Page 146 of Game of Destiny
“Some advice from someone who has been mated for years. The men will be clingy and needy. It’s cute, and it’s tempting to give in to these cute faces,” she told me, pinching Sam’s cheek.“But you need to set boundaries. You don’t want to give in every time. It’s healthy to spend some time apart from time to time.”
“Sounds like good advice,” I said, nodding.
“No. Don’t listen to her. What does she know?” I looked up at Finlay who was giving me puppy dog eyes. I covered his eyes with my hand.
“I love you and I will miss you, but I will have an evening with my friends and you can help Sam and Jake look after the pups,” I told him.
“Good idea!” Medow agreed.
“Why don’t you love me?” Sam asked.
“Honestly!” Medow snorted. We looked at each other and giggled. Sam and Finlay surrendered and Sam and Medow left. Finlay asked Jake and Shelly to come to our office. We made our way there. I looked at the double desk as if I had never seen it before. Finlay and I had worked at the desk together for years. He hated the paperwork needed for the pack, I usually helped him get through it, but I had never used the empty part of the desk. Just like the empty chair at the top tier table, it had not been for me. Now it was mine to claim.
“It won’t bite,” Finlay told me and pushed me in the direction of the desk.
“I just got a heavy dose of imposter syndrome,” I confessed.
“It’s yours. Fair and square. As my Luna, this is your place. If you feel better about it, you can always sit in my lap,” he offered. I laughed.
“I would like it, but I think we should keep this professional,” I said. We sat down behind our desks. Finlay pulled my chair as close to his as it would go. I didn’t object as I liked the closeness just as much as he did. There was a knock on the door and Jake mindlinked us to let us know it was him and Shelly. We invited them in and asked them to sit down on the visitors’ chairs. Jake was holding Rose.
“I hope you don’t mind that we brought her. She has been clingy with Jake since he got back,” Shelly said.
“Not at all,” I told her. “Martina behaves the same way with Sam.”
“We have asked to talk to you because we have an issue,” Finlay started. I wanted to roll my eyes at how dramatic he was. “Since Amie now is our Luna, she can’t also be our Beta. That leaves a chair at our table empty.” Both Jake and Shelly nodded, neither seemed as to catch on to what Finlay was saying.
“We would like for you to fill it, Jake,” I said.
“Me?” he asked as if it was the most unthinkable thing he had ever heard.
“Yes, you. You really impressed us during the game and it’s clear how dedicated you are to this pack. In addition, Shelly, you have been a great help to Medow while we have been away. We think you would be a great addition as well. I’m not going to lie. The next year or two will be tough. We are a new pack in the top rank. We have few allies and it means a lot of packs will want to establish diplomacy. It will mean a lot of research, meetings and trips to meet with packs,” Finlay told them. They looked at each other and I knew they were discussing it. We let them have a moment and I focused on playing with Finlay’s fingers. Finlay observed me with joyfulness.
“We have made a decision,” Jake said. Finlay and I put our focus back on the couple and the pup in front of us.
“We would be honoured. I would be honoured. I will do my best to live up to the standard of Beta, we have had two of the best wolves for the role,” Jake told us. I smiled.
“I think you will be amazing. It’s clear you both are dedicated to the pack and you are brilliant, Jake,” I said. “And I will be here to hand things over to you.” Finlay placed a kiss on the back of my hand.
“I’m happy you accepted. We will need a day or two for Amie to clear out the office and you have earned some time off. But we expect you to be ready to join in any meeting of the top tier starting today. I will announce it to the pack at lunch,” he said.
“Yes, Alpha.” We let them get on with their day. They had a lot to talk about and they needed to tell their children as well.
“So. What is up next on that list of yours?” Finlay asked.
“Speaking to my parents. Elder and Becky won’t be home for another couple of days, but I don’t want to wait.”
“We can do it here, or we can do it at home.”
“At home, on the porch. I will make us some lemonade,” I said.
“You have the best ideas,” he told me.
“You seem excited,” I remarked as we were walking back to our house, hand in hand, with a pitcher of lemonade I had made in the pack kitchen as we still hadn’t had time to shop and our fridge was empty.
“I like your parents. I enjoy talking to them and they always make me feel like I’m part of the family. It’s nice.” He can be so adorable, I thought as he got glasses while I got comfortable on the couch out back. I sent a text to my parents asking if it was okay to call. They answered almost straight away we could call when we were ready. Finlay poured the lemonade and sat down next to me with his arm around me. I called my dad and he and my mom showed up on my screen.
“Hi,” both Finlay and I said at the same time. My parents’ smiles grew bigger.
