Page 47 of Game of Destiny
“Afraid your women will see how a real Alpha looks?” he asked. I snorted.
“Please, I have seen bigger on pups. Let’s hope you’re a grower, or this is really embarrassing for you,” I said. Behind me, Medow giggled and Sam laughed. Even Finlay pulled one corner of his mouth up in a half smirk. Alpha Jackson growled, but was ignored by everyone. He put the shorts on and had to lean against the wall to do so.
“Now. Why the fuck did you attack us?” Finlay asked again.
“You refused to merge with us,” Alpha Jackson told him.
“That was four years ago,” I objected. The Alpha shrugged.
“The pack didn’t want to attack you. Me and my Beta were for it from the start but my Gamma and the pack in general were against it. They felt it was too big of a risk. You seemed to be strong according to them. I tried to tell them no pack is strong when it has just split from another pack. And a pack that lets a female into its top tier without being a mate to the high ups, they are weak,” he said.
“I guess you should have listened to your Gamma and your pack,” Sam told him.
“If we had just attacked four years ago, we would have won. We waited too long. They are all a bunch of cowards. In the end, I had to use my Alpha status to make them. I told them that anyone refusing to take part in the attack would be named a traitor and made rogue. Much help that did. The fuckers were too weak. My own Gamma turned against me when we got here. When our pack members started dying, he wanted to withdraw.Fucking coward. He didn’t understand that I sent those pack members in first, as I knew they were weak. They were to tire you out, to pave the road for our victory. But he didn’t like that. Didn’t think it was the honourable thing to do. Well, it didn’t end well for him.” The fighting I had heard outside the cave.
“I will inform the council of what has happened,” Finlay told him.
“Are you not Alpha enough to finish me off without their consent?” Alpha Jackson mocked him.
“I will not take revenge on you on a whim, because I can’t control my emotions. We both know what sanctions the council can put on a pack for something like that. My pack will not suffer just because I feel like ending your pathetic life. Not when I have enough evidence to secure they grant me full right to do so. I will see you again once their decision is made,” Finlay said. We all knew that was the end of the conversation and we all headed for the main floor. “I will call the council, they need to know what has happened. Amie, check on the pack, make sure they feel that we have things under control. Talk to my aunt. I’m sure she is already working on it. Sam, you need to make a schedule for the warriors. If rumour spread about the attack, others might strike against us, thinking we are weak,” Finlay gave out orders.
“Yes, Alpha,” we all said. Sam and Medow headed to his office.
“Do you want me to call Martin’s mother?” I asked Finlay. He had stopped outside his office in the pack house and for a moment he dropped his mask and I could see how tired he looked. He rubbed his hand over his face.
“No, I will call her,” he said after hesitating.
“You have a lot on your plate, I can do it,” I insisted. He looked at me and then he turned his eyes to my shoulder.
“Have you been seen by a healer?” he asked.
“It’s not that bad. It will heal,” I told him.
“Don’t be so stubborn. Go and have yourself checked out, then make sure the pack is alright. I will make the call to the council and then I will call Martin’s mother.”
“Fine. Let me know if you need me for something. I will be around,” I said.
“Thank you.” We stood there for a moment before I saw him slip his mask on and head for his office. I headed for the room where the healers had set up. There weren’t many people in there, as most who needed help had already received it . They took a look at my shoulder. I got a stern talking to for not coming sooner. They put on some ointment and told me to come back if I got a fever or if the area around the wounds got hot. I headed out and spent the rest of the day just walking around, talking to the pack. Most of them were relieved the attack had been over so quickly, but everyone mourned the loss of our Beta. There was a lot of anger, but I tried to steer the feelings towards community and helping each other. Besides Martin, we had lost two warriors and five more were severely wounded. We needed to make sure to take care of them and their families. Matilda was right there and worked with me. I had asked her to organise the funerals. Medow was making sure the injured wolves had what they needed as well as their families. Overall we were in a better condition than I would have thought.
‘The council has decided the Alpha of the Rolling Hills pack has forfeited his life. The execution will be done tomorrow by my hand,’ Finlay sent a mindlink to the pack later in the evening. ‘The rest of the captives are ours to do with as we please. We will make the decision tomorrow as well,’ he continued. The news affected the pack positively. Everyone felt they had been given the chance to seek the revenge we all wanted. By the time I was ready to end the day, it was close to midnight. Instead of going to my apartment, I headed for Finlay’s house. I didn’t bother to knock, but walked inside and into the living room. Finlay wassitting on the couch in the dark room. His elbows on his knees and his head resting in his hands. I walked up to the fireplace. I knew he always kept it stocked this time of year. It lit without an issue. I walked over to the couch and sat down next to him.
“I don’t know if I can do this,” he said without looking up.
“I know how you feel, but you will find a way,” I told him.
“Did you get your shoulder checked out?”
“I did. They told me I was wasting their time,” I said. Finlay turned his head and gave me a sideway look. “Fine. They scolded me for not coming sooner and gave me an ointment. But that’s just because all healers think it’s the end of the world if you don’t come and see them when you stub your toe.”
“I can’t deal with losing you as well.” His voice was frail and thin. It was like the thought itself hurt him. I sighed and bent forward so I could lean my forehead on his slumped shoulder blade.
“You won’t. It really isn’t that bad. It hurts like hell but it’s healing and at the most I will have a scar on my shoulder. But I’m not going anywhere,” I promised him.
“Good.” We sat like that for a while in silence. “How are the boys doing?” he asked.
“Good. I talked to them after dinner and they have got over the worst of it. Give them a week or two and they will see it as scary, but exciting. I think we kept them away from seeing the worst of it. They were more than happy with all the hot coco and attention they got after.”
“You,” he said.
