Page 65 of Shifted Fate (Broken Luna #1)

Chapter Fifty-Nine

D

ad!

Pup? What’s wrong?

She won’t stop…I don’t know what to do.

She who? Won’t stop what? Pup, I need more information to go on…

His voice didn’t sound panicked, but I knew mine did.

I didn’t know how to explain it. Bring Nix forward.

She can send what you see directly to me.

My dad sent me, sensing my distress. So that’s what I did.

I allowed Nix to come to the surface, and she saw our mother losing control.

I could sense her opening to Loki, and then my mind was filled with his howl too.

Loki?

What happened to your mother, pup? My dad’s worried voice came through the howling.

She knows.

Knows what? Amy, you have to tell me what is going on or else I can’t help. His frustration was evident.

She knows the truth. About our second chances, our power, the fact you lied. Everything. My mind’s voice was barely above a whisper, but I got it all out. The truth that had been nagging at me since the beginning of the summer.

Why did you tell her? We said we wouldn’t tell her until this was over… He trailed off and I felt his pain.

Because she told me her secret and she deserved to know the truth.

Oh, baby. Where are you?

A hidden cabin. Mom said it was her home.

Stay there. I’ll be there as soon as I can.

I focused on my mother, and her howls were still going, but she lost her voice. I watched as she threw her head back and the whistle of her broken voice breached her lips, as did a droplet of blood. “Mom. Don’t worry. Dad’s coming.”

Her head snapped to mine. “No. Amy, please. Tell him not to come. I can’t face him. Not now. Not ever.”

“Mom.” I pleaded with her. “Don’t say that. He loves you. Has never stopped loving you. Your side of the closet and your office have sat untouched, except by me since you left.” She grabbed my hand, and she squeezed. “Mom. He knows the truth.”

A sob broke from her lips, and she shook her head. “Amy. I can’t face him, not yet.” She dropped her head, and her body shook with her silent tears.

“Then when?”

“What?” She snapped her head up to look at me.

“When?” I stared at her and even though I knew she was hurting, I was becoming frustrated.

My parents ruined their lives for nothing.

And now she was coming up with excuses not to fix it.

“I know you’re hurting, but so is he. I know you are ashamed, but so is he.

You now know the truth, and so does he.” She wouldn’t meet my eyes.

“You both ruined your lives. He did it to keep us safe. You did it to keep me safe. Do either of you know how much that hurts me? And I know it’s selfish of me to throw that in your face, but I know you are coming up with a million reasons to not meet with him.

And another million to continue to hurt yourself instead of facing him. ”

She looked into the fire and swiped at the tears on her face. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“No Mom. You don’t understand. Dad loves you.

So much so that he broke your heart to make sure you lived.

He would rather you in another’s arms than dead.

You love dad, so much so that even seeing him would break the very fragile foundation you have built yourself.

The times shared with Morgan were the better choice than being made into a slave because of Vince.

And Dad. Dad is glad you did it. The thing that hurt him the most was learning you were drinking. ”

She looked at me with hopeful eyes. But then she shook her head. “We can’t wait for him here.”

“So, when. I need a time so that Dad just doesn’t start a war, which he will.”

She looked down at her hands. “Baby, do you think he would forgive me?”

“Without even a second thought.” My dad walked through the front door, and we both whirled and screamed.

He ran to my mother and picked her up from the floor and kissed her.

I watched as the two of them reunited for the first time since I was a baby and it was like they had never left each other.

“Ainsley, I am so fucking sorry.” My father pulled away and cupped her face.

“Why did you lie? You should have told me the truth. I would have worked with you, helped you.” She wrapped her hands around his.

“I couldn’t lose you.” His voice was rough. He trailed his hands over her hair. “I’m so sorry I put you through this. It’s all my fault.”

My mom sobbed into his chest. “Don’t say that Gav. I am so sorry. I betrayed you.”

He forced her face to meet his. “Look at me Ains. Never say that. This isn’t on you. Everything for the last seventeen years everything that happened was because of me and my decisions. And I realized that a long time ago. I never blamed you, not once.”

“Gav, how can you say that?” She closed her eyes. “I can’t imagine…”

My dad looked at her and gave her a soft smile. “Can’t imagine what?”

“Why would you forgive me after everything? I treated you so badly. I had to do-

My dad covered her mouth with his hand. “You did what you had to do to keep our pup safe. Just like I did what I had to do to keep you safe.”

“Gavin. You can’t mean that.” My heart broke at her words. How could she not see just how much he loved her?

He leaned in and kissed her lips softly.

“I love you, Ainsley. I never stopped loving you. I didn’t blame you for anything before, and then when I learned the truth, I felt like I was dying.

I never ever blamed you.” He wrapped his arms around her.

“I am so fucking sorry, baby.” She wrapped her arms around his back and clutched at him, like she was afraid this was all a dream.

“How did you get here so quickly?” He looked down at me, where I was on the floor.

“When you called about Carl, I had the urge to come here. Once Carl got there, he had a vision that I was needed here. So, I took the plane back and got a room at the closest hotel.”

“The pack?”

“Ronnie and Tina have me covered.”

I just nodded. “How long are you here for?” I stood and took the kettle back to the makeshift kitchen. I busy myself around the cabin, trying not to interfere with their reunion. “Dad?”

“What? Huh?” My dad looked away from my mother’s face and back at me.

“How long are you here for?”

“Just today. Carl said I had to leave you both after this meeting, or else bad things would happen.”

“No.” My mom clutched at him harder. “You can’t leave me again. I just got you back.”

“I won’t. I would never leave you.” He hugged her close. “But I can’t stay. It would cause a war. And you need to get a divorce.” My mother hung her head in shame, but my father just pulled her head up and kissed her. “You never have to be ashamed about anything between us.”

I watched my mother gather herself, and then she released my dad. “I’m okay.” She shook her head and stepped back. “You’re right. We have a lot we have to do before we can fix our lives.” We both sat there and saw her smile wobble, but we just nodded.

My dad turned to me. “Have you started learning the computer yet?”

“No. But I had an idea. One that might make this easier.”

“What?” My mother came back to his side, and he slid his arm around her waist. I just smiled.

“I was away, so I haven’t picked my program yet at university.”

“What?” My dad furrowed his brows.

“How is that even possible?” My mom looked confused.

“Well, since Vince took over as the Dean a few years ago, there always seems to be a back log. Probably because he doesn’t hire enough staff, and while I was away at dads, the university admissions finally reached out for a decision.

But I explained I was away and would select my courses when I came back. ”

“What the hell has Vince done to the school?” My dad growled but then shook his head. “Whatever, we can fix it once we figure out the truth. The King wants this as top priority.”

“The King? You’re talking to the King again?” My mom turned to my dad and gripped his arm. “What if…”

“We talked it all out. He knows I had nothing to do with his dad’s death, but now he’s more determined to find out who it is.” He turned back to me. “Which reminds me…He wants you to call him.”

“Who?” My mom looked back at me, and I grimaced.

“Rowan.” I whispered.

“Are you saying the King, King Rowan, the Lycan King, wants my daughter to give him a call like that is in any way fucking normal?” My mother screeched and both me and my dad covered our ears.

“Um…yes.” My dad’s answer was very detailed. I rolled my eyes.

“How did he even come to know about you, Amy?”

“I called him.” I bared my teeth in an awkward smile.

“What the fuck are you even saying?” My mother pointed to the sofa. “Sit and tell me everything.”