Fate Will Always Win

  Fate Will Always Win

  By K R Hall

  First and foremost, I would like to thank my husband, Tom, for standing beside me throughout my writing this book. He has been my rock, and I dedicate this book to him.

  Thank you, Cindy, Kathryn, Beth, Maribel, Carmen, Joy, Dotti, Donna, and Dawn, for naming the NOLA alpha and his henchmen as well as the Fallbrook, CA alpha and his team.

  Thank you to Tara Draayer for suggesting Legacy Tattoo for the name of the tattoo shop!

  A special shout-out to my beta readers Dotti, Tyra, Joy, and Kat!

  I thank Shannon Lunham aka Mamaw Namid for helping me with information on foster care.

  With great thanks, this book is also dedicated to my friends that kept encouraging me!

  Last but not least, I’d like to thank all of you readers. Thank you for taking the chance on my writing!

  If You Believe in Yourself,

  Anything Is Possible

  Copyright 2021

  by KR Hall

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, whatsoever without written permission from the author-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in the review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, to real people, living or dead, or in real locales are intended only to give the novel a sense of reality and authenticity. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  ISBN: 9798648470323

  An Important Note

  This book is sold through Amazon.

  If you are reading this e-book on any website other than Amazon, then it has been pirated.

  Piracy may seem like it isn’t a big deal when you’re pinching pennies for your budget – trust me, we all are – but every pirated copy steals money from authors. This is especially harmful to indie authors like me and others who use the Amazon Kindle platform.

  Books cost a lot of money to produce. Cover designers, editors, and advertising are all expensive. Most indie authors go into debt to produce their books, and if we don’t make money back, we will be unable to provide more. That being said, none of my e-books will ever exceed the price of a latte.

  If you are having trouble feeding your reading habit due to cost, I highly recommend checking out Kindle Unlimited, where you can read as many books as you want per month for less than the price of a single meal. If you are still having trouble affording books, I implore you to check into other ways to get free books that do not include stealing money out of the author’s pockets.

  This note won’t apply to the vast majority of you – and for that, I’m grateful – but with the growing piracy problem surrounding e-books, it must be said.

  Thank you all for being so supportive!

  K R Hall

  Prologue

  2001

  “Are we there yet?” Nathaniel asked again.

  “We’re near Fallbrook, California now. We should be at the Oakland Pack in about seven hours,” his mother replied.

  “I’m hungry,” his brother complained.

  “I gotta go to the bathroom,” his sister whined.

  “Enough!” his father shouted.

  They left their home in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the middle of the night. Nathaniel knew something had been wrong in the last few weeks before his parents woke him and his siblings and told them to get dressed. He was surprised to see several suitcases packed and a U-Haul trailer attached to the back end of the family’s 1994 GMC Suburban 2500. It was a black, four-door sport utility vehicle. His dad upgraded to have a bench seat added for the three children to sit. It was old and didn’t have many of the newer safety features like airbags, but his dad said it was a safe vehicle.

  “Hank, the sign says that there are food and gas at this exit. We should pull in and get something to eat. The kids can go to the bathroom. When we’re done, we can fill up at a gas station,” his mother suggested.

  “Okay, Maggie,” Hank grumbled as he slowed to turn into the parking lot.

  They were glad to get out of the car and stretch their legs. They had been driving for almost thirty hours, stopping every now and then to fill up with gas and take bathroom breaks. Meals were eaten in the car as his dad drove. His older brother and sister had asked about what was going on, but their dad refused to answer.

  Nathanial scrambled out of the car and dashed inside the restaurant, and ran to the bathroom. Once he finished relieving himself, he washed his hands and headed back inside the restaurant's central part to find his family.

  He stopped short when he noticed his parents talking in hushed tones away from his brother and sister. Because Nathanial was a wolf shifter, he was able to hear his parents clearly.

  “I’m frightened, Hank. Will your uncle’s pack be able to protect us?” Maggie asked.

  “As long as we keep moving, Creed can’t find us. We will spend a few days with my uncle. He explained to his alpha that we are on the run and need sanctuary,” Hank explained.

  “What about the children?”

  “What about them, Maggie? They are too young and wouldn’t understand. Creed and his henchmen won’t hurt them if they know nothing. It’s safer that way.”

  “Are you sure? Is Oakland far enough? What if your uncle’s alpha won’t help us?”

  “Maggie, sweetheart, it’s all going to be fine. I will call my uncle when we reach Oakland. Everything will work out fine. I promise.”

  “If you’re sure,” Maggie replied, giving in.

  “I’m sure. Trust me.”

  Nathanial stood there, stunned. He knew something was wrong, but he didn’t realize Alpha Creed was trying to hurt them. Now he understood why they left in the middle of the night. He thought about telling his brother and sister but then thought that his dad was right. The less they knew, the safer they would be. He only hoped his uncle would be able to help.

  “Is our order ready? I’m starving,” Nathanial said as he approached his parents. He didn’t want them to know what he heard.

