Page 55 of Game of Destiny
“Of course. I’m not disturbing her and the pup?” I asked.
“No, no. If she asked for you, it’s okay,” he said. “Cadence, show the Beta to your mother and I will put away the food,” he added. Cadence nodded.
“I will help you dad,” Mari said as Cadence and I headed further into the house. The house was a one story home and the bedroom was at the back of the house. I gently knocked on the bedroom door and then Cadence and I stepped inside.
“Beta, thank you for seeing me,” Shelly said from the bed. She spoke in a hushed voice. The little newborn pup was in a bassinet next to the bed.
“Not at all, how are you feeling?” I asked in the same hushed tone.
“I’m fine, just a little tired. I wanted to make sure you didn’t take offence that we named the little one after you,” Shelly said. I smiled at her.
“Not at all, it is an honour.” She returned my smile. She reached out and brushed her hand over Cadence’s hair. He was standing and looking into the bassinet at his little sister.
“After what you did for our boy, it felt like the right thing to do,” she said. I joined Cadence and looked down on the sleeping pup.
“She is beautiful. Just perfect,” I told her mother. Shelly beamed.
“She is. How is Medow?” she asked.
“Doing good. We stopped by on our way here and she and Martina were sleeping,” I told her.
“I remember being a first time mom. It takes some getting used to. I hope the two of us can lean on each other,” Shelly said.
“I think she will like that,” I agreed. I said goodbye and walked back to the front of the house.
“Beta,” Jake said.
“Yes?”
“I hope this doesn't take me out of the running for the games. I know it sounds bad. But they are still four months away and I think Shelly will be able to manage for a month without me. She has Mari and Cadence to help,” he told me. I smiled at him. He had been so reluctant at first to even consider participating. But the last couple of years, he had put his all into training.
“It doesn’t. We will choose the participants in about three months and talk to the ones we chose before we make it public.If everything is okay then, we are good,” I told him. He relaxed. As I made my way back to the pack house, I tried not to yawn. I really needed a nap. Jake’s question had the nerves in my stomach come to life. They always did when thinking about the games. One part was the games themselves. They were important for the pack’s future. But if, or rather when, I went, there was no getting away from running into James and my brother. No more hiding in the shadows. It would also be the best chance for Finlay to find his mate. The closer the games got, the worse my nerves felt.
Chapter 27
Amie
Iwas in my office and looked at the short list of potential members to take to the games. We could bring five and we needed a rounded team, ready to take on everything. There was a knock on the doorframe, my door usually was open when I was in my office. I looked up and saw Meadow and Martina. I smiled at them.
“Hello, if it isn’t the cutest wolf in the pack,” I said.
“Hi, it is, and she has her daughter with her as well,” Meadow said and we both laughed. “What is the birthday girl doing all hidden away?” Meadow asked. “The rest of the pack is preparing your celebration.”
“I know. I just have a couple of more things to do,” I told her. For years, my birthday had been my least favourite day. It held memories I would rather forget. When I lived in the human world, I had done my best to avoid it. But since coming to the pack, I had started to celebrate it again. It was hard to avoid, as both Meadow and Matilda insisted, and Finlay had refused to help me tell them no. I had become better each year. But this year was tricky. We were a month away from the games and mynerves were on edge. Meadow walked up to me and held Martina on one arm as she put a hand on my shoulder.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.
“No. I’m fine,” I told her. She raised an eyebrow and I had to giggle at how good she had become at the ‘mom-look’.
“Do I need to tell Finlay?” she asked.
“Okay, I’m mostly fine,” I corrected myself. “It’s just a lot at the moment with the games, and trying to prepare for meeting James and my brother again,” I confessed. Meadow sat down in my visitor’s chair.
“I can understand that. Is it just bad nerves?” she asked.
“No. Part of me is looking forward to the games. I think we have a good chance at doing really well. And I’m looking forward to meeting Elder. I just hope he isn’t too angry with me.”
“It will be fine,” Meadow said. “I’m a mother, I know these things,” she added. I laughed.
