Page 124 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“True.” That was averyAJ observation. He was acutely aware of everyone’s aesthetic from being raised by an appearance-oriented pack.
Dean returned with the drinks as Verity and Mercy came back over, giggling.
“Thanks.” Verity kissed Dean on the cheek and took hers.
“Mine?” Mercy slid a beer towards herself, look sly.
“Mine, jailbait,” Dare teased, taking it from her as he rejoined us.
“This one’s for you. Looks like a drink, but no alcohol.” Dean pushed a glass to Mercy. “When you’re eighteen, we’ll take you to a fancy bar, and you can order whatever you want. After we get wasted, Grif will make us the best drunk food ever.”
Dean liked grilled cheese with tomato soup when he was drunk.
“Thanks, Dean.” Mercy took a sip. “Is Lucky with us, or does Carlos have him? I feel like Carlos steals him a lot.”
“Oh, he’s here.” I handed Mercy my imaginary cat. Carlos did like to blame things on Lucky. Especially farts.
She pretended to give Lucky some of her drink, then took some photos.
“Looks like other teams are joining the festivities.” Dare’s gaze fell to the door, as a bunch of athletes, mostly betas, bust in.
“Oh, that’s the New York Rockets. Fútbol. They probably need a stiff drink after losing in a shutout to Southern United,” AJ replied, studying the fit betas coming in.
Verity made a face and took a long sip of her drink.
“Oh, wait, I think some of them are here, too,” AJ added, looking around.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Dean held her gently with his arm.
“Who do you know on Southern United, Princess?” AJ took another sip of his beer.
“Princess?” Her eyebrows rose.
“I call them as I see them.” AJ shrugged.
“Fine, Cow Boy.” She smirked and raised her glass at him.
Dare’s brows furrowed. “Isn’t that... shit. Should we go out the back door? Her collegiate arch-nemesis is a fucking asshat.”
“You mean the one you secret-dated?” Mercy snorted.
“You didnot.” Dare looked scandalized. “Freddie the Fuckboy? Why, Verity?Why?There are so many better people to secret-date.”
“Who dumped who?” AJ prodded. The bar had gone from lively to downright electric at the fútbolers’ arrival.
“He dumped me when I had the audacity to awaken as alpha. It would’ve crashed and burned, anyway. We were pretty toxic.” Verity rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger.
“That’s fucked up.” AJ frowned. “You tested as alpha, or was it a surprise?”
“I tested alpha, but the parents didn’t believe it. Just like they wanted an omega child so badly that they didn’t believe my big brother was an alpha either,” she said. “Also, I awakened late and skipped that young alpha stage completely. It’s also why I still struggle sometimes. I didn’t have the chance to get used to everything. One day it simplyhappened,and I got everything all at once.”
I felt that. It was the same for Dean and me. I squeezed her hand.
“I don’t think I knew you skipped the whole young alpha thing. That’s fucking shitty. As for the parents, so far none of us areomegas, so they can suck it,” Mercy added. “At least by the time I rolled around, no one cared. I could play the sport I wanted and get you to sign my permission slips for alpha classes.”
A classically beautiful woman in a gold net tank that showed off her assets stood nearby with a group of fútbolers. Her laugh was grating, and her skirt showed off toned legs and part of her ass.
“So fucked up,” AJ muttered.