  “What? Oh, yes. Let me go check,” Hank replied before turning to go check on their order.

  “Nate, go get your brother and sister and tell them to wash up,” Maggie said absentmindedly.

  “Yes, mom.”

  Nathanial ran off to the children’s play area to grab his siblings. They were too old for the play area, but they had been cooped up inside the car for so long. They needed to run and burn off excess energy.

  The sun began setting by the time they settled back into the car and headed over to the gas station across the street. It was the closest one to the burger place and the highway.

  “I don’t feel so good. I need to go to the bathroom,” Nathaniel said as he ran from the vehicle.

  “Be quick about it. We need to get back on the road,” his father called out after him.

  ***

  Nathaniel watched in utmost horror as he witnessed the fire swallow the entire car his family was in. He could not breathe, nor could he hear his heart in his chest. He was alive, watching everything burn. What once was his family’s car cracked and wilted under the pre
ssure of the fire. Everything turned black and the smoke ascended in the air in dark gray plumes of darkness and misery—the flames carrying the lives of his family to another place far beyond the stars. No matter how much effort was given, the fire didn’t cease its reign of terror. Nathanial couldn’t run, nor could he scream. He only watched as they burned. Their flesh turned black as the fire ate greedily at their faces and bodies. There was no escaping it, the pain and death it caused, and the dreams it stole.

  The fire devoured the gasoline in a flash of scorching flame and soon began to burn their vehicle. Thick black clouds of smoke choked the air. The fire would be too quick, too ferocious for the firefighters to get there in time. The heat was oppressive even from two hundred yards away. The onlookers had been excited at first, snapping pictures to upload to friends and generally behaving like a crowd on bonfire night.

  Nathanial saw a person standing entranced by the fire. He sniffed the air, trying to tell who the person was. He could tell that the person was a male wolf shifter. Nathanial thought the man might have been from his pack, but he wasn’t too sure. He was still a little too young to tell from that distance. Besides, the smells from the fire were interfering with his sense of smell. He assumed that the wolf shifter was one of Creed’s enforcers. Did he start the fire?

  Nathanial slowly moved back into the shadows of the gas station. He didn’t want the wolf shifter to catch his scent. He noticed the vehicle the shifter was leaning against. He had spotted it when they got back in their car after they ate. The stranger must have followed them. The man didn’t seem to be looking for anyone, making Nathanial suspect he hadn’t seen him exit the car and dash to the gas station bathroom.

  Nathanial spotted a police car pull up near the fire trucks. When he saw the wolf shifter watching the fire, Nathanial dashed from behind the gas station building over to the police car.

  “Officer, you gotta help me. That’s my family in the fire,” Nathanial said breathlessly.

  “Woah, there, kiddo, slow down. Where did you come from?” the lady officer replied, looking around.

  “I was in the bathroom. When I came out, everything was on fire.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “I’m Nate. Nathanial Thibault. My parents, brother, and sister were in the car. We came from New Orleans and are on our way to Oakland. Please help me.”

  “Follow me,” the officer said as she led him to her police car. “Dispatch, this is officer Hollingsworth. I have a juvenile who says his family is in the burning car at Stanley’s gas station.”

  “Is he injured? Do you want us to send an ambulance?”

  “He seems to be okay. Just scared. Send someone from child services, please.”

  “Ten-four.”

  “Okay, Nate. I’m officer Hollingsworth. I’ve called to have someone from child services coming to take care of you.”

  “Thank you. I think you should know that I’m a wolf shifter.”

  “Thanks for telling me, Nate. My mate is a shifter.”

  “My mom is. I mean, my mom was a human. My dad was the wolf shifter, and so were my brother and sister. I know shifters can heal faster, and it takes a lot to kill them, but no one can survive a fire.”

  “Most things can’t survive fires, Nate. Not animals, not humans, and not shifters. Are you hungry or thirsty?”

  “No, ma’am. We had dinner before we came here.”

  “You said you were heading to Oakland?”

  “Yes. My dad said we were going to visit an uncle in a pack there.”

  “Do you know the name of your uncle or the name of the pack?”

  “No. I didn’t even know I had an uncle. My dad never talked about any family.”

  “Okay. How about your pack from New Orleans?”

  “I don’t want to go there. My dad said that our alpha wanted to hurt us. That’s why we were going to Oakland.”

  “Well, then. We definitely don’t want to send you back there. Ahh, here’s Shannon from child services.”

  “Hi, Shannon. This is Nate. He’s a wolf shifter whose family was in that car,” the officer said and quickly explained what happened.

  “Nate, I’m so sorry for your loss. I work for child services, and I run the foster home here in Fallbrook. How about we go to my home so you can get cleaned up,” Shannon said.

  “Thank you. I don’t have any clothes. They were all in the car.”

  “I think I have something that will work for you for tonight. Tomorrow we will get you some clothes and other supplies.”

  “Thank you,” Nathanial said before yawning. The adrenaline was beginning to fade from his system.

