Battle of Fate 49

We were all heading to the gathering point. It was the first day of the games and there would be an open ceremony.
Attendance was mandatory for everyone, participants and support staff alike. Finlay and I had told our pack what had
happened the day before, so everyone was aware. The support I had got was overwhelming. I knew it wasn’t a
coincidence I found myself in the middle of the group from our pack. I could have objected. As Beta I should be able to
choose where to walk. But it was sweet and I kind of liked not having to worry about running into members from my old
pack.
“You are taking this better than I thought,” Matilda told me as she walked next to me. I smiled at her.
“It makes them feel better, and it reminds me of what an amazing pack we have,” I said. She laughed.
“That’s the spirit.” We came to a building that resembled a big stadium. We were all filled into it, we had designated
seats. It was to keep packs with feuds from ending up next to each other. We were seated high up on the sloping stands.
On the inside, the gathering point were a combination between a stadium and an amphitheatre. When everyone was
seated, the head of the council stepped forward on the stage and held an opening speech. It was a long speech about
the history of the games, their importance to our community and that we all should treat this coming month with the
respect it deserved. Then, he reminded us this was a time not only for the games, but for us to come together and talk
between packs. When he finally ended his speech, I felt relieved and joined in the howls that followed it. After him
another council member took to the stage and went through the rules. We were free to adjust the groups who were to
compete up until we entered the first game, which would be tomorrow morning. The team that arrived for the first game
was the team we needed to use throughout all games. If one, or more, members of the teams were injured to the point
they couldn’t take part in further games, the team would not be allowed to fill their position with an alternate. They would need to continue with being a member short. They reminded us that fighting between teams was strictly
forbidden if the game itself didn’t require it. We were told the games were dangerous, all games were what they were
portrayed as. There were no safety nets, no fake dangers. There was real potential to get hurt or lose your life. We all
knew this. But for me it became more real as I listened to the councilman. There would be games where each pack did
the task separately and there would be games when all the packs performed the task at the same time. The rules for the
support staff were more straightforward. No fighting between packs, no sabotaging another pack, not helping the own
pack during the games. They were allowed to supply their pack with food and drink during a game, but the items should
be handed into designated spots and the council staff would make sure it reached the correct team. They were welcome
to watch the games and were encouraged to cheer for their own pack and taunt the others. When the rules had been
read, another speech commenced and I felt myself lose focus.
‘He brought our mother,’ Finlay mindlinked me. I followed where he looked. In seats which were among the best in the
stadium, I saw a woman who vaguely resemble Matilda. Even for my wolf sight, it was a little too far away to get a good
view. Next to the woman, there was a man. I assumed it would be Finlay’s brother. I had expected some resemblance, but
I didn’t see any. The man looked like he spent all his time lifting weights. Where Finlay was tall, lean and powerful, this
other Alpha just looked tall and strong. I looked at the group surrounding him and I could see all of them except three were men and all of them looked like their Alpha.
‘I can see why you and the others felt like you didn’t fit in,’ I couldn’t help but comment.
‘Yeah, my brother has a strong view of an ideal warrior. I see Martin’s sister is in the group as well,’ he linked. I looked
over at the three women and saw one I guessed was Martin’s sister. They had the same hair colour. As if she could feel
our gaze, she turned around and looked back at us. She inclined her head and both Finley and I did the same. The big
man sitting by her side with his arm around her shoulder looked in our direction as well when he noticed his mate had
her attention away from the stage. His eyes grew bigger as he spotted Finlay. He quickly faced forward again and nudged
his mate to do the same. It didn’t take many seconds before Finlay’s brother turned around to look at Finlay. His eyes
narrowed. ‘No love lost there,’ Finlay linked me. I reached for his hand and covered it with mine.
‘Don’t mind him. We knew he would be grumpy,’ I told him. Finlay looked at me and I saw he was trying to contain a
laughter. ‘What?’ I linked, wanting to get in on the joke.
‘My brother is giving me death glares and you call him grumpy?’ Finlay asked. I shrugged. ‘But you are right. We knew
this would happen.’
‘It’s not like it has been during your Alpha meetings. You are not alone and you don’t need to face your brother or
mother on your own.’ I reminded him. He nodded. We both tried to focus back on what was being said. It was a long list
of past achievements, heroic undertakings and the wolves who performed them. It kept going for three more hours
before they finally let us go with a reminder to make sure we were ready for tomorrow and the first game. We all filed out
of the stadium. Finlay, Sam and I made sure everyone in our pack stayed together. We had decided ahead of time we would go back to the cabin and eat lunch. Then we had a light training session planned for the team who were to take
part in the games, and then we would rest in the evening.
“Finlay!” someone called out. We stopped as one and turned in the direction of the voice. I saw who I guessed was
Finlay’s mother, come walking. Behind her came his brother and another male, who looked like he also spent too much
time lifting heavy things. Matilda, Sam and I all joined Finlay as the three wolves got closer to him.
“Go on ahead of us, we will be right there,” I told the rest out loud. They seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then
started to walk again. It made me smile, they wanted to be there for their Alpha.
“Finlay, it’s nice to see you. You look well,” his mother said and fired off a weak smile at him. Now when we were up
close, I could see Finlay had got his eyes from her. But otherwise I didn’t see a resemblance between them. Finlay even
looked more like Matilda than his own mother. His brother, on the other hand, was a spitting image of their mother. If she
had spent her days at the gym.
“Hi, mom. So do you,” Finlay said.
“Are you getting enough sleep? I know it can be hard being an Alpha and you were never trained to be one,” she said.
“Tamara, Finlay is an exemplary Alpha,” Matilda interjected.
“Oh, hi Matilda. Well, that is good to hear,” his mother said, she didn’t sound sincere.
“Mom, Ryan, you know Matilda and Sam. This is Armeria Sage, our Beta,” Finlay introduced me. I inclined my head to the
three wolves. Finlay’s mother returned the gesture, the two males did not. I wasn’t surprised, but I felt Finlay tense up
next to me.
“Really, brother? A female Beta? What, couldn’t get one of the males to accept the role after what happened to your last
one?” his brother said. I could feel the tension rise.
“Martin gave his life for the safety of the pack. Any Beta would do the same and it’s a testament of how great of a Beta
he was. Amie is as dedicated and powerful Beta in her own right,” Finlay told his brother.
“The pack loves her, and we are lucky to have her,” Matilda said and Sam nodded along. It was really sweet to stand up
for me like this. It wasn’t needed, I could care less what these men thought of me.
“We were so worried when we heard about the attack. Wouldn’t it be better to just come back to the pack?” his mother
asked.
“No. The attack was unfortunate and we mourn the loss of the three pack members who had to give their life for saving
the pack. But we are more determined than ever to stay as a pack. After these weeks it won’t be an issue any longer,”
Finlay told her. None of the three wolves liked the answer.
“Still not mated, I see,” his brother scoffed after looking at Finlay’s neck where a marking bite would be displayed. “If you
can’t even produce an heir, the pack won’t survive.”