Page 81 of Shifted Fate
“I promise.” I watched her tear up. “Everything has changed.”
“Yeah. This summer was a wild ride. But it’s been good.” I smiled down at her and hugged her again. “You got a mate.”
“We both shifted.”
“Now we have tattoos.” I pulled away. “But there is one thing that hasn’t changed, Cass.”
“What’s that?” She wiped her face and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“You are still my best friend.”
“You are still my best friend, too.” She tried to smile but I saw her lips trembling.
“Okay. Here we go.” I swung my backpack onto my arm and hissed at my stupidity. She grabbed my suitcases, and we left my room.
“I’ll get these to the door.” She stopped at the top of the stairs. “Bye Amy.”
“Bye Cass.” I walked into my father’s office as she headed down the stairs.
Chapter Forty-Seven
M
y father and Ronnie were waiting for me as I dropped into the chair. “You okay pup?” My dad asked as my back hit the chair and I hissed again.
“Yeah. Just keep forgetting it’s there.” I laughed it off, but my dad shook his head.
“I meant, are you okay after saying goodbye to Cass?” I swallowed and then nodded. He watched my face closely and sighed. “Here.” He slid the book over to me, and I grabbed it and tucked it into my backpack.
“It’s a good thing I don’t have to go through the airport with this. I would be called crazy for hauling a stone around with my electronics.” I shook my head as Ronnie laughed.
“True. It is weird to see.” Ronnie settled back and then he and my dad shared a look.
“So, are you going to show us?” My dad leaned back and quirked his head. I smiled and stood. Pulling my top over my back, but covering my front, I turned to face away from them. I heard my dad take a breath and Ronnie whistle. “It's gorgeous darling.”
“I love the way it looks so real. It’s almost as if I can hear Nix and that brown wolf howling at the moon.” Ronnie leaned in. “Who is the brown wolf?”
I looked over my shoulder, and my father was staring at my back. He wouldn’t look away. “She is a part of my pack.” The answer, that wasn’t an answer. But my dad’s eyes finally moved to mine and I could see the wheels turning.
“She looks familiar.” I just smiled and slipped my shirt back on. “It really is stunning.”
“Yeah. MJ did an amazing job.” I settled back in the chair. “I’m going to miss you, Daddy.”
“That is my cue to leave. I’ll meet you down at the door.” Ronnie hopped up and left the office. My dad made his way around the desk and sat next to me in the chair Ronnie just vacated.
“I’m going to miss you too, pup. But I think that this is necessary. Not just for you, but for me.”
“Why? Why do I have to go back there?” I dropped my head in my hands. “I don’t want to see his stupid face again. I don’t want to have to face her. I just wish that I never had to go back to that stupid, awful pack again.” I looked up and my dad was hanging his head.
“You have to, pup. Not just because it was a part of the deal we made at the beginning of the summer. But because if you didn’t go back, you would regret it. You aren’t a coward. Neither is Nix. You have to see this part of your past life through. Brandon never deserved you and now, he won’t ever get to have you.” My dad grabbed my hand. “Shannon needs to be put in her place.She lords being the daughter of the Beta male over your head, like that is somehow higher than your position. Just because you are not an Alpha of that pack doesn’t mean you are not an Alpha. And allowing her to step all over you, for the sake of peace in your home, will rile up your wolf. More than ever now that you have shifted.” My dad’s hand tightened on mine. “But even if all of that wasn’t true. It would start a war. You have to go back and show that you aren’t Brandon’s mate. Then and only then will they allow you to leave without starting a war between the two packs.”
“I know.” I hung my head again. “I know. It’s like they somehow knew he was my mate already. They almost didn’t let me come.”
“I had to call a favor in, and it was still a close call.”
My head snapped up at his realization. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your mother and I wanted you to focus on protecting yourself. Not what would happen if you couldn’t.”
