Page 56 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Fifty-Three

I

let her words settle, and I knew she was right.

Brandon would come for me if he was rejected, so I had to keep my distance until I figured out everything else that I needed to so that my mom and I could leave.

And I had to concede that she was also right about the strawberry shampoo.

It had become my signature smell since grade school.

So much so that Shannon used it, even though her wolf hated it.

“You’re right.” I grabbed the bag and left my room. Once my mom came outside, I locked the door and we headed to the garage. “You will help me find a smell my wolf likes?”

“Of course.” She nodded as I tossed out the bag of toiletries. “Amy, I was wondering. Has there been anything weird about Nix you wanted to talk about?” I froze for a second, but shook it off.

For a second, it sounded like my mother knew about Megan, but that was impossible. It had to be. “Like what?”

“Well, she is very dominant. But how does she look?” My mom smiled at me as I slid into my seat.

“She is huge. And black.”

“I noticed the colour. You must have inherited it from your father.” She smiled for a second before it fell. “But what else?”

“She has her golden eyes.” I looked over at her. “I can show you when we get home if you want.”

My mom perked up at that. “Yes! Can we go for a run, just the two of us?”

“You never go for a run, mom.” I backed out of the garage and headed toward the mall.

“That’s because no one here could keep up with me.” I barely heard her say. But she just shook her head and stayed quiet.

We made our way to the mall, and the first stop was the dry cleaner.

We walked in with our arms full of clothes and just stopped.

What are the fucking chances? “Hello ladies, what are you two doing here?” Vince’s voice called out, and I wanted to shiver.

But I realized I could use this chance meeting to my benefit.

Vince had a barely kept secret. And I was going to use it to my advantage to get something I wanted without raising any red flags.

I quickly adjusted my tone and temper. I lifted my lip and called out.

“Dropping off my tainted clothes, hopefully we will save them, or they will go in the trash.” I turned back to my mother who had hidden her face in the bag of clothes she was carrying.

“Do you really think they’ll be able to remove her stink? ”

“Her stink?” Vince stepped over to us. “Whose stink?”

I rolled my eyes and turned to face him.

“Alpha Vince. You told me yourself that Shannon has admitted to using my clothing. So much so that your son thought I was his mate. Now I don’t know about you, but my wolf doesn’t like the idea of someone else, especially Shannon, rolling around in her things. ”

Vince stared at me for a few seconds before he nodded slowly. “Uther doesn’t relish the thought.” He looked down at the bags. “So you’re washing all of your stuff to get her scent off of it all.”

I nodded. “I don’t want there to be any more confusion. Plus, Nix is repulsed by using the same things Shannon used to trick your son.”

My mother huffed. “Yes Amy, I am sure they will get the stench of her from your clothes.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t understand what the big deal is. I already told you we can’t remove your carpet.”

Vince turned to me. “Your carpet. In your bedroom?”

“She walked on it. She probably laid in my bed, rubbing herself on my stuff, trying to smell like me. Do you know she even started using my shampoo?” I let a growl work its way past my lips.

“I don’t like it. And I shouldn’t have to deal with another wolf using half my scent to charm someone else’s mate.

Especially a lower, unranked wolf.” I lifted my lip in disgust as I looked at him. I saw the agreement in his eyes.

I knew who he was from my past life. His outlook on lower wolves was something I had to combat daily once we took over the pack. I tried to be a caring, loving Luna like my mother’s way. No matter the rank. Every day, I had to fight Vince’s prejudice. And I hated it, and him.

But now I could see the wheels turning in his mind. “There is a company that I use now and then.”

Bingo. I wanted to roll my eyes. He used it weekly after the big pack meetings he threw together.

But I needed him to offer it up, otherwise he would see it as a red flag and focus on me.

“A company?” My mother huffed another breath.

Just a mom trying to deal with her insufferable daughter. “For what?”

“They have perfected cleaning carpets so that unwanted scents don’t linger.” He snapped his eyes to my mother and then back to me. “I know how it feels to have an Alpha wolf who is territorial. It’s not Amy’s fault, Ainsley.”

I smiled and turned to look at my mother. “I told you.” I pouted. “You kept saying it was too much. That Shannon was my sister and I should just get over it.”

“Well, she is.” My mother pointed out, but I let out another growl.

“She is an unranked wolf who used my belongings to trick the Alpha’s son into dating her.

” I threw out and I watched as Vince’s eyes tightened.

He apparently hadn’t thought about it because Shannon was Morgan’s daughter.

She acted as if she was ranked. She walked around and treated everyone as if she was a Beta, but in fact, she wasn’t even strong enough to be a second Gamma.

“That is neither here nor there.” Vince’s voice was tight. “Here.” He fished out his wallet and pulled a business card. “Call them. They can usually do the same day cleaning. Once you’re done here, you can call them to come out.”

My mother huffed out a breath. “Well, after this we have to go buy her a new mattress. She refuses to even touch it. Said it was tainted.” My mother tossed out, exasperated.

But Vince actually nodded. “She’s right. Shannon was desperate for my son’s attention.” Vince was quiet for a minute. Then he looked at me. “It wasn’t until Brandon came of age and was smelling out his mate that your sister made any headway.”

I nodded. “She probably stole an outfit thinking it was cute, and might get him to look, but it was the combination of our scents that pulled him in.” I shook my head in disappointment.

“I’m sorry I helped fool Brandon. It wasn’t intentional at all.

Brandon and I have always had a cordial relationship, and I wanted to keep it that way. ”

“Why?” Vince stopped me. I wanted to curse, but I answered honestly.

“My mom always said that our mate was sacred. And I didn’t see a point in chasing after men I had no reason to.

My mom always said that when I came of age, I would find the perfect match for my wolf, and the soul mate of my human half.

So why would I add feelings into the mix until I had to?

There is no point in falling in love when I wasn’t sure if that was the person I was meant to be with.

” I tilted my head and said the one thing that would seal this for Vince.

“I wanted to remain pure and untouched for my mate.” I wanted to gag.

Even though it was truly how I felt, I didn’t like the way he was staring at me. Almost leering.

His smile was somehow worse. He grinned and nodded. “Your mate will be a very lucky wolf.” He looked me up and down and I held back a shiver.

“Thank you Alpha. I can’t wait until I meet my mate.” I smiled and then turned to leave.

“There is one more thing, Amy.” Vince grabbed for me and I was too slow to evade him with everything in my arms. His fingers stroked down the bare skin of my arm, almost caressing me.

“What is it?” I turned and slipped away from his touch.

“You are just eighteen and I know it is a distant issue, but mates are harder and harder to find nowadays. You should set a time frame for yourself. Find a wolf, like my son, of equal strength that you can build a relationship with. That way…” He trailed off and he was rubbing his fingers together, like he was thinking about touching me again and I could feel vomit rising in my chest.

“That way what, Alpha?” He shook himself and smirked.

“That way, you have options in case you don’t find your mate. Or if the worst happens and Goddess forbid your mate betrays you, you know where to turn.” His smile was predatory, but I ignored it.

“That is very smart advice, Alpha. I will have to consider it and look at who my options for building a friendship with.” I smiled and bowed my head, and my mother did the same. We made our way to the counter and handed in my clothes.