Chapter 9
Amie
he breakfast was served later the day after the full moon. EveryoneT needed a sleep-in, and I didn’t object. The conversation around the table when we did sit down to eat was focused on me and my shift. Everyone wanted to know how it felt and tell me I had looked fierce. It was a little embarrassing, but I did my best to listen to them. When we were done, Finlay asked me if I was ready for our talk. I didn’t see the point of postponing it; I had decided the night before.
“Let’s head for my office in my house. It will give us some privacy,” he said, casting a meaningful look at the rest of the people around the table.
They all looked like they had no idea what he was talking about. Finlay’s house was next to the pack house. It was a good size two-story house with dark shingles and stone corners. It had a small porch looking out over the driveway of the pack house. He showed me inside and I tried not to be too obvious about trying to look at everything. The inside was cosy, but it didn’t have any of the mementos I was expecting. I was reminded of my mother making jokes about how my father’s apartment had been practically barren before he met her. I followed Finlay into an office. It looked much more personal than the living room had. I guessed he spent more time in his office than the rest of the house. It had bookshelves on two of the walls, a desk in front of windows showing his garden and the stream beyond it.
There was a whiteboard on the wall. In the corner, two armchairs stood.
Finlay gestured to them and I took a seat in one of them. It was amazingly comfortable, and I sank into it.
“So?” he said as he sat down in the other.
“You want my decision?” I asked, teasing him. He smiled.
“I do.” I nodded and turned serious.
“I will happily accept your offer,” I told him. His smile turned up and grew brighter.
“I knew you would. I’m happy to welcome you.”
“But I need to be of use to the pack. I’m used to working and I don’t do well at not having things to do,” I added. He nodded.
“Everyone contributes to the pack,” he told me. “If it’s by having a job outside the pack or helping with joint chores, it’s all appreciated.” I nodded.
“I think I have another task in mind for you, if you think you are up to it.”
“That piques my curiosity,” I said. He chuckled.
“I would like you to join the pack’s leadership and work with us to improve the pack.” I was stunned.
“But there are no openings,” I pointed out. “You have your Beta and Gamma.”
“I do, and I’m not about to replace them. But I have a feeling you have had a lot more training in taking on such roles than the rest of us. To tell you the truth, in our old pack, those that weren’t groomed to take on a role in the top rank, weren’t allowed to take part in any of those activities. We have been winging it so far with the help of what feels right and my aunt’s advice. I’m going to offer you the role of pack advisor. What do you think?”
It was true I had spent a lot of time with my father and my uncles while they did their work. And I had listened to my brother and James when they had talked about their training. My Uncle Jonas and my father had given me tasks, as I enjoyed figuring out schedules and putting plans together.
“I can give it a try. We can see if my knowledge can help you and the pack,” I told him. He nodded. “And I will need someone to drive me back to town so I can give my notice and pack my things.” He frowned but nodded.
“We can head back today. I’ll help you pack and if you don’t have room in your car, we can put the rest of your things in mine,” he suggested.
“I appreciate it. My holiday is over tomorrow and I can’t just leave. CeCe and Mrs Jones deserve more than that. I need to hand in my resignation and work until Mrs Jones finds a replacement,” I told him. I could see he didn’t like it. He thought about it for a while.
“Okay, I can understand you have obligations you can’t just abandon. You are loyal, it’s a good quality. I’ll get you back there today and then you will give me a call when you have talked to your boss and we will arrange when you can come back home.”
“I can make the drive back here on my own. I don’t own that much and my car is more than capable of holding it all,” I said. He shook his head.
“You will call me and I will send someone,” he insisted.
“Yes, Alpha,” I said. Finlay looked at me as I used his title as my Alpha for the first time. Then a grin appeared on his face and he nodded.
“Good. That takes us to your bloodening. Do you want to wait for the next full moon?” he asked. The bloodening was the ceremony you went through to become part of a pack you hadn’t been born into.
