“No, stay,” I said. “Hi, dad. What’s up?” I answered.
“Hi pumpkin. I was just talking to your brother about how he was doing before the game tomorrow and now I need to check in with my brilliant daughter,” he told me. I laughed.
“I’m doing good. I am a little antsy from just sitting around, so it will be nice to get a go at it,” I said.
“A chip off the old block. I hated the days in between the games. If you had a diplomatic discussion or two, it was okay. But just sitting around and waiting always went on my nerves.” It struck me that for the first time, we had access to someone who actually had done the games before.
“Do you have any advice to give on how to get through the games?” I asked my dad.
“That is a dangerous question to ask me. If I begin talking about my glory days, you will be stuck with me for quite a while,” he warned me with a chuckle.
“I don’t mind,” I said as I stood up and sat down on the armrest to Finlay’s chair so he could overhear what my dad was saying.
“The first thing to remember is that each game will almost always test more aspects than the ones described. You can earn a lot of points for showing off strengths you have,” my dad started. Finlay hooked his arm around my waist and pulled me down into his lap. A small yelp escaped me.
“What was that, pumpkin?” dad asked.
“Nothing. Go on, you were talking about extra points?” I said as I glared at Finlay. He just smirked and listened to my dad as he continued to explain how we could earn points.
“So, just because they don’t tell you they will look for tactical thinking or teamwork in the beginning of the game. If you show it off, there is a good chance they will up your points. They always look for teamwork and that the team utilises each member's strengths and balance up their weaknesses. Do that and they will give you high scores. Easy points,” my dad told us. I hummed to show him I was listening. He moved on to the next subject. His advice was layered with stories about his times in the game. I had heard them before, but they took on a new meaning now.
“Thank you dad. I really appreciate you letting me pick your brain like this. As a new pack, we don’t have anyone with this experience,” I told him an hour later.
“It was my pleasure, pumpkin. I have enjoyed talking to you and I always enjoy telling my stories to anyone who will listen. And pumpkin?”
“Yes dad?”
“I have heard that you and your pack are doing well. I don’t think you need to worry too much. It’s important to have some fun as well.”
“Thank you. Has Elder been gossiping about me?” I asked.
“Please. The two of you never told on each other. I have other sources. I heard about the council’s decision as well,” he then said.
“Yeah, that one hit hard,” I admitted.
“According to what I have heard, you shouldn’t see it as a bad thing. According to my source, the council made the decision to put this matter to rest once and for all. They seem to have a lot of faith in your Alpha and in your pack in general. I would say they are expecting you to end up in the top fifteen and when you do, Alpha Ryder won’t have a case for forced unification ever again,” dad explained. I was silent as I didn’t know what to say. I had never looked at it like that before.
“Thank you, dad. I needed to get perspective on the situation,” I told him.
“Happy I could help.” We said goodbye and I looked at Finlay.
“If that is true, it puts a new light on things,” he said. “You have an amazing father.”
“I really do,” I agreed. I relaxed back against him. “This new way of looking at our situation makes me less anxious,” I confessed.
“It does feel less like we are being haunted by some scary thing in the shadows,” Finlay said.
“We can do this. We will tell the team about the tips and tricks my dad told us. Then we will take on game number three tomorrow and we will be amazing,” I decided.
“I like how you think.”
Chapter 43
Finlay
As we headed for the stadium for the third game, I felt better about things then I had done in a week. What Amie’s father had told her yesterday had changed things. It made me look at our situation in a new light and it made me feel better and stronger. It wasn’t just me. We had talked to the team and told them everything we had learnt. They all walked with more spring in their step. We had a plan. Even if we had no clue what the third game was, we knew ways to earn points and valuable information on how to get out of tight spots. The steps up to our seats had never felt so easy to climb. We sat down and waited for everyone to take their seats and for the speaker to tell us what was going to happen. I was watching the crowd, searching out the now familiar places where packs of interest had their seats. Alpha James was watching Amie, trying to make it look like he wasn't. It was made difficult because of his seat having it’s back to where we sat. It irritated me. I knew he was her mate and as such he had a claim to her. But in my mind he had given up that claim the second he rejected her. I wouldn’t let him get my goodmood down. Instead I leaned into Amie and plucked a leaf that had got stuck in her braid and showed it to her.
“A little soon to be wearing a laurel reef,” I told her. She looked at the leaf and then at me. She shook her head, but I could see how close she was to smiling.
