Page 167 of Game of Destiny
We both made sure to get the lunch ready and Finlay took the backpack. The pups stood inside the front door to the pack house, waiting.
“Cade, Jon, aren’t you getting too old for this?” I teased the two teenagers.
“Says the twenty-eight-year-old Luna,” Finlay told me and everyone laughed. We headed for the woods, towards our sledding hill. The hours spent in the snow with the pups were as fun as they always were. Even Finlay relaxed and enjoyed sledding and building snowmen. When I sneaked off to changeinto my wolf, he joined me and together we ambushed the pups and spent an hour playing tags.
“This has been the best snow day ever!” Cadence said as we were walking home.
“You say that every year,” Jon told him and laughed.
“It’s true. Every year is the best,” Cadence insisted.
‘He is right. It has been an amazing day,’ Finlay mindlinked me.
‘I’m forgiven for dragging you out of bed?’ I asked.
‘You are, but I will still hold you to the hot shower.’ I wouldn’t object to that.
Hours later I was snuggled up on the couch in front of the fireplace. I had a cup of tea in my hands and listened to Finlay working in the kitchen. He had insisted he would make dinner. I was tempted to join him and have a look at how he was doing, but I wouldn’t do it. To distract myself, I called my mom.
“Armeria, how nice of you to call. How are things?” my mom answered her phone.
“Things are good here, things are finally settling down. We had the first snow last night so we have been out most of the day, playing with the pups in the snow,” I told her. Her laughter was warm and genuine.
“I am so pleased both of my pups have chosen to keep that tradition alive,” she cheerfully told me.
“It’s the best tradition. How are things on your end?” I asked.
“We are fine. The group from Ocean Shore is settling in nicely. They are good wolves and have been through a lot.” She paused and looked unsure.
“It’s okay Mom, just tell me,” I told her.
“I think James has taken a liking to one of the women. She is a timid thing, but who can blame her. He has been hovering around her, I don’t think they are true mates, but there is something brewing,” she told me. I smiled.
“I’m happy to hear it. It will be good for him to let go of the past, and maybe he will become more open to start talks between our packs,” I said. My mom smiled back at me.
“You are acting very mature about all of this,” my mom pointed out.
“I have Finn, he is the love of my life and we have an amazing life together. I see no reason why I would be petty and not want James to find happiness. Especially since it will make it more probable he will grant you the permission to come and visit,” I told her. “I’m just being selfish.”
“Speaking of that mate of yours. How is he doing?” she asked.
“He is doing fine. It did him good to spend the day out in the snow. He needs to be allowed to be care free once in a while.” She hummed in agreement.
“I’ll tell you a secret. I started the snow day tradition for your dad’s sake. He was always working, always dealing with pack issues, and even though I knew he loved it and was good at it he needed a break every now and then. Before we had pups it was always hard to get him to agree to it. You know how he is, he will do anything for anyone else, but never for his own sake. Well, having pups made it easy to tell him he needed to take a break to spend time with you. I’m happy it serves the same purpose for your mate,” she told me. I looked at her for a moment and then I laughed.
“Does dad know?” I asked.
“Good heavens no,” she giggled.
“Finn is in the kitchen making dinner. He has been adamant he needs to get better at cooking. I don’t know why, but if it’s something he feels he needs to do I will support him. That is why I’m being a good mate and calling my mom instead of checking up on him despite the sounds coming from my kitchen,” I told her. She laughed.
“I approve of both of you leaving him to it and the distraction you used.” As if he had heard us talking about him, Finlay poked his head into the living room.
“Eh, dinner might be half an hour later than planned,” he told me. I smiled at him, he looked a little tousled and had some kind of food stain on his cheek.
“That’s fine. Mom is keeping me company, so take as much time as you need,” I said.
“Melissa?” he asked and walked over to me so he could lean into the view of the camera. “Hi, Melissa, how are you?” he asked with a smile. My mother giggled.
