Page 155 of Game of Destiny
‘Don’t feel guilty, Red. This is not on you,’ Finlay mindlinked me. He was right and I tried to take comfort in that.
“You don’t need to apologise,” Mark told me.
“You certainly don’t,” my dad agreed. The two of them shared a look. There was an underlying hostility between them I had never seen before.
“This is James’ doing and he has to sort it out. I’m sure he will, it will just take a little time for him to heal,” Joy said.
“Is it okay if I ask a question?” Jonas asked. I smiled and didn’t tell him he already had asked one.
“Sure.”
“Why did you leave? I’m not accusing you, or saying it was the wrong thing to do. I just want to understand,” he asked. I took a moment to think about what to say, how honest I should be.
‘You don’t owe them an explanation if you don’t want to tell them,’ Finlay reminded me. I was grateful to have him on my side, but I did want to tell them.
“That night I heard you, uncle Mark, and dad arguing in his study. Then I heard mom and aunt Jane at odds with each other. Even Elder was arguing with James. I felt it was all my fault. If I had been stronger none of it would have happened. So, I thought the only thing to do to save all of your friendships was to remove the piece that caused it all. Me. That’s why I left. Today I would have handled it differently, but I was young and in pain.” I could feel a faint echo of my feelings as I sat down to write my goodbye letter. It wasn’t as painful as it once had been. Now I knew my decision had led me to Finlay and to my new pack.
“I’m sorry. You were never meant to hear that,” Mark told me. I nodded.
“I know you didn’t intend to hurt me,” I said. I felt Finlay tightening his hold around me. Was that why he had been so standoffish towards uncle Mark? Because Finlay saw what Mark had said as betraying me? He was so sweet it was hard for me to see his more fierce side.
“I didn’t. I was trying to protect my son, but I can see how the outcome was different from my intention.” I knew it was hard for a former Alpha like Mark to admit he had made mistakes.
“It’s all water under the bridge, uncle. If I hadn’t left, I wouldn’t have ended up working at the diner and then Finlaywould never have seen me when he stopped for lunch and I would never have met him. That would be a far bigger tragedy,” I explained. My mom smiled and nodded. My dad looked proud, as did Finlay. He took my hand and kissed it.
“It would have been the biggest tragedy of them all,” he agreed. He was doing a good job at making me swoon.
“We hope the close relationship between me and all of you, along with my family, will enable us to build an alliance in the future. We also know James will need some time, so, we will leave the door open for when you feel the time is right,” I said.
“Even after what he did on the last day of the Game?” Mark asked, they all looked surprised.
“Well, I won’t lie. It did upset me, and my temper did run away a little.” Finlay chuckled at my statement and I shot him a look, which only made my dad start to chuckle as well. “But, we can overlook it. The Game has a way to get under your skin and there was a lot happening. We don’t expect miracles overnight.”
“We don’t hold any grudges,” Finlay clarified. The people on screen nodded. We talked a little longer, but I realised I had far less to say to my aunts and uncles than I had expected. Sad as it was, I had let go of those relationships and even though I enjoyed seeing them, they weren’t as important as they once had been. When we hung up I sighed and relaxed back against Finlay. He engulfed me in his arms.
“Was it a good conversation?” he asked.
“It was. I feel like I got to tie up a lot of loose ends, which feels good. It also helps me see who is important to me.”
“And who is that?” he asked as he nuzzled my neck.
“You. Our made up family with the top tiers and your aunt and Ramses. The pack. My family. Your mother.” I counted them out.
“My mother?” he asked.
“Yes.” I ran my fingers through his hair as he rested his head against my shoulder.
“I can live with that. It was a good list.”
Chapter 75
Finlay
“The Winter peak pack has reached out and suggests we meet and discuss a possible alliance,” Jake told us as we settled down around our new, round conference table. We had been home for almost two months and requests like it had become common.
“Isn’t that the pack with the warrior who hurt you?” I asked Amie.
“It is, but we like them. Remember?” she told me. I grunted. I didn’t exactly agree. Amie rolled her eyes and the rest smiled.
