Page 72 of Finding the Forward: Part One
“I know. But AJ hates me and there’s no way we can move forward if one of your pack members disapproves. Not to mention Jonas...” I looked away and sighed.
He tipped up my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. “AJ and Jonas don’tknowyou. We’ll work on it. Together. You can still be a good alpha and not get rid of all the things that make you special. Being a different sort of alpha is an asset—and exactly what I need. Also, you have to prove your parents wrong. If you don’t, they win. In this pack we don’t let the assholes win.”
My lips met his, my heart needing those words like oxygen. As we kissed, those words trickled through my blood, giving me the wherewithal to stand up for myself.
“That should be your pack motto,” I told him.We don’t let the assholes win.That needed to go on the lock screen of my phone.
“It is. Dean wanted to add it to our pack tattoos, in Gaelic, but was outvoted,” he chuckled.
The doors opened. My arm wrapped around his waist as we walked to his car. He helped me in and we drove off toward my place. This time, he put on the music, a rock song playing softly.
“Promise me you’ll fight for us? I’ll be here beside you.” His fingers entwined in mine, the other hand on the wheel.
“I’ll fight for us. It might take some time, but I will.” I squeezed his hand back. The idea that I could be right for him, for them, gave me hope.
They’re all I ever wanted.
“Good. I’ll fight for us, too,” he told me. “It’s Jonas’ job to question, to push, to look out for the pack. He isn’t saying you aren’t right for us. You’re perfect just the way you are. He’s just trying to poke out those bits that are beyond incredible. Like the one that calls himAlpha Jonaswith a smirk and hides cupcakes in my locker. The one who gives fruit roll blow jobs.”
It was going to hurt, but it was time for me to face this head on. Especially if I wanted to be with Grif. Which I did, more than anything.
But first, I needed to buy some cows.
Chapter Twenty-Two
AJ
Istrode into the lobby of the sleek high-rise that housed the New York branch of the investment firm I worked for.
My phone buzzed. Grif sent me a funny meme. Chuckling, I sent one back, glad he was texting. After what happened a couple days ago after his date, I was afraid he’d be mad at me.
When I’d stumbled home the other night from a family function, I hadn’t expected to discover that Grif’s airplane girl wasVerity Fucking Thorne.
What could I possibly have done in my life to warrant that? Her selfishness had affected my sister’s livelihood. At least I could step in. My parents had cut my sister off forwastingher degree and potential by mating with farmers. Fortunately, they’d since come around.
Still, out of all the women in the world, Grif had to meet that one on the plane. How could I convince him to dump her? We didn’t need flakey people in our lives.
It didn’t help that Dean, too, seemed smitten with her. He’d never shown much interest in women, sowhy her?What did she have that I didn’t?
Well, besides a magical lady alpha pussy.
When the elevator opened, people piled out, including an omega with a zipped-up jacket that seemed a little lumpy. It squirmed, and she talked into the zipper. Something that might be an ear or paw peaked out as she scurried out of the building.
An omega hiding a pet in her jacket was not the weirdest thing I’d seen in this building. The omega-run lifestyle website on the sixteenth floor was always making content with odd things. Blow up inflatable costumes. Roller skates. Llamas.
No one was going to mess with an omega with a llama, even if she was photographing it in the pond in the lobby, surrounded by children in mermaid costumes.
The elevator opened onto my floor. I waved at the beta receptionist as I entered our offices.
“Mr. Zaman, I sent your delivery back to your assistant,” he called as I passed.
“Thank you.” My delivery? Clients sometimes sent me gifts. My belly growled. Hopefully, it was edible.
A lot of the cubicles and desks were empty. Was there an office gathering I’d forgotten about?
“Oooh, aren’t you the sweetest?” someone cooed. Bells jingled and something mooed.
Mooed?
