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Chapter 49 : Falling Into Place
Huling Na-update:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Kaugnay na kabanata
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 50 : The Start of Forever
*Vanessa*I don’t recognize the girl in the mirror. She has my dark hair, set loose in dark curls that reach the middle of my back and plaited in some parts with pretty little white flowers. Her skin is flush with nervousness, but this time, there’s an excitement that overpowers it. The biggest thing that makes her hard for me to recognize is the feeling of pure joy and contentment it shows on her face.My face.It’s an expression I’ve come to wear very often.“Dahlia, I swear to the Goddess, if you lost the veil…” Amara warns, sounding as distraught as if it were her mating ceremony. She’s been buzzing around me the entire day, insisting I do nothing but get myself ready. Dahlia looks contrite. “No, I put it in a very safe spot, okay? I just … happened to forget where said safe spot was and then there was no time to look. But don’t panic! I have a plan.”Amara looks very much as though she is panicking. There’s practically steam coming out of her ears. I chuckle, putti
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 1 : A Twist of Fate
*Vanessa*I don’t recognize the girl in the mirror.She has my dark hair, bound up in a bridal half-up, half-down style, accented by crystal pins. Her skin is flush with nervousness. But the biggest thing that makes her hard for me to recognize, is the look of pure excitement on her face.My face.It’s not an expression I wear very often.Around me, some of the female shifters who volunteered to help me get ready are talking amongst themselves about the coming mating ceremony. We’re not exactly friends but we are neighbors, and in this pack, that’s the closest any of us will get.I look over my reflection in the mirror. I wanted something simple, a dress that would be an accessory to the main thing: the pendant around my neck. My mating-token. Analogous to what humans would use as engagement rings, the pendant was Trent’s gift to me once we discovered we were fated mates – his promise to me that this day was going to come.“Almost time,” says K
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 2 : Ashborne
*Vanessa*When I wake again, I’m lying in a bed in a place I don’t recognize with a strange woman tending to my bruises. When she sees I’m awake, she places a hand on my arm, as though to steady me. “Don’t panic. I’m a medic, my name is Amara. Our Alpha brought you in and you’re lucky he did.” At first, her words don’t register. It takes her repeating herself before the wall I built against my emotions comes crumbling down as the realization hits me: Trent tried to kill me.“Do you remember what happened to you?” The way she asks the question, I know that I must look at least a fraction as bad as I feel. As though her words inflame the gashes on my body, the pain rebounds so badly that I groan and she quickly administers pain meds which dull the agony somewhat. “I know you’re in pain, but I need to know. Do you remember what happened to you?” she repeats. I know it’s most likely to check for any head trauma and I manage to croak out, “Yes.” Trent’s attack flashes in
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 3 : The New Alpha
*Shawn*“You know, one of the perks of being Alpha is that you can choose where and even if you still want to do patrol runs.” Aaron’s voice is slightly breathless, betraying just how seriously he’s been taking his training lately: as in, not at all. “Seriously, Shawn, if we’re going to be running around this stretch of the woods, can’t we just do it in our wolf forms instead?”I click my tongue. Of course, he’d suggest that. Our wolf forms have significantly more endurance than our human ones. But I needed this run. I needed to rediscover my limits and push myself past what I thought I could handle. The terrain running through this unclaimed area just outside of our pack territory provides just the sort of rocky ground, steep inclines, and lack of shelter from the sun overhead to do just that. I brought Aaron with me because I know that he’s been slacking and needs the challenge. And honestly, he’s one of the few people I like just a little bit more than my own solitud
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 4 : Revelation
*Vanessa*I jerk up, my back soaked with sweat as the nightmare bleeds into my new reality, and for a second, I’m not sure where I am. Then Amara’s at my side, patting my shoulder.“It’s alright. The sedatives are starting to wear off. What’s your current pain level?” she asks, her keen brown eyes observing me carefully.“Huh?” I ask, still too muddled to understand what she’s asking.“As in, say, one being a flick against the temple and ten being flayed alive with a wolfbane knife?” she repeats.I blink. “Uh … maybe being shoved off the top of a cliff?”“Okay, so like a solid six then. Is it necessary for any additional meds?” She turns to head out, but I shake my head in refusal.“No, that’s okay. I’m still in pain, but I really don’t want any more drugs in my system.” I need to keep a cool head. Regardless of Shawn’s seeming friendliness, this is still unfamiliar territory and I’m not a part of this pack. The last thing I need is for my sense
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 5 : Rebuilding
*Vanessa*I tell myself that it must just be the excitement of the night’s celebration, and the foolish happiness I feel at having been invited to this dinner that has made me skittish and stupid. There must be a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why Elder Luka seemed to vanish without a trace. Never mind that the territory is small and that the square is even smaller. Never mind that it shouldn’t technically make sense for them to have disappeared the way they did. Yep, there must be a logical reason that my still-muddied brain just can’t quite comprehend yet. Regardless, their words play in my head over and over again until I have them memorized. 'The fated mate bond is not the be-all and end-all of your journey, Vanessa. You can still be happy. You deserve to be happy.'Those words challenge everything I thought I knew about fated mates and even the Goddess herself. I’d held onto the belief that finding a mate would mean finding a family for as long
