Page 89 of Game of Destiny
“Lighten up! The two of you look like we are going to our own execution. Amie, I need your help in keeping our Alpha from harming his dear brother. His mother and I are trying to mend bridges, not get anyone disqualified from the games for maiming a competitor,” Matilda said.
“I will do my best,” I promised. Finlay snorted.
“You’re not too old to be put in time out, young man,” his aunt told him.
“Yes, Aunt Matilda. I will try to behave,” he said. I giggled. We walked into the booked room, it looked like a private room at a restaurant. A small, round table was set for five and Finlay’s mother and brother stood waiting for us. His mother had put the food she had cooked on the table and after greeting everyone, I helped Matilda put down the dishes she had made. We sat down and started helping ourselves to food. All in silence.
“It was nice that you could join us,” Finlay’s mother said to me. She looked unsure, as if she doubted it was nice.
“Thank you for letting me come,” I said and did my best to give her a relaxed smile.
“Of course you should come, you are practically family,” Matilda said in her usual cheerful voice.
“And why is that?” Alpha Ryder asked.
“I kind of adopted her from day one,” Matilda said with a laugh. I smiled at her. She was going strong today.
“Both Matilda and Finlay made me feel welcome in the pack,” I agreed.
“That’s nice,” Finlay’s mother said. “Have you been moving around, visiting the different packs between games?” she asked Finlay.
“I have been keeping up with our allies,” he said.
“Shouldn’t you get out more? Meet new wolves? An opportunity like this only comes every ten years,” his mother told him. She sounded sincerely worried.
“Mother, it’s not like I’m shutting myself away. I have duties as Alpha to take care of the pack as well,” he replied. “I’m sure you understand how it is, Ryder,” he added. His brother shrugged.
“My pack runs itself, more or less. And I’m not the one who needs to find his mate,” Alpha Ryder said. Touchy subject and Finlay instantly tensed up.
“This stew is amazing. What is that herb you have used?” I asked his mother. Trying to take the focus away from Finlay. I didn’t enjoy the talk about him finding his mate either.
“That’s sweet of you. The secret is thyme,” she told me and gave me the first genuine smile I had seen from her.
“Our mother always used thyme in everything she cooked,” Matilda told me. “Remember when she added it to custard and then mixed in bubblegum flavour?” she asked her sister. Finlay’s mother laughed.
“Horrible. But I still enjoy thyme in general. It reminds me of my childhood,” she said.
“My mom loves all herbs. My childhood was a symphony of different blends,” I told them.
“Amie is our best gardener. She has saved Finlay’s garden from lapsing into a jungle,” Matilda said.
“You like gardening?”
“I do. It’s nice to have something relaxing to do,” I told her. The three of us did our best to keep the conversation going. To my surprise, once Finlay’s mother warmed up to me, she was quite nice.
‘If you don’t jump into this conversation and do your part, I will put my fork in your thigh,’ I mindlinked Finlay. He and his brother were both moping.
‘You seem to be doing fine without me,’ he told me.
‘Did you think I was joking?’ I asked. It made him look up at me.
“So, mother, how have your roses been this year?” he asked.
‘Thank you,’ Matilda mindlinked me. ‘There is only so long I can be cheery and not slap a grown ass man sulking in the back of his head,’ she added.
‘I’m with you,’ I told her. We stayed silent for a while, eating and listening to the forced conversation between Finlay and his mother. As they kept going, they both relaxed and theconversation became more natural. All in all, the dinner was a success. Except for Alpha Ryder, who still moped on his own, refusing to join in the conversation. By the end of dessert, Finlay was relaxed and even laughed as his mother told a story about him as a pup.
“We need to head back, we have a new game tomorrow,” he said. He got up from the table and helped me with my chair. I smiled at him.
