Page 6 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
Grif
I’m so fucking sorry for what happened in the stands. It wasn’t you. I’ll explain when I can. I love you.
Me
I love you too. Confused. Hurt. But I still love you.
As puzzled as I was about our strange fight and everything that had happened at the training center, I wished he was here with me. Grif gave excellent hugs, and I needed one right now.
“Verity, are you okay?” Mercy rushed into the room and embraced me, spiced plum scent tinged with worry.
“You didn’t have to leave for me. I would’ve been done in time to get you.” I hugged her tightly.
“Of course I’m here, you ding-dong.” Her eyes rolled.
“Princess.” AJ wrapped me in a hug of his own, pulling me to his chest, his vetiver, and something else, enveloping me as he put out soothing pheromones.
Like nearly always, he was in a fancy suit, with designer sunglasses nestled in his dark hair.
“AJ.” I buried my head in his shoulder, the fabric of his expensive suit soft against my face, noting he was alone. “They’re still in practice?”
Not that I expected the others to come. I hadn’t even told Grif or Dean. Just Jonas.
My nose wrinkled. “You smell weird.”
“This morning has been a shit show. But I’m here. What happened back at the training center wasn’t anyone’s fault. Grif loves you, and you’re overdue for a talk. Trust me, since it might take a moment. The pack has to get its shit together first.” He held me tight.
“Okay, I trust you.” I leaned into him.
“What happened at the training center?” Saphira asked.
“Let’s just say today’s already going fucktangular and it isn’t even lunch,” I sighed.
My mind spun. Grif had a secret. One that could affect a lot of people–at least that’s whatthe pack has to get its shit togethersounded like to me.
Grif being a gamma fit with that. Gammas had a lot of omega traits. Also, every gamma was a little different because they were made by circumstance and not born like the other designations.
My big sister Grace wasveryomega-like sometimes–especially after more than a year of living with an omega.
Oh. Grif now lived full-time with Dean. Omegas drew out omega traits in gammas, and their pheromones could balance out gamma hormones. At least that’s what I learned spending a summer with my big sister’s pack.
Also, if Grif was a gamma, he was on blockers and stuff. After a while they might stop working or cause health problems.
I could still be a good alpha to a gamma, right? They weren’t that different from omegas, though they didn’t react to barks and pheromones the same way. The biggest difference was their danger response. It was as if their bodies completely overrodefight or flightand went straight torandom.
Glancing at my phone, I itched to ask Grace about gammas, but she’d want to know why. Already, I’d mentioned my theory inadvertently to Creed. I’d search the internet later.
There was alsome.
Alphasawakened things in omegas. Given how intense things were between us after just a couple of months,Icould have caused this.
Yes, this was why I felt so connected to him. It explained why Grif grew impatient with me wanting to wait to bond until Mercy was eighteen and signed a new contract with the Maimers.
It was a primal, biological instinct that went beyond want and impatience. I may have caused a chain reaction. Given his hiding was intentional, because of his career, who knew what the fallout would be?
My belly clenched. Shit.
“I’m sorry someone fucked up your research. We’ll get you new plants,” AJ whispered, stroking my hair with a golden hand a bit darker than mine, bringing me to the here and now.