“Could we do it sooner? My wolf feels restless without a pack, and I’m guessing it will get worse when I go back to town. I don’t want to extend her suffering any more than necessary,” I told him honestly.
“We can do it as soon as you come back. Do you think that will be enough? We can do it before you leave as well,” he offered.
“I think it would be worse to make her part of the pack and then make her leave. But as soon as I’m back sounds good.”
“Let me know if it gets out of hand when you are away. Even before the ceremony, I am your Alpha, I want you to know that you can always rely on
me.”
“Thank you, I will.”
“Good. Now, on to the next topic. Living arrangements. Are you looking to build a house? There is plenty of room in the village,” he told me. I hadn’t thought about that. And it wasn’t a decision I wanted to make on a whim.
“I’m happy to take a room in the pack house for now,” I said. He nodded.
“Do you like the room you’re in?” he asked.
“It’s an amazing room,” I said.
“Then we decide it will be yours,” he decided.
“Thank you, Alpha.”
“I think that is all for now. If you don’t have any questions?”
“No, no questions at the moment.”
“Good. If any pop up, call me or send me a text. How about we head over to the pack house and tell everyone you are staying? Then we should get on the road,” he told me.
“It sounds good.” We walked back to the pack house. Martin, Sam, Medow and Matilda were waiting for us in the entrance hall.
“So?” Medow asked.
“So what?” Finlay teased. The three younger wolves groaned, but Matilda smiled.
“I’m staying,” I confessed. There was a loud cheering, and I found myself in the middle of a group hug.
“I knew you would. This will be so amazing,” Medow told me.
“Did you ask her about the thing?” Sam asked. Finlay laughed.
“I did, and she accepted the position as advisor,” he told the group. Both Martin and Sam looked pleased.
“What are we waiting for? We’ll loot the freezer and have an ice cream party to celebrate,” Sam suggested. I smiled at him.
“I need to head back to town for a while. I need to get my affairs in order and pack my things,” I explained.
“I’ll give her a ride there and come right back,” Finlay told them.
“We are sending her out there all alone?” Martin asked.
“Hey, you make it sound like you are sending me into an enemy camp.
It’s a sleepy small town where I have lived for four years and where I have friends. It will be alright,” I promised.
“But what about your wolf? She needs to run,” Medow pointed out.
“I’m sure Amie will be back long before the need gets urgent,” Matilda
told everyone.
“Goddess, yes,” I agreed.
“I’ll make sure the pack knows,” Martin offered.
“And if I know my mate and your aunt, they will plan some kind of homecoming party already,” Sam said, kissing Medow on her cheek.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I told them, and found that it was the truth.
“I’ll just run up to the room and grab the keys to my apartment,” I told Finlay. He nodded.
Before I knew, we were heading back to the town I had spent four years trying to build a life in. It was odd that I felt like the pack land was more home after three days, than the town ever had.
“Are you going to be alright?” Finlay asked me as we got closer. We had spent most of the drive in a comfortable silence. “I know we, myself included, get over enthusiastic when we think of you joining the pack. We forget you have a life outside the pack and you need to say goodbye to it.”
“It’s okay. I have made some amazing friends. But it can’t compare to being in a pack. I hadn't realised it until thinking of going back. But it feels like these four years have been a standby period in my life. It has been okay, but I was waiting for something else.”
“You were waiting for us,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Maybe it was. As the town came into view, it looked different.
Smaller and lonelier. Finlay drove me almost to the point his truck scraped
the stairs to my apartment.
“Thank you for the ride,” I told him.
“You're not even going to invite me in for coffee?” he joked. I laughed and punched his arm.
“You need to get back to the pack. I have taken up too much 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 surprised me, 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 asked.
“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 thank you for insisting that I come and visit,” I said and opened my door.
“Best four dinners and breakfast I ever spent money on, Red,” he told me before driving away. Watching him leave made me feel strangely empty.
Then I shrugged it off and headed into my apartment to list things I needed to do before I could leave.
