Shifted Fate by Alicia S.Rivers

The goddess shook her head. "You saved yourself." She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead. Then she turned to the others. "You are all devoted to my path, or the path of my sisters or brothers." She looked at Toya's father. "Your daughter has done well, and will be rewarded if she survives the final battle."

He swallowed, instantly alert. "If?"

The goddess gave a sad smile. “I cannot see the future. I just lay the path."

Thoth shifted, and she turned to face him. "Hiding behind a mask cannot change anything." His head snapped up.

"Me?" His voice, confused.

She chuckled. "Who else is wearing a mask but you?"

Thoth scratched his head. "No one."

"Exactly." She walked to him and leaned down. "You hide yourself to protect yourself. But you are only keeping yourself away from what could be. You are hiding away, and I am worried you will miss your chance. If you don't confess the truth. All of it. Then you will miss the thing you want most in this world."

Thoth swallowed. "But what if I mess up again?"

She raised a shoulder. "Then you mess up. But holding back won't do you any good."

She turned. "Stay on the path, or don't. It is up to you all." Then I was back. I staggered a step, and Thoth steadied me.

His question was

a spark jump between our skin. I furrowed my brow as I pulled away. I turned back to the others. "So I am sure

"That was the goddess." Alpha Chris was

I nodded. "Yes."

have been magic?" Alpha Tim looked at the others, but they

"Magic can do a lot." I smiled. "I can

sound. But there

nodded. "It's forbidden

any pretend to be a goddess in any way,

whatever else was gifted. Rank, power, aura. All

way that was faked." He looked at the others. “I have felt the moon goddess before. I know you have to." The others nodded. "I need you to look at me and tell me that what you felt was

away. "She felt like the goddess.

But I want to ask a question." I

met my stare and then

have come

a few

attention to me. “He saved your pack from death. Made sure you had places to live. He took care of you and welcomed you into his confidence, while still giving you the dignity and reverence deserving of an alpha." Alpha Tim opened his mouth, but I held up a finger. "When there was yet another attack meant to kill everyone here, he took you to our sacred meeting place. Somewhere no one outside of our pack has ever been. Yet you still question him." I felt my eyes tighten as I

looked at the others, but

"It's not like that." He finally spoke