Page 143 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“Aww. Thanks, Bub.” Mercy slugged him.
Jonas picked her up and held her upside down. “Escape.”
In a couple of moves, Mercy was back down on the ground in a pouf of dress.
“Told you.” Mercy stuck out her tongue.
Well, that was amusing. Grif snorted and Verity giggled.
Verity grabbed her crutch. We took the elevator down to the parking garage and got in the car. Jonas drove. Mercy sat up front with him. Verity and I sat in the middle, Grif, and AJ in the back. The new SUV was luxurious and spacious enough.
“Quick housekeeping,” Jonas said as we drove. “Verity, did you register your bond with Grif yet?”
“Yes, AJ helped me take care of it,” she replied, leaning into me.
“I got ours registered, too, since Grif’s out now,” AJ added.
“Perfect. Have you told those who might want to know personally? I don’t want to be stabbed with a fork if word gets out at the gala and it hits the sports news.” Jonas chuckled as he navigated the traffic to the fancy hotel it was being held at.
“I have,” Verity assured.
“What parents did you tell?” Mercy asked as she took a selfie. “Any?”
“Dad and Mama. They seem happy?” Verity chewed on her lower lip.
I squeezed her. Anyone that wasn’t happy about it was someone we didn’t need in our lives.
Mercy nodded. “Those two would be.”
“Since you’re registered, we’ll start the process of adding you to the pack. Mercy, I know you’re technically emancipated, but according to our lawyer, it would be better to add you to the pack charter as our dependent. It protects you legally, so if something happens to you, we can have a say and it doesn’t default to a parent you don’t like or something. Are you okay with that?” Jonas asked.
“Makes sense. Especially since our parents’ pack doesn’t exist anymore. Thanks, Bub. You’re so fucking considerate.” Mercy grinned.
“Anytime, Squirt.” His look grew fond.
We drove up to the hotel. Reporters lined the red carpet. I sent reassurance to Grif through our bond. This was Grif’s first public appearance since he collapsed at the game on my birthday. He was all set to go back to practice tomorrow. Also, he didn’t like things like this anyway.
“Great, my parents are coming to the gala.” AJ put his phone in his pocket and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Did you think they wouldn’t? My parents would be here if they didn’t have a conflicting gala my mom was on the planning committee for,” I replied. She’d texted asking for pictures.
“Introduce them to Verity and it’ll be fine. Come on, let’s show some pack solidarity,” Jonas told everyone as the valet scanned his phone.
“Yeppers.” Mercy popped her gum and got out of the car.
Jonas came around to my side to help me out and took my arm. AJ helped Verity out and Grif handed her her crutch.
Grif walked between Verity and AJ. Both of them tried to shield Grif with their bodies. Mercy took up the rear, waving at people and throwing beaded bracelets.
This was my pack. I had my alpha. My husband.
Hopefully tonight, if she felt up to it, I’d have myself a little alpha as well.
Chapter Forty-Three
Verity
“Freddie’s here. Why? Why would he even be here?” I turned to Grif, a champagne flute in hand as the star forward of Southern United sauntered past. Derva hung on his arm in a dress that was a fashion malfunction waiting to happen.
