Page 183 of Game of Destiny
“Stop that,” I said with a smile and tried to bat him away. Both my parents laughed.
“No, he is right. It was a very Luna like answer,” my mom told me.
“And we agree with you. That is why we are asking. We are hoping we can talk to some of the pack members when we get back and set their minds at ease. It’s about time we had a Luna again,” my dad added.
“It makes a big difference,” Finlay agreed. “I had Amie as a stand in Luna for six years, and still. When it was official, there was a change in the pack.” My dad nodded.
“It always stabilises the pack. And when the next generation starts to show up, it gives hope,” he said with a grin. Finlay put his hand on my belly.
“I hope James and Carol sort things out. Maybe we will see them at the Alpha meeting this summer,” I said. Finlay froze and looked at me. “What?” I asked.
“You don’t think you are still going, do you?” he asked.
“And that is our cue to head off to bed, right babe?” my dad said, standing up.
“Yes, I’m feeling all worn out. You two have a nice evening,” my mom agreed and they both left the room before either Finlay or I could respond.
“Why wouldn’t I be going?” I asked.
Chapter 88
Finlay
Ilooked at Amie as her parents fled. How could she even think I would let her go to the meeting while pregnant?
“You are pregnant,” I told her. She rolled her eyes at me.
“I know that. Why would that stop me from going? It’s not like the games where I would have to perform dangerous tasks.”
“Just because there are no games involved, doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park. We put all the Alphas into the same space. Their egos alone cause issues. This year it will be even worse with what has been happening in my brother’s pack,” I told her.
“Listen to me, Finn. You have been going to these meetings alone for far too long. In the beginning you had Martin with you, but then for some reason you stopped bringing him and refused to let anyone else join you. Now you are going to let me come with you. I’m not budging on this. Especially with what’s happening with your brother. I’m not letting you deal with that on your own,” she objected.
“Amie, my brother is unpredictable right now. What if he tries to hurt you, or our pup, as a way to get to me? I wouldn’t put it past him,” I told her. It was a deep-seated fear of mine. Mybrother put far too much pride in being the first in our family to produce an heir. And from what we had heard from the pack members leaving his pack, his Luna wasn’t pregnant yet. I feared what he would do when he learned we were expecting a pup. Amie sighed and moved to sit in my lap, it had become a habit of hers whenever she felt I was upset or worried.
“I understand what you are saying, and I’m not saying you are wrong. I’m just saying that I accept the risk. I’m not sending you, my mate, to deal with all of this alone. If you fear he is coming after me or our pup, I fear just as much that he is coming after you.” She had her determined look, I knew what it meant, but I wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
“I understand, sweetheart, and I appreciate you worrying over me. I will bring Sam with me,” I told her. In my mind, it was a good compromise. Apparently Amie disagreed, as she still had the same look on her face. “What? The Gamma isn’t good enough?” I asked. She made a face and sighed.
“It’s not that I don’t think Sam is good enough,” she told me and poked me in my stomach as a punishment for even thinking about it. “It’s just that I would be staying at home, worrying and not being able to do anything. And if your brother antagonises you, you know you will be triggered. Sam will feed off your energy and I don’t think him giving you a hug is nearly as effective at calming you down as when I hug you.” She had a point there, I reluctantly admitted to myself. The thought of being hugged by Sam in the middle of an Alpha meeting was more amusing than anything.
“I can’t bring both you and Sam,” I told her.
“I know,” she agreed.
“Your dad has told me I shouldn’t give in to your stubborn streak.” I knew it made me sound like a five-year-old, but I was grasping at straws here. Amie laughed.
“This from a man who I think I have heard say no to my mom once,” she said, still laughing. I cursed our inability to say no to our mates.
“If something happens to you or our pup, I will lose control and lay waste to the entire meeting. You know that?” I asked, switching tactics. She stopped laughing and looked at me with a smile.
“I know. We will just have to make sure that doesn’t happen,” she told me and rubbed my chest. I knew I was losing this discussion. In part because I wanted her there with me. I hadn’t been this worried about an Alpha meeting since my first one. Things with my brother’s pack needed to be sorted out. I had no statistics on how many wolves had left his pack, but my gut told me he didn’t have many left. I wanted Amie by my side for all of that. In combination with her insistence on going, I felt my arguments crumble.
“I really, really don’t like it when you are this stubborn,” I told her with a sigh. She gave me a brilliant smile as she knew she had won.
“You don’t fool me, Mr big and tough Alpha. You love it when I push back and don’t do everything you tell me.” Fuck if she wasn’t right about that as well. It had been one of the alluring things with her from the start. She was a master at knowing when to fold and agree to my orders and when to object. Not many people dared to object to their Alpha’s orders.
“I know,” I said and kissed her. “I love all things about you.”
