“No need. Once Amie has rested, we are coming home. She needs to be around the pack, and we have things to deal with. The fallout of what my brother has done will need to be dealt with.”

“I can’t believe the old pack is gone,” Jake said.

“I know. Could you please inform the pack and tell them we are coming home early? You don’t need to tell them why. We will do that when we get back,” I said. We talked a little about what we could expect and how to handle it. As we hung up, Amie put her hand on mine.

“Time to call Matilda,” she said. I nodded. I wasn’t looking forward to this conversation. We called her and started by telling her about the council’s and the alphas’ decision. She looked heartbroken. Then we told her the rest.

“You killed him?” she asked after I told her how Amie had confirmed it was my brother who had kidnapped her.

“I did,” I told her.

“Good. He was family, but someone needed to stop him. I’m sorry it had to be you,” she told me. Her response was so much like Amie’s it had me stunned into silence for a moment.

“He thinks people will judge him for killing his brother,” Amie told my aunt and kissed my jaw. How had she known that? We hadn’t talked about it. Then again, she was Amie. She knew me better than I knew myself sometimes.

“That’s just crazy talk. No one will care about that,” my aunt said.

“I agree. We will have to make sure he sees reason,” Amie told her.

“I am present and part of this conversation,” I said, snapping out of my own thoughts.

“You did good, Finlay, both as an Alpha and as a mate. Ryan knew what he was risking when kidnapping a pregnant Luna. Don’t linger on it. We have other things to think about. I will call my sister and talk to her. By the time you get back home, I will have news for you,” she said. We said goodbye, and then Amie and I sat in silence for a while.

“Last call, sweetheart,” I said.

“Who?” she asked.

“Your parents.”

“Do we have to? They will be worried,” she objected.

“Do you think Elder and James won’t tell them?” I asked.

“Fuck, you are right. Unless I swear them to silence! I have dirt on both of them,” she told me. I smiled and kissed her nose. My phone rang, and it was her dad.

“I think it’s too late for that,” I said and answered.

I’m so gonna tell Mom it was those two who stole the cake she had made for the pack cake baking contest, she mindlinked me. Amie’s parents looked upset and worried. As Elder had already talked to them, they knew the background story, which was nice, to not have to tell it a third time.

“I’m sorry. I let Amie down, and I failed as a mate. I should have kept her safe,” I told them. I got an elbow in the side by Amie.

“Don’t say things like that,” she hissed.

“But it’s true.”

“I think you should listen to my daughter; she knows what she is talking about,” Amie’s mom said.

“Yes. You did what you could and made sure she wasn’t alone. Even if you had gone with her to the bathroom, you would probably have been knocked out as well. My pumpkin knows what she is saying,” her dad agreed.

“Thank you.”

“And I’m fine. The healer has checked on both me and the pup, and we are doing well. I’m a little tired, but that is most probably because I just ate my double bodyweight in food,” Amie said. Both her parents laughed. “We will be going home tomorrow. There are things to do, as our pack was close to the Ocean Shore pack. It will be affected by what has happened.”

“I think that is the right decision. Go home and get some rest. Call me when you are home and have the time. And Finlay, thank you, dear, for protecting my little girl. I’m sorry you had to fight your own brother,” Amie’s mom said.

“I would do it again if I had to,” I told her. Both her parents nodded happily. When Amie tried to hide a yawn, they smiled and said goodbye. Amie and I got ready for bed, and as she snuggled up next to me, I put my hand on her belly and enjoyed the closeness and scent of my mate.