Page 179 of Game of Destiny
“I’m so sorry, I had no idea.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t know either. I guess the pup is starting to make its presence known,” I told her. “Carol, have you had one? They are amazing.”
“They are,” Carol agreed. “I always enjoy them when she makes them for the full moon celebrations.” I nodded and Joy passed the plate to Carol. We talked about easy things, things which wouldn’t upset the renewed bond between us. They had greetings from pack members who wanted to say hi. I tried to include Carol in the conversation. She was a nice wolf and I could see her with James, they would be good together.
‘Sweetheart, we are ready to sign,’ Finlay mindlinked me.
“Excuse me a moment,” I said and walked over to the kitchen table with Sam trailing behind me. Finlay reached out his hand and helped me down on his lap. I watched James as I got comfortable. He remained unbothered and I relaxed. Finlay handed me a copy of the final agreement and I read through it. It was a fair alliance agreement and I smiled. “Looks good. Should we sign?” Finlay and I both signed for our pack and James signed for the Eagle Forest pack. Jake and Elder signed as witnesses.
“Now that is out of the way, let’s celebrate,” James said. It was a great idea and we set the table and cooked a meal together. Cooking with my mom and Joy again brought back memories and when Finlay joined us to help out they both praised him. The meal was simple but well made and everyone grabbed a plate and took a seat where there was room. This was always my favourite part of a new alliance agreement; the part when the packs mingled and got to know each other. I was sitting inFinlay’s lap, to save on seats according to him, when Mino came walking over on unsteady legs.
“Hello,” I said and put my plate on the table. He looked up at me and then reached his hands towards me.
“Up,” he told me with a determined voice. How could I say no to that? With a little help from Finlay, I reached down and pulled him into my lap. “Yum,” he said, pointing at my plate.
“Yeah, the food is yummy,” I agreed.
“Yum, yum,” he said, a little more desperate. I looked over at Becky, who sat a couple of seats away. She smiled and passed me the plate with cut up food she had prepared for Mino. I scooped up some food on a spoon and held it out for him.
“Nuhu,” he said, shaking his head and again pointed at my plate.
“Sure thing, little guy,” I told him and placed some mac’n’cheese on my fork and gave it to him. He happily ate it and then looked at me. I got the point and continued to feed him from my plate.
‘You never feed me,’ Finlay pointed out in a mindlink.
‘You are a grown man. You can feed yourself, Alpha,’ I told him.
“Is he bothering you?” Becky asked after a while.
“Not at all,” I told her, making sure my grip around his waist to support him on my lap was good.
“It’s okay to tell him no. He is eating your food,” my brother pointed out.
“I can eat when he is done.” My mom and dad were smiling at us. When Mino was happy, I ate the rest and Finlay made sure to add some extra to my plate. My nephew seemed happy in my lap, listening to the grownups talk. When it was time to get up, I placed him down on the floor and got up from Finlay’s lap. Mino grabbed my hand.
“Look,” he said, pointing to the living area.
“You want me to come and look at something?” I asked. He nodded and tugged on my hand. I followed him and Finlay followed me, holding my other hand. When Mino noticed, he stopped and glared at Finlay and then at where he was holding my hand. Both me and Becky giggled.
“I think Mino would like to show his aunty without her mate,” Becky pointed out.
“But…” Finlay objected.
“You go and get things ready for the drive home. I’ll just spend a little extra time with Mino,” I told him.
“But I’m your mate,” Finlay told me and sounded like he was sulking.
“No one doubts that. I would just like a little more time with him before we need to say goodbye.” Finlay glared back at the toddler.
“Fine,” he agreed, and then he kissed me and looked at Mino with a raised eyebrow before leaving.
“Honestly,” I said to Becky, who was dissolving into laughter. Mino happily led me over to where Becky had put down his toys that had kept him busy most of the day. He tugged on my hand and I got the hint. Both Becky and I sat down on the floor. Mino took out a story book and handed it to me as he crawled up on my lap again.
“Oh my. He has taken a liking to you,” Becky told me.
“You are a sweet boy,” I told Mino and placed a kiss on his hair. “He reminds me of his dad. He was always sweet as well.” I opened the book and started reading. After a while, Mino fell asleep and I stopped reading and Becky and I sat and talked instead. My mom sat down on a couch nearby and joined in. It didn’t take long for Finlay and Elder to come walking. “It’s time?” I asked.
“It is. I will take my son back now before he decides to go back with you,” Elder told me and reached down and took Mino from my lap. Finlay helped me up from the floor.