  “If you need Nate or me, you know where to find us,” Shannon said to the officer.

  “Yes. Have a good night.”

  ***

  Nathaniel began to wake up and noticed that he was in a softer bed than his own back home. Smells were coming to him that were unfamiliar. Startled, he bolted upright and looked around. Then the events from last night came flooding back to him. His family was dead, burned to death in the car fire. There was an emptiness in his heart, a numbness that was pounding his brain. Salty tears flowed unchecked from his eyes; there was a sheer nothingness that now took hold of his soul, threatening to engulf him entirely.

  He couldn’t go to Oakland because he didn’t know the pack’s name or his uncle’s name. He could go back to Creed’s pack because his dad said that the alpha wanted to hurt them. Nathanial knew that chances were slim to none that he would be adopted. Most people wanting to adopt children wanted babies or toddlers. He was most likely going to stay here until he turned eighteen. He might as well make the best of things.

  Nathanial got out of bed and dressed quickly into the clothes Shannon had left for him the night before. She was a friendly wolf shifter. His wolf looked up to her as their new alpha female. He made his way from the bedroom towards where he smelled food cooking.

  Shannon explained that the foster home used to be a small motel that had been converted. Last night she pointed out the kitchen, dining room, game room, and living room on the main floor. She said that her bedroom was also on the main floor. The second floor had eight bedrooms that could sleep two children. She didn’t want anyone crowded. Right now, there were three other boys close to his age. She had mentioned their names last night, but he had forgotten.

  When he entered the dining room, he noticed the three boys sitting at a table and three girls sitting at another. He could tell some were human, and some were shifters.

  “Everyone, this is Nate. Let’s give him a warm welcome and help him get settled,” Shannon said to the group as she emerged from the kitchen with a tray of food in her hands.

  The room was filled with choruses of welcoming greetings. He could feel his cheeks redden. He hated to be the center of attention. He made a beeline over to the table where the boys sat.

  “Hi, Nate. I’m Gabe. This is Spencer, and that’s Tanner,” Gabe introduced the others.

  “Hey,” Nate replied as the others nodded.

  Nate was curious about how the other kids ended up here, but maybe it wasn’t something they talked about. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to talk about why he was there. Perhaps given time, he would learn, and he would feel comfortable letting them know why he was there.

  Chapter 1

  Two years later, Tracie.

  Tracie had grieved for her mother so many times. The drugs had taken her away a piece at a time. Her mother had been generous with her smiles and free with his hugs. Tracie often came home to no food and went to school with an empty stomach. She came home once to find her mother lying down on the floor. She went to her mother, Mimi, to see if she was still breathing.

  Mimi’s addiction was such that she cared for nothing else. Everything she had once held dear fell by the wayside, her daughter, her friends, her career. She would lie, cheat, and steal for it. She became someone else, someone Tracie once loved but now feared.

  Tracie recalled her mothe
r saying that she had started taking prescription opioid painkillers after breaking her leg. It was when she fell down the cement stairs while trying to carry groceries and Tracie. The elevator in their apartment complex was out of order. They lived on the tenth floor, but Tracie was eight months old and unable to climb the stairs. They had made it to the ninth floor when Mimi lost her balance and began to fall. She quickly dropped the groceries and Tracie, who luckily landed on her padded bottom. Mimi told Tracie to stay where she was while she hollered for help. About ten minutes later, a neighbor heard the cries for help and called for an ambulance.

  It didn’t take Mimi long to switch from opioids to heroin. When Tracie was three, her father had enough of Mimi’s drugs and refusal to get help. He waited until her mother had passed out and packed a bag and left. Mimi blamed Tracie for her father leaving.

  They were kicked out of the apartment for failure to pay rent. Mimi moved them into a shabby trailer home. There were always dirty dishes strewn around the kitchen. Cockroaches scattered whenever the kitchen light was turned on. Mimi received welfare and food stamps, but neither lasted very long.

  When Tracie began school, she realized that the things going on in her home weren’t normal. The only time she ate was breakfast and lunch at school. Tracie either dug into the dumpsters for food or begged food from neighbors on the days of no school. Otherwise, she went hungry. The school is often called child services. The system seemed to be too overwhelmed with not enough resources to deal with these situations effectively.

  With Tracie, there was a gentleness and sensitivity that was beautiful, although she could be a handful at times. It was amazing because of the environment that her drug-addicted mother was raising her in. The combination of drugs and general disregard for life was overbearing, and still, that beauty prevailed in Tracie.

  ***

  Tracie’s twelfth birthday passed by with no celebrations. Tracie was used to her mother doing nothing to acknowledge her birthdays since she was five. She got herself up and dressed for school. Last year she was old enough to get a part-time job at the local grocery store stocking shelves. The money went to put food on the table and pay the utilities. She hid most of the money in a hole she made, prying up a piece of floorboard under her bed. It was the only place she could think of to keep it from her mother.