Shatter Me

Chapter 5

"Chapter 5: The Threads of Fate

Luna stared at the map spread out before her, her fingers brushing over the faint lines that traced territories and boundaries she had once known. The firelight danced across the parchment, casting shadows on the symbols that represented pack lands, forests, and mountains. Her mind, however, was elsewhere, lost in the shifting patterns of her own thoughts.

Althea had left her alone for a moment, giving her time to digest everything that had been said. But no matter how many times she reviewed the information, it still didn’t feel real. She wasn’t just Luna anymore. She wasn’t just the rejected mate of Alpha Zane. She was a Seer. And, as Althea had said, the future of all werewolves rested on her shoulders.

""I don’t even know where to start,"" Luna whispered to herself. Her fingers hovered over the map, but she felt a deep unease—an emptiness. How could someone like her—someone who had been so thoroughly discarded—be the one to lead?

The cabin door creaked open, breaking her train of thought. Luna glanced up to see Althea standing in the doorway, her expression unreadable but soft. Her presence was calming, yet Luna couldn’t shake the weight of the responsibility settling within her.

""You’re not alone in this,"" Althea said, her voice gentle, but there was an unspoken command in it. She stepped into the room, closing the door behind her with a soft click. ""But we need to understand what’s happening. We need to see the threads of fate as clearly as you do.""

Luna’s eyes narrowed slightly. ""The threads of fate?"" She had been hearing a lot about fate and destiny, but she wasn’t sure she understood it all. The rebellion? The Seer powers? How did it all fit together?

Althea walked over to the small table where Luna was seated and placed a hand on the map. ""The world is made up of threads, Luna. Invisible threads that bind everyone and everything together. Every decision, every choice—these threads are woven, twisting and turning with every action, every movement. Your gift allows you to see them.""

Luna’s breath caught in her throat as Althea’s words seemed to settle deep in her mind. ""I can see... fate?""

Althea nodded. ""Yes. You’ve always seen it, but you never knew what it was. The threads of fate are tangled, and they’re pulled and shaped by each of us. By our decisions. But right now, they’re at a crossroads. The fate of the werewolves is hanging by a thread.""

Luna’s heart quickened. The weight of the words hung in the air like a storm cloud. ""What happens if the wrong decision is made?""

Althea’s eyes softened, a flicker of pain crossing her face. ""Everything falls apart. And the war that’s coming will destroy us all. Zane is not the only one who poses a threat. There are others—forces that seek to tip the balance in their favor. But if you can see the threads, you can guide us. You can change the outcome.""

Luna’s mind swirled with the enormity of it all. She had rejected Zane. She had escaped. But now she was supposed to do what? Lead a rebellion? Change fate itself?

""I don’t know if I’m ready,"" Luna admitted, her voice small despite the surge of power she felt inside. ""I was never meant to lead. I was never meant to have this kind of power.""

Althea knelt beside her, meeting her gaze with an intensity that made Luna feel both exposed and understood. ""You’re already leading, Luna. You’ve already made your first choice."" She placed a hand over Luna’s heart. ""You’ve chosen yourself. Now, you must choose the future.""

Luna closed her eyes, feeling the weight of those words deep within her. She had chosen to escape, to take control of her own life. But this... this was something entirely different. The rebellion needed more than just her strength. It needed her ability to see beyond the present, to foresee the future.

""What happens if I fail?"" Luna whispered, the fear creeping into her voice despite herself.

Althea stood, her eyes never leaving Luna’s. ""You won’t fail. But even if you stumble, you’ll rise again. You were born for this, Luna. Don’t doubt that.""

The words reverberated through Luna’s mind, settling into the spaces where doubt had once lived. Was she truly born for this? Could she really control the threads of fate?

Later that night, Luna sat by the fire, staring into the flickering flames as she tried to calm her racing thoughts. The crackle of the fire was the only sound that filled the silence, but Luna could hear the whispers of doubt that still lingered in the back of her mind. She had escaped her past, but could she truly reshape the future?

A soft knock at the door broke the silence. Luna stood, her heart skipping a beat. Was it Althea again? Or was it someone from the rebellion?

When she opened the door, she found the rebel from earlier standing there, his figure framed by the moonlight outside. There was something different about him now—something softer, less guarded. His eyes were dark, but they held an understanding, as though he had seen the weight Luna now carried.

""Can we talk?"" he asked, his voice low but warm.

Luna nodded, stepping aside to let him in. He crossed the threshold and closed the door behind him, his movements smooth but deliberate.

He turned to her, his gaze steady. ""I know you’re overwhelmed.""

Luna glanced at him, the weight of his words sinking in. ""You have no idea.""

He smiled faintly, and for the first time, she saw something beyond the guard, beyond the rebel. He wasn’t just an ally. There was something more there—a bond forged in their shared struggles. ""You’re stronger than you think. I can see it in you.""

Luna swallowed, unsure of how to respond. Her thoughts were still a whirlwind of uncertainty and fear. ""But what if I make the wrong choice? What if... I can’t change anything?""

He stepped closer, his presence comforting in its quiet intensity. ""You won’t make the wrong choice. You’re already on the right path. Trust in yourself. Trust in the power you have.""

Luna’s gaze shifted to the fire, the flames reflecting in her eyes as she absorbed his words. ""And if I can’t?""

He reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding her. ""Then you’ll rise again. You always will.""

Luna met his gaze, something shifting within her chest. For the first time since her escape, she felt something stir inside her that wasn’t fear. It was hope.

""Thank you,"" she whispered, the words barely audible. But they carried the weight of everything she was beginning to realize. She wasn’t alone anymore. And this fight—this rebellion—was no longer about just escaping her past. It was about shaping the future. The future she had the power to see, to change."