Chapter 75: Chapter 75

Sam and I escorted Amie back to our cabin. On the surface she looked relaxed, but I could see the tension in her jaw and the way she played with the hem of her t-shirt.

“How about you go up and call your mom, and I will bring you some ice tea,” I suggested.

“That sounds nice,” she admitted and walked upstairs.

“How is she doing?” my aunt asked as soon as I stepped into the kitchen.

“Being brave and keeping it together,” I said as I filled a glass with ice tea.

“Sometimes it’s okay to not be okay,” my aunt reminded me.

“I will make sure she knows it.”

“Good. And it’s okay for the Alpha to look after one of the pack for an evening if she needs it. We will manage for an evening,” she continued.

“Subtle,” I told her. She smiled, handed me a plate of cut up fruit and patted my arm.

“It’s my middle name.”

“I thought your middle name was Rebecca,” I said. She laughed.

“Maybe that is why I’m not subtle at all. Or maybe it just means I have a smart mouth for a nephew,” she told me.

“Hey, I’m the Alpha, some respect please.”

“Go and be useful, oh mighty Alpha,” she said. Rolling her eyes and shoving me out of the kitchen. I headed up the stairs with a smile.

‘Fin, my dad has asked if you could join our call,’ Amie mindlinked when I was halfway upstairs.

‘On my way,’ I said. I was worried about what this was about.

‘You can say no,’ she told me when I was at her door.

‘Not a chance, Red. I need to score some points with him,’ I told her and walked into her room. She was sitting on her bed with her phone. I put the glass and the plate on the desk and then walked over to her. I didn’t know what to do. It seemed too intimate to sit down next to her, but I had no idea how to get into the frame of the call any other way.

“He’s here. One moment,” Amie said. She scooted a little to the side, making room for me between her and the headboard. I took the hint and sat down. On the phone I saw what I assumed was the entire Winstone family. In one frame, I saw her brother and his mate. In another, there was an older couple. Amie was a near copy of her mother. All seemed to focus on me.

“Thank you for joining our call, Alpha Finlay,” the older man said, bowing his head slightly. The woman next to him did the same.

“It’s my pleasure, former Beta Ron,” I said and also bowed slightly. I saw the pleased look on his face at being recognised by his former title, and I counted it as a win. I desperately wanted Amie’s family to like me. They were important to her, and she was important to me. “What can I do for you?” I asked.

“To be honest with you, Alpha Finlay, I’m worried about my daughter.” Amie’s father said. “The games are dangerous in themselves, but adding to it the pressure from the Ocean shore pack and now our own Alpha,” he explained. I nodded at first. Then I paused and looked at Amie.

“I thought your talk went well,” I said.

“So did I. But Elder shared something,” she told me. Her free hand found mine on the bed. I looked back at the phone and focused on her brother. He looked uncomfortable.

“I want to say that I’m telling you this because Amie is my sister, and I will always protect her. I failed to do so in the past, and it won’t happen again. But this is close to betraying my Alpha and it’s a difficult decision,” he said.

“It’s the right thing to do,” his mate said.

“We need to protect your sister,” their father said. Beta Elder nodded and I respected him for his struggle.

“I talked to James after he talked to Amie. He has understood she isn’t interested in repairing the mate bond.

Unfortunately, he has got it in his head he can change her mind,” Beta Elder said.

“How?” I wanted to know.

“We don’t know, that is the issue. If he’s just going to do some grand gestures, that is fine. It may reflect poorly on him, but nothing we can’t handle,” Amie’s father said.

“But it might be something more forceful,” Beta Elder admitted.

“Like?” I could hear the ice in my voice.

“What if he tries to force her to go back with us? If he does something that takes away her ability to accept his rejection,”

Becky said.

“I don’t think he will go that far,” Beta Elder objected.

“But we don’t know. When it comes to mates and rejections, the clear head goes out the window,” his father said. I nodded. “I worry about my daughter and I am too far away to do something about it,” he then told me.

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“I will keep her safe. Amie is important to the pack, and to me. She will be protected. Thank you for letting me know about this new threat,” I told them. Her father looked serious, but he nodded. Her mother, on the other hand, fired off a brilliant smile. A smile which reminded me of Amie’s true smile and it warmed me.

“Thank you, Alpha Finlay, for looking after Armeria,” her mother said.

“It is my pleasure,” I told her and returned her smile.

“I’m sure we don’t need to worry,” Beta Elder said. I nodded.

“I’m happy to hear it, but I will make sure we are on our guard nonetheless. Better to be safe than sorry,” I told him.

There was no way in hell I would let that Alpha lay his and on my Amie.

“Thank you. That was what I needed to hear. I feel better knowing she has someone to look after her.”

“Dad,” Amie objected. “I am capable of looking after myself.”

“Listen to your dad. There is nothing wrong with accepting help,” he mother said.

“Yes mom.” I had to keep myself from smiling at the tone of Amies voice.

“I will leave you to your call,” I told them all. Her mother waved her hand.

“No need. We need to get going. Thank you again, Alpha. And thank you Amie for checking in. Have a nice evening,” her mother said.

“You too, mom.”

“And good luck in tomorrow’s game, pumpkin. Elder, would you give me a call?” their father said.

“Thank you, love you dad,” Amie said.

“Sure,” Beta Elder agreed. Amie and Becky waved before hanging up. Amie sighed and leaned against my side and put her head on my shoulder. I put my arm around her.

“Thank you for calming my parents,” she said.

“I’m grateful they told me, and you do know there will be no going around alone from now on?” I told her.

“I do, but I agree with Elder. I think my dad and Becky are making it bigger than it is,” she said.

“Maybe. And if that is the case, I will be happy. I just won’t gamble your safety on it.”

“I know. I think my mother really likes you.” She changed the topic. I smiled.

“You look like her,” I said.

“I do. Elder takes after our dad.”

“I like them. I like how protective they are of you,” I told her. She laughed.

“Yeah, I thought you might.” Her phone dinged and she looked at it.

“Becky suggests we arrange a family dinner on our next day off. She wants to plan how we can get together after the games and thinks a dinner would be good. You are invited,” she told me.

“You don’t have to invite me just because I invited you to my family dinner. Your family is nice. I will walk you there and I will pick you up,” I offered.

“Now you are just silly. First off, I would have invited you regardless. I want you to get to know my brother and Becky and I don’t know how long it will take for us to see each other again. But more importantly, I didn’t invite you, Becky did.”

She showed me the message. The last line read.

‘Bring your Alpha.’

I smiled.

“Well, then I have to accept,” I agreed.

“You do. And just so you know, she knows. So when she tells me to bring my Alpha it’s not in a way like ‘Bring the Alpha of your pack’, but as in ‘Bring the Alpha you have staked claim on’. Just so we understand each other,” Amie said. I looked down at her.

“You told her?”

“She more or less guessed and I confirmed. I like people knowing,” she told me.

“I like it as well. Can’t wait until everyone knows