Page 111 of Finding the Forward: Part One
I stalked upstairs to our gym, my anger ready to explode. We had weights, a bike and a few machines, but I looked for something else. Picking up my gloves, I started beating the punching bag like it had committed a heinous crime.
How dare she have the audacity to winmyGrif? We’d been with each other through so much. Then she had to show up out of nowhere.
“Hey, what’s going on?” a voice said from the doorway.
A growl ripped from my throat as I turned around to see Grif in only some cotton shorts, hair damp from the shower.
“Woah, hey.” Unaffected by my alpha rage, Grif came over and wrapped his arms around me.
His fresh scent comforted me, along with the warmth of his body. I melted into his embrace. Maybe I wasn’t officially his alpha. He didn’t wear my bite on his body. But he wasmine.
Grif had never developed the ability to purr, but he soothed my anger all the same.
“I’m right here. What’s wrong, Pepperjack? Tell me what the punching bag did?” he asked, resting his head against mine.
“Getting serious with Verity is a bad idea,” I told him, wrapping my arms around him.
“Why? What did she do? You said you were looking into her more. What did you find?” He buried his face in my neck, beard soft.
“I don’t want you to be with her,” I snarled, my fury coming back to the surface.
He pushed out of my embrace, a combination of hurt and anger on his face. “You don’t get to make choices like that for me. Give me a reason and I’ll take it into consideration.”
“Can’t you tell?” Infuriation built inside me.
He’d gone to Dean and confessed his feelings for her. Built boundaries. Had he talked about her like that with me? No.
“What is your problem with her? She’s a good person. You two have so much in common. Injuries. Parents who didn’t like that you played sports. Interpreter moms. You both speak a bunch of languages. Have sisters you’d protect with your life. You both like to watch fútbol. Give her a chance. Please. If you have an actual reason, tell me. The way she makes me feel scares me and I’m torn between running into it and running away...” His face twisted in confusion. He went over to the punching bag and hit it hard, sending it reeling.
“That’s why. What does she have that I don’t?” I shouted.
He turned, looking at me with puzzlement on his face. I shook my head, regretting even bringing it up.
“Never mind.” I turned to march out the door, trying to separate myself from Grif before I said something I’d regret.
Jonas stood in the doorway, blocking my way with his body and a glower. Anger and dominance wafted off him. “Nope. Not good enough. That’s a bunch of bullshit, and you know it, AJ. We’re adults and you need to fucking talk this out.”
If it came to a physical fight, he’d win, since he was faster. Now.
“Grif, stop being a dumbass,” Jonas added, looking over at him. “You should’ve had this conversation weeks ago. You’re hurting him.”
“I am?” Grif frowned, wrapping his arms around himself, scent souring.
My inner alpha yearned to push him against the wall; to kiss him and reassure him. I didn’t want to hurt him, but I couldn’t sit back and watch her steal him from me.
“She's not replacing you, AJ. Not with him, not with us. It only feels like it because neither of you are communicating with each other. Now, work this out. You’re long overdue for a talk.” Jonas left, tugging the door closed behind him.
I went after him. Jonas’ get-along bullshit wasn’t something I felt like enduring tonight. Resistance hit me as I attempted to turn the doorknob.
“Are you fucking keeping us in here?” I yelled, hitting the door with my other hand.
“I can hold this knob all night. Now work your shit out like fucking grownups,” he yelled back.
Ugh. Fucking Jonas. Always wanting us to communicate and talk about our feelings and shit. Maybe he should have been a therapist instead of a hockey player.
“Why would you think she’s replacing you?” Grif fired at me, expression puzzled. “Having another alpha in the pack could be a good thing. Sure, she has things you don’t, but that’s what I likeabout her. She fills in the gaps. Like that seasoning you didn’t know the dish was missing.”
Did he really not get it? But I got no malice off him, only confusion and hurt.
