Page 33 of Game of Destiny
‘We need to have a meeting,’ Finlay mindlinked me as he listened to the pups. I knew him well enough by now to know that despite his happy face and relaxed body stance, this was something serious.
‘Party pooper,’ I linked back as I headed to where my clothes were. When I had changed back into my human form and dressed, I returned to see Finlay had organised the pups for the walk back and picked up the backpack. When we all walked back together, it started to snow. Big flakes fell and turned the world into an even more magical place. Finlay and I watched as the pups tried to catch the snow on their tongues. When we got back to the village, we found the parents waiting for us outsidethe pack house. Finlay must have mindlinked them. They all thanked me for entertaining their pups in the morning. I told them it was my pleasure.
“You looked like a pup,” Finlay remarked when we were alone, heading for the meeting room.
“I feel like one in the snow. That’s why I like to entertain pups on snow days like this. It gives me a good excuse to act like one.”
“It’s not often I see you so relaxed, Red. I think the snow does you good. But maybe put a hat on,” he told me and brushed snow from my head.
“Hey, watch the hair,” I said. More out of habit than because I was upset. He just smiled. As we walked into the meeting room, the others were already there.
“You found her,” Medow said with a smile.
“I did,” Finlay agreed.
“You could have just mindlinked me, you know,” I told them as I took my seat after taking off my jacket.
“And miss the opportunity to see you tumble around the snow with the pups? I don’t think so, Red.” We all settled down and everyone turned their attention to Finlay, we knew he had something important to tell us.
“I received a call from Alpha Jackson of the Rolling Hills pack this morning,” he told us. We all nodded. “They are not an ally. What do you know about them?” he asked.
“They are a mid-tier pack,” Martin said.
“We don’t share any allies with them, so we haven’t interacted with them,” Sam added.
“I know my old pack did some trade with them. But I don’t know any details,” Medow told us.
“They were too low rank for my old pack to consider a friendship with them. I have heard their old Alpha was a strong leader and the pack had a higher rank when he was Alpha. I think the current Alpha is his nephew or something like that.As I heard from my dad, he isn’t as strong of an Alpha as the former and they had dropped in rank because of it. I think they lost some allies as well,” I said. Finlay nodded. We all wanted to know why the Alpha had reached out to Finlay, but no one asked. If Finlay wanted us to know, he would tell us.
“Alpha Jackson made me an offer. He said he knew that with us being unranked, we were vulnerable. He said he had a stable pack with a good reputation and he offered us to join them,” Finlay informed us. We all looked at him for a moment, trying to take in the information.
“They want us to join them?” Martin asked.
“As in; we merge with them and their Alpha becomes our Alpha?” Sam asked. I felt both myself and my wolf object to the thought.
“Yes,” Finlay said. “I know it feels strange to consider, but if it will keep the pack safe, we should at least discuss it.” I looked at Medow and I knew she was thinking the same thing I was.
“This doesn't feel right,” she said.
“I agree. Something is missing. Did they ask for something in return for their generosity?” I asked. Finlay gave us a grin that wasn’t happy.
“Yes, your instincts are correct. If we accept their offer, they expect us to hand over all pack assets, including the land, to them.”
“Hell no!” Martin called out.
“I’m with him,” I told Finlay.
“I don’t like this at all,” Sam said.
“I’m with the rest of you,” Medow told us.
“I’m happy I and the pack have your loyalty. But, as I said, we need to talk about it before we refuse it,” Finlay insisted.
“Fine. Let’s talk about why we think they really extended their offer. None of us thinks it’s out of kindness, right?” I said.
“Right. They would have offered to take us in before we settled down if they just wanted to help,” Martin agreed.
“They want, or need, our land,” Sam said.
