Page 110 of Game of Destiny
“That sounds nice,” she admitted and walked upstairs.
“How is she doing?” my aunt asked as soon as I stepped into the kitchen.
“Being brave and keeping it together,” I said as I filled a glass with ice tea.
“Sometimes it’s okay to not be okay,” my aunt reminded me.
“I will make sure she knows it.”
“Good. And it’s okay for the Alpha to look after one of the pack for an evening if she needs it. We will manage for an evening,” she continued.
“Subtle,” I told her. She smiled, handed me a plate of cut up fruit and patted my arm.
“It’s my middle name.”
“I thought your middle name was Rebecca,” I said. She laughed.
“Maybe that is why I’m not subtle at all. Or maybe it just means I have a smart mouth for a nephew,” she told me.
“Hey, I’m the Alpha, some respect please.”
“Go and be useful, oh mighty Alpha,” she said. Rolling her eyes and shoving me out of the kitchen. I headed up the stairs with a smile.
‘Finn, my dad has asked if you could join our call,’ Amie mindlinked when I was halfway upstairs.
‘On my way,’ I said. I was worried about what this was about.
‘You can say no,’ she told me when I was at her door.
‘Not a chance, Red. I need to score some points with him,’ I told her and walked into her room. She was sitting on her bed with her phone. I put the glass and the plate on the desk and then walked over to her. I didn’t know what to do. It seemed too intimate to sit down next to her, but I had no idea how to get into the frame of the call any other way.
“He’s here. One moment,” Amie said. She scooted a little to the side, making room for me between her and the headboard. I took the hint and sat down. On the phone I saw what I assumed was the entire Winstone family. In one frame, I saw her brother and his mate. In another, there was an older couple. Amie was a near copy of her mother. All seemed to focus on me.
“Thank you for joining our call, Alpha Finlay,” the older man said, bowing his head slightly. The woman next to him did the same.
“It’s my pleasure, former Beta Ron,” I said and also bowed slightly. I saw the pleased look on his face at being recognised by his former title, and I counted it as a win. I desperately wanted Amie’s family to like me. They were important to her, and she was important to me. “What can I do for you?” I asked.
“To be honest with you, Alpha Finlay, I’m worried about my daughter.” Amie’s father said. “The games are dangerous in themselves, but adding to it the pressure from the Ocean shore pack and now our own Alpha,” he explained. I nodded at first. Then I paused and looked at Amie.
“I thought your talk went well,” I said.
“So did I. But Elder shared something,” she told me. Her free hand found mine on the bed. I looked back at the phone and focused on her brother. He looked uncomfortable.
“I want to say that I’m telling you this because Amie is my sister, and I will always protect her. I failed to do so in the past, and it won't happen again. But this is close to betraying my Alpha and it’s a difficult decision,” he said.
“It’s the right thing to do,” his mate said.
“We need to protect your sister,” their father said. Beta Elder nodded and I respected him for his struggle.
“I talked to James after he talked to Amie. He has understood she isn’t interested in repairing the mate bond. Unfortunately, he has got it in his head he can change her mind,” Beta Elder said.
“How?” I wanted to know.
“We don’t know, that is the issue. If he’s just going to do some grand gestures, that is fine. It may reflect poorly on him, but nothing we can’t handle,” Amie’s father said.
“But it might be something more forceful,” Beta Elder admitted.
“Like?” I could hear the ice in my voice.