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 6 : Shawn's Challenge
*Vanessa*“I can’t believe you were ballsy enough to actually ask him that!” Amara’s eyes shine with excitement. She didn’t ask immediately about what happened, but her curiosity was obvious enough to read into her body language, and for some reason, I was actually looking forward to telling her once Shawn left. I shake my head in embarrassment, blowing off her praise. “I really wasn’t.”“Oh, come on. You’re a stranger at the complete mercy of a pack you don’t know, and yet you just asserted yourself to their Alpha. That takes guts. I don’t think I would’ve been able to do that.” She peels back one of my bandages and I grit against the pain.She smiles apologetically at me before her features return to their usual focused expression. I brave a look toward the wound on my arm and the sight turns my stomach. “You’re one to talk about being brave,” I say, laughing shakily. “I can’t imagine doing what you do and seeing the kind of injuries you see on a near
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 7 : Unbroken
*Shawn*Vanessa’s determination threw me for a loop. I’d put her on the spot, essentially demanding she either admit to being unable to complete the trial or to lie … but she did neither. Instead, she accepted it with a conviction I would never have expected from someone who was dragged into this compound half-dead a week ago. It wasn’t just that she agreed to do what would be an impossible task for most people. Even I am struggling to come up with a way to compensate for our lack of numbers in a way that can allow us to both hunt and protect the pack. I could tell that she doubted herself, for just a moment there. But it was the way she seemed to push through all of that and look me in the eye to tell me that she would do it. That was what shocked me.I wasn’t being dishonest when I said that I believed she could handle it. But still, seeing the change happen right in front of me where she just snapped into that focus, was unexpected. “Hello? Again? M
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The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 50 : The Start of Forever
*Vanessa*I don’t recognize the girl in the mirror. She has my dark hair, set loose in dark curls that reach the middle of my back and plaited in some parts with pretty little white flowers. Her skin is flush with nervousness, but this time, there’s an excitement that overpowers it. The biggest thing that makes her hard for me to recognize is the feeling of pure joy and contentment it shows on her face.My face.It’s an expression I’ve come to wear very often.“Dahlia, I swear to the Goddess, if you lost the veil…” Amara warns, sounding as distraught as if it were her mating ceremony. She’s been buzzing around me the entire day, insisting I do nothing but get myself ready. Dahlia looks contrite. “No, I put it in a very safe spot, okay? I just … happened to forget where said safe spot was and then there was no time to look. But don’t panic! I have a plan.”Amara looks very much as though she is panicking. There’s practically steam coming out of her ears. I chuckle, putti
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 49 : Falling Into Place
*Vanessa*It’s dusk by the time Aaron and Amara finish their date and make their way back to Ashborne. Having already started working on the crafting of the mating token, I decided to sit just outside and wait for them to get back. I don’t want to fling myself at them and bombard them with questions, knowing how important it is for them to spend as much time just enjoying each other as possible, but I can’t help the surge of curiosity and excitement I feel. I’m dying to know how everything went. One good sign though, is what happens when I first spot them. They’re walking together, close enough for their arms to brush as they walk, and from what I can see of their body language, they move with a sort of relaxed demeanor that can only happen when things have been going well. They’re far enough away for them not to see me when Aaron tugs on Amara’s hand to bring her to a gentle stop before drawing her in for a kiss. I’m glad they can’t hear the absolutely chi
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 48 : The Elders' Table
*Shawn*“I thought I’d take it upon myself to run this council meeting.” Elder Luka stands tall and imposing, their eyes roving over everyone else from the seat beside mine. I’m sitting in the head seat, the one reserved for the Alpha. Usually, it would seem like a place of authority. But now, it’s more of a hot seat. But knowing Elder Luka’s fondness for Vanessa does make me feel more positive about the whole thing. My eyes immediately go to Henley, who’s sulking at the far end of the table. I resist the urge to smirk. “These matters are not foreign to us. However, we do find ourselves in a rather unique predicament where the shifter who might become our Luna is a foreigner to us. Her circumstances are definitely the first of its sort that Ashborne has seen,” they continue. “That, I believe, does require some extra consideration.”I wait my turn to speak, which will come at the end of their line of questioning. I keep myself calm, trying not to let my uneas
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 47 : Making Amends
