Page 193 of Finding the Forward: Part One
It also hit hard. Not that I planned on running, but hiding away to protect myself was tempting.
None of that now.No. I was an alpha. If I was to be the alpha they deserved, then I needed to face things head on.
My phone rang. Excitement rose in me, hoping it was Grif. That hope deflated like a popped balloon as Creed’s name came up. “Hey.”
“Mercy said you had a fight with Grif, then fell down the stairs. Are you okay? Do I need to fly over and punch him?” Worry tinged my big brother’s voice.
“He’s an enforcer for a hockey team, not sure you’d win. Though I appreciate the sentiment.” A smile twitched on my lips at his concern.
“Always. I train with Grace’s packmates and my roommates. I’m not as weak as I used to be,” he teased.
He was never weak. Creed figure skated until he’d graduated university. Skating in alpha division took major strength.
“I’m fine. It’s embarrassing that she told you. I slipped trying to chase after him,” I shrugged.
“What happened?” he asked.
With a sigh, I told him.
“What should I have done? I feel terrible.” I got up from the bench and started walking across campus. It was pretty empty given it was still winter break. Also,cold.
“It doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong. I mean, that’s what the alpha classes say you’re supposed to do,” he assured me.
“Okay. It just was so out of character for him. That noise he made reminded me of when Dean whined for me on the plane.Grif even smelled different. Usually, I don’t get much off him, but today, oh, and last night. Mmmm. Between his smell and his taste, oh, that did me in.” That was before AJ and his yummy alpha pheromones.
I’d re-lived it with my dragon vibrator before bed last night.
“Yeah, don’t need the details of your sex life, Ver Bear,” he chuckled. “To clarify, this wasGrif.Who’s abeta.”
“Um, yeah, the same one who had that whole possessive display on the ice with his shirt last night.” I entered the biology building and headed toward the lab.
“My roommate is jealous you now have a game-worn jersey. Huh.” Creed was quiet for a moment. “If I had to give you my guesses who the secret omegas were in the PHL, Grif Graf wouldnotbe on that list. But a lot of what you mentioned sounds like omega stuff–especially him getting upset about not being bitthat second. Considering how intense of a connection you two have, I could see an omega getting frustrated at waiting six more months.”
“True. Dean told me it gets hard for him sometimes, and he’s glad I keep reassuring him. But Grif’s not an omega. I mean, wouldn’t I notice? I’ve had sex bare with both him and Dean and there is a difference.” Frowning, I unlocked the lab and went to stash my stuff in my locker in the breakroom.
There was something different about last night. What had I overlooked?
“And again, I don’t need details about your sex life. He’s what, in his late twenties? Awakening now would be very rare,” he replied.
I leaned against my locker, my mind going back to the conversation AJ and I had last night about secret omegas. AJdidsay something about a secret gamma. What if he’d been trying to tell me something?
“He could be hiding. It happens. What if…what if he’s a gamma? Gamma danger responses could make for somegoodhockey fights.” I sucked in a breath as it came together. “I mean, I have seen Grace spar.”
That would also make sense why we hadn’t talked about this yet. They weren’t quite ready to let me in on the secret. Gammas fell under omega rules, and it could wreak havoc with his career. Also, gammas didn’t respond normally to danger. It was like instead offightorflight,they were stuck onrandom.
It could also explain why sometimes I felt so drawn to Grif. We might very well have that alpha-omega connection. Or even be scent matches. After all, Grace was a gamma and a scent match.
“Oh fuck,” Creed breathed. “Gamma. I could see that. Graceisa beast at the boxing gym. But if he’s a gamma, that means…”
“Yep,” I said slowly. Something in his past was so fucked a biological processhalted.
“Try to talk to him before you leave on your trip. Even if you don’t bring up your suspicions,” Creed added. “It was probably an emotionally charged moment that triggered something and needs some smoothing over.”
“You’re right. I’m going to track him down when I get Mercy. Thanks for calling. I should go if I’m going to get anything done in the lab.” I sighed, wondering if I really had the time to fix things the way I wanted.
“Okay, I'm here. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” I ended the call and went into the lab. Shrugging on my lab coat, I got my goggles and tablet and went outside to the greenhouses.
