Page 189 of Game of Destiny
“Of course,” Amie answered and looked at me.
“Yes, we would be grateful to have allies close by,” I agreed. “How about we invite Alpha Jonas and Luna Beatrice to join as well?” I added.
“That sounds like a lot of fun,” Amie said and both Elder and James nodded. We agreed to meet in the restaurant five minutes before the dinner would start and we included our friends from the Winter Peak pack. I took Amie to our room and emptied my pockets of fruit and bread rolls. She giggled and took a banana to eat. She got comfortable on the couch in the living room and I joined her.
“Feeling better?” I asked.
“Yeah. It was the testimonies in the morning that hit home,” she told me. I nodded, I didn’t think anyone had been unaffected by those.
“I was thinking we should take a nap when you have had your snack,” I said.
“Don’t worry too much about me, Finn. I’m doing well and I can take care of myself. There are other things you need to focus on,” Amie let me know.
“I know,” I said. “But taking care of you means I don’t have to think about what a giant asshole my brother is. That keeps me from trying to kill him,” I explained. It was the truth, taking care of Amie was the only thing keeping me sane. I had to admit, if only to myself, it was a good thing she had come along. Instead of taking a nap, we snuggled on the couch and called home to let them know how things were going. The dinner started off good. I was expecting me and my wolf to be on edge because of James, but after his mating he had changed. He no longer focused on Amie or reacted when she and I interacted. It genuinely seemed he had moved on. Dinner was almost over. Amie was talkingto Luna Beatrice and Alpha Jonas about the upcoming visit the alpha pair would do to our pack to meet their new grandpup. I was in a conversation with Elder and James about some rogue activity they had seen around their pack. My brother and his Beta walked up to our table. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him.
“Finlay, may I have a word?” he asked. He still refused to use my title.
“Is there something we need to talk about?” I asked in return.
“I would say so. This little show you have had your friends put on. I can see why you have a need to act up, but enough is enough,” my brother said. Alpha Jonas scoffed.
“I’m flattered you think I have such power over two of the top ranking packs, but this is not my doing. If anything, brother, this is your doing,” I pointed out. Both Ryder and his Beta took a step closer to me. James and Elder both stood up and blocked their path.
“Please keep away from my sister when you are this upset, alpha Ryder,” Elder said. For Ryder to get to me from where he stood, he had to pass by Amie. I stood up and walked around Elder and James.
“There is nothing for us to discuss, Ryder. The issues have been brought before the council and the Alphas. There is nothing I can do about it. You just need to prepare your defence and hope people see your point of view. I wouldn’t bet any money on it, though.” He glared at me.
“This will break our mother's heart,” he told me.
“Alpha Ryder!” Amie exclaimed. I looked back and saw she had got out of her seat and looked pissed. I could also see Elder walking to her side, making sure she didn’t do something crazy like walk up to my brother.
“If she is heartbroken because her son gets what he deserves, but not because of what is happening in your pack, then so beit. Like I said, this is on you. You decided to go down this path. These are the consequences of that choice,” I told him. “Please stay away from me and Amie. You know how us Alphas are when it comes to our pregnant mates,” I said. I turned my back to him and his Beta and walked back to Amie. I kissed her and gestured to her to sit down. She stared angrily at my brother but then did as I asked. As one, everyone around our table ignored the two unwanted persons and we all sat down and resumed our conversation.
“You can’t just ignore me!” Ryder demanded. When no one even looked at him, he stormed off with his Beta in tow. I didn’t delude myself to think it was the last I would hear from him, but at least he was gone for now.
Chapter 91
Amie
Ismiled at Luna Beatrice as Finlay and I took our seats for the second day of the Alpha meeting. According to the plan, we were to discuss trade opportunities between packs today, but because of what happened yesterday, the plans had changed. Finlay was a bundle of tensed, packed nerves. I had tried to get him to relax in every way I could think of. It worked for a while, but before I knew it, it all came right back to him. The only solution was to get through the day and get some closure. I knew he was afraid that neither of our plans would work and the only option left was a hostile solution. The idea scared me as well, but I had faith that others saw how truly horrible the situation in the Ocean Shore pack was. The stage had already been set to continue the council’s hearing and as soon as everyone was in place, the head of the council called Alpha Ryder to come forth. He walked up on the stage and took the same spot as Alpha Lars had done the previous day.
“We have heard Alpha Lars’ accusations towards your pack, Alpha Ryder. Please, the floor is yours and once you are done,the council may have questions for both you and Alpha Lars,” the head of the council said and then took his seat.
“Thank you. I have to say it is a sad day when I, as Alpha, have to step onto this stage and defend how I chose to rulemypack,” Alpha Ryder started. His emphasis was on the word ‘my’. “Since when do we get involved with how others run their pack? Should I petition the council every time I don’t agree with how another Alpha rules their pack? If that is the case, we will have to prolong the Alpha meeting by a couple of months. It is tradition to let each Alpha run his pack as he chooses. I think it’s sad that Alpha Lars has taken the steps he has, but I know this is all because of my brother. He wants to take revenge for me suggesting, in an attempt to protect my former pack members, that our packs should be unified. My brother took offence and is now out for vengeance. He isn’t brave enough to do it on his own, so he is using his allies to do it. It’s pathetic and a coward’s way. If he wanted to strip me of my Alpha status, he should challenge me.” There was silence as he stopped speaking.
‘That is the worst defence I have ever heard, was it even a defence?’ I mindlinked Finlay.
‘I don’t know. I don’t know what to say,’ he linked back, obviously as shocked as I was.
“Erhm, was that all?” the head of the council asked.
“Yes,” Alpha Ryder told him.
“Well, yes, good then. Do we have questions from the council?”
“How many members are left in your pack, Alpha Ryder?” a man on the council asked. We all wanted to know the answer to the question.
“I don’t see what that has to do with this hearing,” Ryder said, squirming a little.
