Page 190 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“She is,” Jonas told him, squeezing my hand.
The tears started to flow. I’d wanted to hear that for so long. I sniffed. “Thank you, Baba.”
“Don’t cry, you’ll ruin your makeup.” Mercy got a tissue and dabbed my tears.
“Can I have a moment?” Baba asked Jonas, Mercy, and Dare.
All three of them gave me looks. I nodded, and they slipped out. Jonas sent a shot of love and reassurance through the bond.
“I’m sorry for being a shitty father, Cupcake. I love you. I should’ve been different, and I understand if you never forgive me. It wasn’t you.” He cupped my chin with his large, golden hand as his brown eyes met mine. “You are enough. It wasneveryou.”
Before I could ask for clarification, he kissed me on the forehead and left the room without a backward glance.
For a moment I couldn't breathe. What had just happened?
You are enough.It was never you.A tear rolled down my face. Those words healed a little part of me right there. Even if I didn’t know exactly what he meant.
Jonas rushed in and wiped away the tear on my cheek. “Are you okay? What did he say?”
“What I’ve needed to hear for a long time.” That was unexpected. Both him telling me he was proud of me andapologizing.
I’d take it.
“Baba is different since the pack broke up,” Dare said quietly, joining us, Mercy behind him.
“It… it seems that way,” I agreed. Mama had said he was now more like the man she fell in love with–and not the alpha he became.
But I hadn’t believed it until now. Huh.
“That was averyeducational speech,” Mercy told me with a snort.
Jonas grinned at me. “It was. I think I should make sure Grif knows his coital rights.”
Mercy grimaced. “I’m positive he’s making active use of those. Also, I fully expect you to give that to me when I find an omega, Ver.”
“I’m not sure I ever want to hear that again, and if I’d realized what we were doing I would have declined,” Dare laughed.
“Is my makeup okay?” I sniffed again, turning to look at myself in the mirror.
“It’s good. Ooh, I need some photos. This is incredible with you in the chair and the window, the castle wall, and the mirror.” Mercy held up her good camera.
She moved a few things around and snapped some photos, positioning me here and there, and having me turn this way and look that way.
“Fuck, this is good.” She showed me a few of them.
They looked like the coronation paintings that hung in museums.
“You look like a queen. An alpha queen about to marry her love.” Jonas squeezed my hand.
“Is all the important alpha business done?” Dad popped his head in through the door.
“Dad.” I got up and gave my omega dad a big hug. He wore a baby blue suit, with suspenders and a bow tie, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
He beamed. “You lookamazing.” Dad turned to Mercy. “You look so grown up.”
Dare grinned. “What about me?”
Hewasn’twearing pastels. His black brocade waistcoat, black ruffled shirt, and pocket watch made him look like the antihero in a historical romance. Dare had let his hair grow, and it was pulled back in a tail. As usual, his eye makeup was better than mine.
