I made sure we picked a table for lunch as far away from my brother as we could get in the restaurant. We were joined by James and Elder. For once, I appreciated the company of the other Alpha as I was sure he would help me protect Amie. She was sitting next to me, poking at her salmon.
“You should try to eat it and not just pick at it,” I told her. She looked up at me with sad eyes which tore at my heart.
“I don’t really have an appetite at the moment,” she said. I understood why, but it didn’t make me less worried.
“Would you like to lie down for a bit?” I asked. She shook her head.
“No, it’s fine, I’ll feel better in a while.” Both James and Elder looked worried. I decided there was only one thing to do. I lifted her onto my lap and let her curl up and rest her head on my shoulder. I could feel her relax and when I was sure she felt better, I handed her the plate she had abandoned. To my relief, she ate most of it. Elder smiled and nodded approvingly. Just to be on the safe side, I buttered two bread rolls, put them into a napkin and then into my pockets. Amie saw what I was doing and giggled.
“I think we need to get you a purse,” she said. James and Elder laughed.
“My pockets will do just fine,” I told her. We finished eating and then headed back to the meeting room and took our places.
‘I’m very proud of you for not killing your brother, or even trying to,’ Amie mind-linked me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. It was a surprise to me as well. Both me and my wolf focused on Amie and our pup. It was more important they were safe than me getting to kill my brother, even though it was a close second. The head of the council asked Alpha Jonas to take the stage and he walked up and stood facing us.
“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 to 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 mind-linked me. I agreed with her. He knew how to draw in his audience.
“Alpha Ryan 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 Ryan 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 Ryan, 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.
Chapter 123-2
“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 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 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. 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 Ryan 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 Ryan,” Elder said. For Ryan 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, Ryan. 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 defense 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 Ryan!” 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, all around our table ignored the two unwanted persons and sat down and resumed our conversation.
Chapter 123-2
“You can’t just ignore me!” Ryan 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.