Finlay called me when he got home, even though I had said a text would do. We talked for an hour as I walked around my apartment and packed my things in a random order. Nothing I would need to stay in town for a week or two. He asked me how I was feeling. My first instinct was to tell him I was okay. But I remembered him telling me to be honest, so I was. I told him it felt off being back, like a part of me was missing and my wolf was anxious and on high alert. Like the sweetheart he was, he offered to send Sam and Medow to keep me company. But I turned down the offer. I had done this before, and I knew it was temporary this time. I just needed my wolf to understand it as well.
The next morning, I got ready and headed down to the bakery. I had thought about how I should tell the sisters about leaving. After years of knowing them, I knew that once I told one, the other would know within two minutes.
“Amie! I have missed seeing that lovely face,” Mrs Andersen said as I came downstairs.
“Hello, it’s nice to see the place still standing,” I told her. She laughed.
“Nothing changes in this town, and if it does, it takes a lot longer than three days. Here, I have fixed some coffee and blueberry scones for you.”
“You’re an angel. I’m heading over to the diner.”
“Don’t tell me that slave driver of a sister of mine is making you work the early shift?” Mrs Andersen huffed.
“No ma’am. I just need to get some gossip from CeCe,” I told her and walked away before she could ask more questions and punch more holes in my weak lie. As I walked into the diner, the cook greeted me and when they heard him, Mrs Jones and CeCe came rushing back to give me a hug and say welcome home. It felt bitter sweet. “Mrs Jones, do you have a minute or two to talk?” I asked.
“Always, honey. Let me just place Frank’s breakfast order and then we can sit down,” she told me. I nodded and grabbed a table in the corner. She soon joined me with a cup of coffee in her hand. I sipped on the coffee her sister had made me and gathered my thoughts.
“Mrs Jones, I don’t know if I have ever told you how grateful I am that you took a chance on me the day when I arrived here. I was lost, and you gave me a way to earn money and a place to stay. It really means a lot to me,” I started.
“I’m happy I did. Workers like you are scarce. Why am I getting the feeling you’re trying to say goodbye?” She was as insightful as ever.
“My vacation,” I started.
“The first and only vacation you have taken in four years and that just coincided with a hot man stubbornly courting you?” Mrs Jones asked.
“Yes, that one.” She laughed. “I got an offer for a new position. It’s a good opportunity and at first I was going to turn it down, but now I have accepted. I need to hand in my notice. I’m sorry, but I can stay and work until you find someone to replace me,” I told her. She nodded.
“There is no one to replace you. But I think I can persuade Laura to come work here. I would be grateful if you could stay a week from her starting, to
help train her. “ “Of course. It’s the least I can do,” I agreed.
“Good, I appreciate it. So, this man of yours. Does he treat you right?” she asked.
“It’s nothing romantic between Finlay and me. But he treats me good,” I told her. She smiled and nodded.
“I won’t say I won’t be sorry to see you go. You are my best employee and a damned good girl. But I think you are doing the right thing. You are too good for a place like this. I always knew you were passing by. But I’m happy we got four years at least.”
“I’m happy as well,” I told her. Even if the town seemed to gnaw on all my sore spots at the moment. I knew I would look back on my time here as positive and a turning point in me finding and accepting myself.
“Let’s not make this old woman cry. I will talk to Laura and let you know when she can start. And I’m sending CeCe over. I’m guessing you want to talk to her as well?”
“Yes, thank you Mrs Jones.” CeCe came skipping over, filled with exciting news of what had been going on for the last three days. I happily let her talk and soaked up her overflowing positivity. As soon as I told CeCe I was leaving, her cheery mood vanished and she looked at me with puppy dog eyes. I felt like I had kicked a puppy.
“You're leaving? Why?” she asked.
“It’s just my time. The job Finlay offered was just too good to turn down,” I said.
“Finlay, that’s that hot guy who didn’t give up until you agreed to meet
him, right?” CeCe asked.
“Right.”
