Game of Destiny – A Thrilling Tale of Power, Love & Fate

The five course dinner was amazing. The atmosphere was stunning, and Finlay looked good enough to eat. He was ticking all the boxes I could wish from a date. The way he looked at me, like I was the centre of his world, hadlonging for his mark. The conversation around the table was light, we were all in a good mood. Finlay had his hand resting on the back of my chair, his fingers lightly skimming my bare shoulder. His aunt was tellinga story from her first formal dinner back in their old pack. The band had started playing and the evening felt perfect. Both Finlay and I laughed at the punchline of Matilda's story. Finlay leaned closer to me.

"Do you want to dance?" he asked. I smiled.

"I do, I have been looking forward to it," I confessed. He returned my smile and got up. He helpedup from my chair and told the others where we were going. I saw several knowing smirks from them, but I didn't care. I knew the twhen Finlay and I could be open about how we felt was almost here. He ledto the dancefloor and pulledinto his arms as he ledout amongst the other couples. He heldclose and I relaxed and enjoyed the moment.

'You look happy,' he mindlinked me.

'I am happy, very happy,' I told him.

'It makeshappy.' "But I want to dance!" we heard a shrill voice object. We both looked in the direction of it, and we weren't alone. Cindy was standing next to James. She looked to be seconds away from stomping her foot like a child having a tantrum. Her face had almost the spink colour as her dress. James gave her a stern look and she shrunk and then stormed off.

James turned his attention to me.

'Ignore him,' I linked Finlay. 'He has been ignoringfor days. We can ignore him for an hour or two.' 'I don't know who you are talking about,' Finlay told me. He was really on his best behaviour. The music changed into a slower tune, and Finlay didn't hesitate to pulleven closer. We rested our temples against each other and I could feel him scent me. 'I love you, Red,' he said in our link.

'I love you too, Finn. I'm happy I get to share this moment with you. It feels magical,' I told him. We danced for a couple of more dances. Then Finlay ledoff the dancefloor and we headed for our table. Before we got to it, Elder and Becky cwalking. Elder looked handsin his dark suit and Becky was beautiful in a red dress. Becky and I hugged while Finlay and Elder shook hands. I gave Elder a kiss on his cheek.

"Please tellhe is treating you like a queen tonight," I said to Becky. She giggled.

"He is," she told me.

"Everything okay?" Finlay asked. Elder sighed, and I knew the sigh by now.

"What does he want?" I asked.

"He has agreed to see you. If it's done tonight. I told him it was a shit move, but he won't listen." I could feel Finlay tense up. I rubbed his arm.

"Fine. It's not what I hoped for, but I'll take it and get it over with," I agreed. "Tell him to meetby the bridge over the creek in half an hour. The place should be empty tonight," I added.

"I will cas well," both Finlay and Elder said at the stime. Becky giggled and I smiled.

"No, you won't, neither of you. I will do this in private. It's the dignified way to handle this. Does he agree to my terms?" I asked Elder. There was a moment of silence as he mindlinked his Alpha.

"He says he will see you there," Elder said.

Just a heads up: 5sis the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "Good. Now go and have fun and don't think too much about this. That is what tomorrow is for," I told both my brother and his lovely mate. I hugged Becky again and then Finlay tookback to our table.

'Red,' he started as we sat down.

'No, Finn. Don't ruin a perfectly amazing evening. I will take a little break from it. When I get back one more thing will have been resolved and we can go back hto start the rest of our lives,' I told him.

'What if he tries to harm you?' 'You, Sam, Ramses and Jake are within linking distance. I can hold him off until you get there. It won't cto that. He knows why I want to meet, he has agreed to it. I will be back before you know it,' I insisted. I got up and headed for the bridge. It was in the part of the forest that was thicker with undergrowth. It would give us sprivacy. It tookten minutes to walk through the forest to the bridge, but James was already waiting. His eyes grew bigger as I stepped into the clearing.

"Amie, you came," he said.

"Of course I did. I have been trying to set up a meeting for days," I answered.

"You are upset with me." "I'm upset that you try to drag this thing out," I corrected him.

Just a heads up: 5sis the only place to read the complete version of this book for free. Don't miss out on the next chapter-visit us now and continue your journey! "You are being stubborn and won't giveanother chance. I thought that if I dragged it out and your pack was forced together with the Ocean shore pack, you would have to cback hand then we would have a chance to start over," he told me.

"James, that wouldn't have happened. If you hadn't agreed to meet me, I would have made sure we ran into each other in a more public setting. This needs to end. We both deserve a new start. You can have Cindy, or someone else," I said.

"And you can have your Alpha," he spat out, sounding bitter.

"I can. And I can forget everything about fated mates and just enjoy life with my chosen mate instead. If you want to hold out for a second chance mate, I wish you all the best of luck." "Amie, please. I beg you not to do this. Please take pity on me." I looked at him. He didn't look well.

"James. This isn't healthy, it's not good for either of us. The bond between us has turned toxic. I don't want the bond, I haven't wanted it for many years. If anything I would like my friend back. The one who picked blueberries forwhen I

was sick and who made sure I didn't have to walk by the old bridge alone because I believed a troll lived under it. I don't want this. This could have ve been great, it could have been amazing, but it never was and it never will be." I had to take a moment to collect myself. The forest was quiet, the music didn't reach us. It was only the pebbling from the brook and the soft sound of the wind rustling the leaves. “I, Beta Armeria Rose Sage Winstone..." "No! Amie, please. Please don't do this to me, to us," James beggedas he fell to his knees in front of me.

"... accept your rejection." I felt the frail tendrils of the bond between us vanish. There was no snap, no pain. It En was just a feeling of freedom, of peace. James howled in pain. I turned my back on him to head back.

"Amie, wait. What happens now?" he asked. I looked back over my shoulder.

"Now we go back hand find happiness, James. We learn and we move forward. I wish you all the happiness that life can bring. I hope you find a mate you will love and accept. I hope you build a happy family and that your pups get to grow up as we did. And I hope that when your pups find their mates, they will accept them because you will have taught them the value of the bond. That is what will happen, James." I could hear him sobbing as I walked away. I didn't feel bad

for him. I just felt relieved. I was done with true mates, with mate bonds, and with fate. I would choose Finlay and he would chooseand it would be perfect. I was walking through the woods, heading back to the dinner. The scent hit from nowhere and I wanted to cry when my wolf toldmy mate was close. Why me? What had I done to the moon goddess for her to hatelike this? Why wouldn't she just letbe happy? I steeled myself and turned towards the scent. I had rejected one mate this evening, I could reject fifty more if I needed to.

mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1