she cut her eyes to Ronnie, but he just shooed her away.

I continued reading, growing angrier as I went. “How dare they?”

“What’s wrong?” Ronnie leaned closer, trying to read the texts. I just closed my phone since I already finished reading. “Amy, talk to me.”

“I don’t even know where to start.” I muttered as I turned to face my uncle. He gestured for me to go on, and I shook my head in disgust. “It started normally. She was checking in, wondering why I wasn’t answering. But then after about a week, Shannon spiraled.”

“Why?”

“I Alpha commanded her to stop going into my room. I figured out the day I left, she was going in and stealing some of my clothes to wear around Brandon. They initially started dating because of my…” I trailed off and looked at Lynn, but I had to be honest with her, eventually.

“My scent. He thought Shannon was his mate, but in reality…”

“You are,” Ronnie finished, and I nodded.

“So she spiraled. She threw tantrums to my mom, trying to get her to get something from my room. To keep up with her charade, but my mom stood firm.” I rubbed my hand against my eye.

“But then she attacked her.” I felt the snarl build.

“My mom wouldn’t stand up to her, because of her father, and the Alpha. So she has been just taking it.”

“You’re joking.” Ronnie flopped back into his seat.

I nodded. “She says it’s fine. That she is weak, and it isn’t painful, but she sent pictures for documentation.” I snarled as I opened my phone and shoved it into Ronnie’s hands. Lynn got up and looked at the pictures with him, her face a mask of calm.

“I’ll kill her.” Lynn’s voice was dark.

“You can’t.” I took a deep breath. “She’s the Beta’s daughter, and my mother’s stepdaughter. The Oakenfang pack doesn’t discipline abuse within the family.” I bared my teeth as I choked out the first secret of the pack.

Ronnie reeled. “What the fuck do you mean?”

“I mean that anyone in the family touches or hits another, The Alpha looks the other way because he believes that the family will work past their disagreements. He says it’s below his station to deal with petty squabbles between family members.”

Ronnie and Lynn scoff, but Lynn grabbed my shoulder. “This works in your favor.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, you can dish out the same treatment to Shannon…and her father for allowing it.”

I stared up at Lynn and once the realization sunk in; I broke out into a smile. “You beautiful woman.” I jumped up and grabbed her arms. “You’re right.”

She nodded and smiled. “You can dish out every bruise and cut lip your mother suffered through and give it back tenfold. And the Alpha won’t be able to step in because of his own rules. Otherwise you can call the King.”

I turned to Ronnie, and he nodded. “I would call the King ahead of time and give him a warning.” He winked. “Just be proactive.”

I nodded and settled back into my seat. “Brandon has been making my mother’s life a little difficult. He has been doing his best to weasel his way into my space as well, but my mother has barred him from the room.”

Ronnie chuckled. “She could always get her way with Alphas.”

I cut my eyes to him and I could see bitterness there. “Do you know why my mother married Morgan?”

“Because she loved him.” Ronnie shook his head like it was obvious.

“Your dad betrayed her, and she moved on. Without breaking their bond.” Ronnie’s face morphed into something I had never seen before.

Betrayal and anger didn’t sit properly on his face.

It was too alien. He was always such a cheerful man, but this, this was his line.

“No.” I whispered. Ronnie shot me a look like he didn't believe it. “When we moved to the Oakenfang pack, my mother was a betrayed wolf. Do you know what that means?”

“She wasn’t though.” I lifted a shoulder.

“No one knows the truth. She was a betrayed wolf. With a pup. I was a baby, but when I got older, I used to scream at my mother, until I picked the wrong day to throw a tantrum.” I remembered the day vividly.

“What do you mean?”

“My mother drinks.”

“No, she doesn’t. Her father was an alcoholic, and she swore to never touch the stuff.” Ronnie shot back, but my look cut him off.

“You are right. But there are certain days where she drinks so much she is falling down drunk. And a few years ago I attacked her on one of these days. I called her all sorts of names for sleeping with Morgan. For making us live in this fucking disaster of a pack, and after yet another screaming tantrum from me, she broke.”

“She broke?” Lynn leaned over the seat, focused on the story. I nodded.

“She screamed at me. She asked me if I really thought that she wanted to be here? That she would want to be betrayed by her Goddess given mate, and have to settle for this pack.”

“What? That’s bull.” I held up my hand, stopping Ronnie from continuing.

“She screamed. She wanted to be alone with me for the rest of her life, but Alpha Vince didn’t leave her any options.”

Lynn gasped. “You can’t be serious.”

I looked up at her and nodded. But Ronnie was still so clueless. “Serious about what?”

“Beta. You have to know the old laws.” Lynn sat down heavily in her seat.

“I know the laws, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“The fact that you haven’t clued in shows that you’re a great man, and that you are privileged.” I sighed.

“What does that even mean?” Ronnie tossed his hands in the air.

“It means that because you are a man, you are able to not worry about old laws that can be invoked to take away your rights. All because of your sex.” Lynn’s voice was cold and angry.

Ronnie’s face was obviously confused, and I blew out a breath. “When we first moved to the Oakenfang pack, Alpha Vince invoked the betrayed wolf law.”

“What is that?” Ronnie closed his eyes, trying to remember the law.

“A betrayed female wolf is open property if she is unclaimed by the new moon. If her Goddess given mate didn’t want her, then it was expected that no one would. She could be claimed by any wolf strong enough to claim her.” Ronnie’s eyes snapped open.

“She would be treated as property from that moment onwards.” Lynn finished.

“Excuse me?” Ronnie jumped to his feet.

“So my mother had seven days after she and I had settled from him invoking the law to find a wolf that would marry her. Because she couldn’t mate again, and Morgan had just lost his mate and now had a pup to raise, they came to an agreement.

One my mother wanted to stick to. But as time went on, Morgan wanted to renegotiate.

” I could feel the bitterness on my tongue.

“Why would she renegotiate it?”

“Because Alpha Vince has made it obvious that if a divorce was ever completed, then he would invoke the law again. And until I came of age, I was a package deal.”