Page 124 of Game of Destiny

“Fellow Alphas, we have spent the morning listening to testimonies from former members of the Ocean Shore pack. I wish I could say they were the only ones with those kinds of stories. But I can tell you the wolves seeking shelter in my pack tell the same stories, bear the same wounds. That is why I stand here before you today. Our packs are different, what works for mine will not work for a pack on the other side of the world. This has always been our way. We let each pack govern themselves as long as they don’t put others in danger or expose us to humans.

One thing we all have in common is the promises we, as Alphas and Lunas, make our packs.

We vow to protect the pack, to make sure the pack thrives and in return the pack gives us the power to lead them and their submission,” Alpha Jonas started.

There were agreeing murmurs in the crowd.

‘He is good at this,’ Amie mindlinked me. I agreed with her. He knew how to draw in his audience.

“Alpha Ryder has broken the promises an Alpha gives their pack. In his pack only a select few are safe and respected. The rest of his pack lives in fear. He even goes against the moon goddess herself, as he has no regard for the sacred mate bond. We, as alphas, can’t sit idly by.

I, for one, refuse to be grouped with him.

I therefore ask that we vote, as alphas, if we are willing to let Alpha Ryder keep his title or not,” Alpha Jonas ended his speech.

Silence followed when he stopped speaking and then a buzzing as Alphas, Lunas and Betas all began to talk to each other.

A moment later the head of the council stood up and the room fell silent without him asking.

“Thank you, Alpha Jonas. Alpha Ryder, you will have a chance to defend yourself tomorrow. For now, let’s break for today.

There are still a couple of hours until dinner, but I think we all could use some rest and time to think about what we have heard today.

We will reconvene at nine o’clock in the morning,” he told everyone.

I was grateful for the early ending of the day.

“Would it be okay if we sit with you during dinner?” Alpha James asked as we got up from our seats.

“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 talking to 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 be it. 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.