“I see, well than I approve, kind of.” I rolled my eyes as she did
something on her phone.
“It’s not like that,” I told her.
“Aha, sure it’s not.”
“No, seriously, it’s not. He belongs to someone else.” It wasn’t a lie. Even if Finlay was single, he had a mate out there somewhere waiting.
“What? He’s not single? What the fuck was he flirting with you for then?” CeCe said, clearly outraged on my behalf.
“He wasn’t flirting. It’s a little complicated to explain. But he has a connection to my family and recognised me. He wanted to offer me a job,
that’s all.” It was as close to the truth as I could go, and CeCe looked at me for a long time before nodding. The door to the diner opened, and Jessi stormed in and headed straight to our table. Now I knew what CeCe had been doing on her phone.
“You’re leaving?” he asked as he stood next to me and stared down.
“I am,” I told him.
“I don’t like it,” he said and sank down on a chair.
“Why not?” I asked.
“There are a lot of weirdos out there, Amie. If you leave, I can’t keep an eye on you,” he said. I had to smile at him.
“That is sweet in a chauvinistic kind of way. But I’m a big girl, I can take care of myself. I’m more worried about you. Have you two sorted things out?” I asked to distract them. The way they both turned bright red told me they hadn’t. “Yeah, I thought so. Look, it’s easy. Jessie, you like CeCe, like a lot. But you’re worried your reputation as the town flirt will deter her.
CeCe, you have had a crush on Jessie since forever. But you are afraid he doesn’t take you seriously, but as just another hook up. You are good together, you respect each other and I’m not going to tell you what to do.
But in my opinion you need to sit down and talk about it. Otherwise, life will pass you by and you will both end up old and with a lot of what-if questions.” I felt quite happy about my little speech. It had the desired effect of drawing the focus away from me leaving and all the questions they could have about it. We spent a couple of moments in silence as CeCe and Jessie tried not to look at each other, and then ended up smiling each time they caught the other one doing so. I felt like a third wheel but was rescued when Mrs Jones walked over to us. She gave the two lovebirds a questioning look and then rolled her eyes at me. I smiled.
“I talked to Laura, she can start on Monday. Does that work?” she asked me. It would mean I needed to stay in town for a week and a half. That was not as bad as I had feared.
“Sounds good to me,” I confirmed. After that, I just sat around and watched people coming and going. There was nothing wrong with the rumour mill in the town. Soon everyone of the locals knew I was leaving, and they walked over to my table to exchange a few words, telling me it was sad to see me go. It was a nice feeling. Even Mrs Andersen stopped by.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you this morning. I wanted your sister to be the first one to know,” I told her.
“Oh, that’s okay, my dear. Am I right in guessing that sexy piece of man that dropped you off yesterday is the reason for all of this?” she asked and wiggled her eyebrows. It was a little unnerving to hear that coming from her, but I smiled.
“To some extent. But not in an eyebrow wiggling way. He offered me a job,” I told her.
“Sure, sure. My sister told me as much. But we aren’t blind, you know.
We see things.” I just smiled and shook my head. I changed for my shift in the bathroom and was almost feeling nostalgic about knowing I had a limited amount of days left to put on the mint green uniform. When I ended my shift, I walked home and sent a text to Finlay, letting him know when my last day would be. It took him two minutes and then he called.
“I’ll be collecting you on the Saturday after next,” he said.
“You know, you can send someone else. I don’t have much stuff, most of my furniture I can donate as the room in the pack house has everything I need,” I said.
“Don’t even try. I know the way, so it will be easier for me.”
“Sure, or there are these things called GPS nowadays,” I teased him.
“Are you trying to get rid of me, Red?” he asked.
“Never. But I would think an Alpha would have better things to spend their time on than collecting me and my boxes,” I told him.
“Nice try. I’m not giving you an out until I have blooded you,” he joked.
We ended up talking for almost three hours. It was nice to have his company, even if it wasn’t in person. It helped with the anxiety my wolf felt being away from what she clearly saw as her pack.
