Page 47 of Game of Destiny

Amie

A s Finlay took me back to the cabin, my world settled around me.

We didn’t speak on the way back, or when he sat me down on a chair on the sundeck at the back of the cabin.

I heard him telling his aunt there had been a change of plans and we would be spending the rest of the morning at the cabin.

As usual, Matilda didn’t ask why. She just sent him back to me with a tray loaded with tea and cookies.

I smiled as he put it down next to me. Instead of sitting down on the chair on the other side of the small table, he sat down on the ottoman in front of me.

“This doesn’t change anything,” he told me as he put a tea mug in my hands.

“Doesn’t it?” I asked.

“No, Amie, it doesn’t. Unless you are thinking of honouring the mate bond.” I looked at him like he had lost his mind and he chuckled. “I take that as a no,” he said.

“That is a definitive no. Why would I accept a mate bond with someone who doesn’t want me? Despite everything, James and I were friends and I wouldn’t force a bond on him,” I told him. Finlay smiled and placed his hand on my cheek. I leaned into his touch.

“You were in too much of a shock to see it. But Alpha James isn’t as unaffected by you as you think. And now that he knows you have a wolf. I’m predicting we will be seeing quite a lot of the Alpha during our four weeks here,” Finlay told me. I made a face.

“I don’t care. If he didn’t want me at my lowest, I’m not going to consider him at my highest. And, if we put all of that to the side, I don’t love him. There is this other man who never looked down on me and who I know will be there for both the good and the bad. That is sexy,” I told him.

“Tell me where I can find this man and I will challenge him,” Finlay said. I could see the humour in his eyes. I laughed at him and he joined me. Then I sighed.

“This was not supposed to happen. You were the one to find your mate and I was supposed to pretend to be happy for you,” I told him.

He huffed and his hand on my cheek shifted to the back of my head.

For a moment, I thought he was going to kiss me.

Instead, he tilted our heads so we leaned our foreheads together.

“Not going to happen. Part of me wish you were more selfish and would have accepted the rejection already. But then that wouldn’t be you, Red.

I have already submitted to waiting until this is over until I stake my claim on your feelings.

I can be patient. But it doesn’t mean I will be passive.

I’m not going to sit and watch another Alpha take what I see as mine,” he told me.

“I should have just let you mark me on my birthday,” I told him. He chuckled and placed a kiss on my forehead before sitting back up.

“No, Red. You did the right thing. We needed to talk before taking that step and to be honest, if you hadn’t stopped us, that is where we would have ended up,” he said.

“I mean it when I say you are worth the wait. When we take the step, it will be because we want to spend the rest of our life together.”

“You are just too good to be true, Finn. Thank you for believing in me,” I honestly told him.

“After six years, I know you, Amie. Will you be okay? You have had a lot of emotional things thrown at you today, and I think you will get a call from your parents any minute.” At the mention of my parents I had to smile.

“I’m looking forward to the call. And I’m okay. Give me an hour and a call with my parents and I will be back to my old self,” I told him. I then hesitated.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing. You should get back out there. Our morning have been overturned because of me.”

“Red,” he said in the voice he used when he meant business.

“I was going to ask if you would stay for my call with my parents. I’m looking forward to it, but I’m also nervous and you always keep me calm. But you have things to do. I will be okay,” I told him. He smiled at me.

“You think I was going to head back out before we have finished the cookies my aunt sent me here with? Dream on. I’m going to sit here and eat cookies and we are going to plan what to do for the opening day tomorrow,” Finlay told me. I smiled at him.

“I guess I can share the cookies,” I told him and gave him one.