*Vanessa*I’ve never seen Amara nervous before. Usually, she’s the most calm and level-headed person in the room, but now she’s unrecognizable with a slight shake in her hands as she tries to fix her hair in an upstyle. I watch from my perch on her bed. “Okay, I’ll ask you once and only once. Is there some kind of blackmail ploy I’m unaware of? Or maybe some hidden gun somewhere pressed to your back?”Amara spins around quickly. “What do you mean?”“I mean, you’re acting like you’re going out to meet an executioner or something. Not the guy you’ve been looking forward to spending time with since he asked you out,” I explain.She sighs warily, turning back to scrutinize her reflection in the mirror. “I can’t help it, Vee. I just want things to go smoothly, you know? It’s so much easier to enjoy something when there aren’t any expectations that come with it. And adding a label to stuff tends to create those expectations.” I stand up and walk over to
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 46 : The Alpha's Choice
*Shawn*“I was waiting for you to finally come see me.” Amara glances at me over the paperwork she has splayed across her desk. “It’s about time you start putting together plans for a decent proposal.”“How could you possibly—” I begin, completely dumbfounded at how she knows what I came here to do. But she fixes me with a look. “Don’t insult me by thinking I don’t know you. Twenty years of friendship isn’t child’s play,” she says, her voice deadpan. She gestures at the open chair in front of her. “Have a seat.”I chuckle at the formalness and move to sit opposite her. “So, when did you decide to propose to Vanessa?” she asks, steepling her fingers beneath her chin and resting her elbows on the desk. I try to decipher whether she’s being serious or not with how strict she looks.I was expecting Amara to be her usual cheery self, to jump up and hug me in congratulations.I know that she’s become Vanessa’s best friend, but surely she doesn’t think I w
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 45 : Bridges
*Vanessa*“That was not even close to what I expected,” Aaron rasps out, lying flat on his back. I laugh, removing the knee I kept pinned to his neck. As I stand, I reach out my arm to help him up and he takes it reluctantly. “A warning would’ve been great. I had no idea you were training on your own.”“So what? Were you hoping to kick my ass thinking I was unprepared for it?” I ask. “Where’s the honor in that?”He rolls his eyes at me. “Who’s been training you other than me? I don’t remember teaching you that pin.”“Seth and Dahlia,” I reply airily, and Aaron grunts. “I think it’s important to diversify my training.”“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbles, still trying to regain his breath. “Damn, if your practice sessions over these last few weeks are anything to go by, you’ll be a killing machine before the end of the year. Any chance you’d consider joining the warrior sector?”“Ha. Now you’re just being sarcastic.”“Not in the slightest, for once.” He begins t
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 44 : Battle Plans
*Vanessa*As Shawn tells me about the council meeting with the Elders and specifically Elder Luka’s dressing down of Henley, I get so caught up in the story that I don’t even notice him absentmindedly playing with my hair. I laugh when I hear what Elder Luka said, and I laugh even harder when Shawn describes Henley’s reaction. I look up at him, watching the peaceful look on his face and I feel that contentment spread to me too. It’s so calming to see and hear him be happy. But as a comfortable lull settles into our conversation, I really think for the first time about something he mentioned earlier. “Wait. I’m sorry, did you say that you were planning on expanding our territory?” I ask him, suddenly shooting up.“Yeah,” he confirms, sounding confused. Excitement piques my voice. “I have an idea.”“Baby, please don’t tell me that you’re wanting to talk about strategy right now?” he pleads with a puppy look on his face. My stomach twists when
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 43 : Late First Date
*Shawn*“Well, you seem to have plenty of new things coming up on the horizon, Alpha Shawn.” Nothing about Henley’s statement sounds congratulatory at all. Instead, he says it with clear resentment. Which only makes me happier to agree. “Yes. There are quite a few adjustments Ashborne will be making for the future. One of which is a plan to start expanding our territory within the next two years. I’ll be calling more council meetings to discuss plans regarding just how we’ll achieve that.”Henley’s eyes widen. “Expand our territory? Are you planning on staying here? I thought we would move again, and that this arrangement was only temporary,” he says, stuttering over his words. “No,” I reply simply. “This is one of the best possible locations for our pack to lay roots down. Our proximity to resources, fertile hunting grounds, and other pack patrol paths is as good as we could hope for. I doubt we’ll find anything better unless you plan to drive another pack
The Broken Fate of a Fated Mate Chapter 42 : Second Impressions
*Vanessa*Waking up in Shawn’s arms feels like a luxury. This time, I don’t have to leave in the early hours. This time, I can allow myself to relax and enjoy the feeling of his warmth and weight against my body. Last night felt like a dream. Not only did I finally feel like I was able to fully embrace becoming part of Ashborne without any last remnants of my time with Helbane and Trent, but Shawn opened up to me and allowed me to see the more vulnerable parts of himself. It felt like on both counts, I was beginning to get more serious.And while I know that I should probably have some work to do today, I don’t want to leave the comfort of Shawn’s bed. “Up already?” His voice from behind me is groggy and deeper than normal due to sleepiness, but it sounds so attractive that my stomach twists into knots.“It’s my first official day as an officially-instituted strategist. I figured I should probably start getting ready to make a good first impression,” I
