Game of Destiny by Dripping Creativity novel Chapter 14

The breakfast was served a bit later the morning after the full moon, as everyone decided to enjoy a well-deserved sleep-in. I didn’t protest; the extra rest felt much needed. When we finally gathered around the table, the conversation quickly centered on the events of the previous night—Finlay and my shift. Everyone seemed eager to hear how I felt and were quick to tell me that I had looked fierce. Although it made me blush slightly, I did my best to take it all in graciously. Once the meal was finished, Finlay turned to me and asked if I was ready to have our talk. I saw no reason to delay; my decision had been made the night before.

“Let’s go to my office at my house,” he suggested, shooting a meaningful glance around at the others seated at the table. Their puzzled expressions showed they had no clue what we were about to discuss. Finlay’s home stood right beside the pack house—a charming two-story building with dark shingles and stone accents at the corners. A small porch overlooked the driveway leading up to the pack house. As he led me inside, I tried not to stare too obviously at every detail. The interior was cozy but surprisingly sparse, lacking the personal mementos I had expected to find. It reminded me of my mother’s jokes about how my father’s apartment had once been practically empty before he met her.

We moved into his office, which felt much more intimate and personal than the living room. I guessed Finlay spent most of his time here. Two walls were lined with bookshelves, while a desk faced windows that looked out onto his garden and the stream beyond. A table with six chairs stood nearby, and a whiteboard hung on the wall. In one corner, two comfortable armchairs were arranged. Finlay gestured toward them, and I sank gratefully into one, the softness immediately inviting.

“So?” he asked, settling into the other chair.

“You want to hear my decision?” I teased, smiling at him. His smile deepened.

“Yes, I do.”

I nodded and grew serious. “I will gladly accept your offer.” His grin widened, lighting up his face.

“I knew you would. I’m really glad you did.”

“But I want to contribute to the pack in a meaningful way,” I added. “I’m used to being busy and productive—I don’t do well without a purpose.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Everyone plays a part in the pack. Whether it’s through a job outside or helping with shared chores, every contribution matters.” I nodded in agreement.

“I actually have another role in mind for you, if you’re up for it.”

My curiosity was instantly piqued. “Oh? Do tell.”

He chuckled softly. “I want you to join the pack’s leadership and help us improve things.”

I blinked in surprise. “But there aren’t any openings. You have your Beta and Gamma.”

“I do, and I’m not looking to replace them. But I have a feeling you’ve had far more training for leadership roles than the rest of us. Honestly, in my old pack, those not groomed for top positions weren’t allowed to participate in leadership activities. So far, we’ve been winging it, relying on instincts and my aunt’s advice. I want to offer you the role of pack advisor. What do you think?”

What did I think? It was true I had spent many hours with my father and uncles watching them work, and I’d listened closely to my brother and James discussing their training. My Uncle Jonas and father had even given me tasks to handle, knowing I enjoyed organizing schedules and putting plans together.

“I can give it a try,” I said. “We’ll see if my knowledge can be of help to you and the pack.”

He nodded approvingly. “Good. Also, I’ll need someone to drive me back to town so I can give my notice and pack my things.”

He frowned slightly but nodded in agreement.

“We can head back today. I’ll help you pack, and if your car isn’t big enough, we can put the rest of your things in mine,” he offered.

“I appreciate that. My holiday ends tomorrow, and I can’t just leave abruptly. Ce and Mrs. Jones deserve more than that. I’ll need to hand in my resignation and work until Mrs. Jones finds a replacement,” I explained. I could tell he wasn’t thrilled with the delay, but he considered it carefully.

“Okay, I understand you have responsibilities you can’t just abandon. Loyalty is a good quality. I’ll get you back there today, and after you’ve talked to your boss, give me a call so we can arrange when you’ll return.”

“I can drive back here by myself. I don’t have much, and my car can hold it all,” I said.

He shook his head firmly. “You’ll call me, and I’ll send someone.”

“Yes, Alpha,” I replied, using his title for the first time. His eyes met mine, and a grin slowly spread across his face as he nodded.

“Good. That brings us to your bloodening. Do you want to wait until the next full moon?” he asked. The bloodening was the ceremony for becoming part of a pack you hadn’t been born into.

“Could we do it sooner? My wolf feels restless without a pack, and I imagine it will only get worse when I return to town. I don’t want to prolong her suffering any longer than necessary,” I said honestly.

“We can do it as soon as you come back. Do you think that will be enough? Or we could do it before you leave, too,” he offered.

“I think it would be worse to make her part of the pack and then have her leave right after. But doing it as soon as I’m back sounds perfect.”

“Let me know if it gets out of hand while you’re away. Even before the ceremony, I am your Alpha. You can always count on me.”

“Thank you. I will.”

“Now, about your living arrangements. Are you thinking of building a house? There’s plenty of space in the village,” he asked.

I hadn’t yet considered that and didn’t want to rush such a decision.

“For now, I’m happy to take a room in the pack house,” I said. He nodded in approval.

“Do you like the room you’re in?”

“It’s wonderful,” I assured him.

“Goddess, yes,” I agreed.

“I’ll make sure the pack knows,” Martin offered.

“And if I know my mate and your aunt, they’ll probably plan some kind of homecoming party already,” Sam added, kissing Medow on the cheek.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” I told them honestly. “I’ll just run up to my room and grab the keys to my apartment,” I said to Finlay, who nodded.

Before I knew it, we were on the road back to the town where I had spent four years trying to build a life. Oddly enough, after just three days, the pack lands felt more like home than the town ever had.

“Are you going to be alright?” Finlay asked as we neared the town. We had spent most of the drive in comfortable silence. “I know we—myself included—get a bit overenthusiastic when we think about you joining the pack. Sometimes we forget you have a life outside of it, and that you need to say goodbye.”

“It’s okay,” I replied. “I’ve made some amazing friends, but it can’t compare to being part of a pack. I hadn’t realized it until now, thinking about going back. These past four years felt like a standby period in my life. It was okay, but I was waiting for something more.”

“You were waiting for us,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was. The town came into view, looking smaller and lonelier than I remembered. Finlay drove me almost to the point where his truck scraped the steps to my apartment.

“Thanks for the ride,” I said.

“You’re not even going to invite me in for coffee?” he joked. I laughed and playfully punched his arm.

“You need to get back to the pack. I’ve taken up enough of your time already.”

“Fine. But you better keep in touch, Red. We’ll be back to make sure you get home safe,” he said. The new nickname caught me off guard, but I didn’t hate it.

“Yes, Alpha. And it goes both ways. Let me know you get home safe.”

“Scared I’ll get hurt?” he teased.

“More like I have standards. I need to know if someone else is taking over the pack and if I can stand them as my Alpha.”

“Ouch, I feel a little hurt.”

“You’ll survive. Drive safe, Finlay. And thanks for insisting I come and visit,” I said, opening my door.

“Best four dinners and breakfasts I ever spent money on, Red,” he called out before driving away. Watching him leave left me feeling strangely empty, but I shrugged it off and stepped inside my apartment to start listing all the things I needed to do before I could leave town.