Page 79 of Finding the Forward: Part Two
“I’ve got some of that for you.” I poured him a mug. He drank his black like Jonas and I did. Dean liked his mostly cream when he didn’t have a matcha latte.
“Do I get some coffee?” Mercy asked.
“Help yourself.” I gestured to the cupboard where the mugs were as I made Dean a matcha latte.
“Morning, Princess.” AJ ran a hand down her face and she melted into him.
They looked amazing together–and they were both mine.
“Hi.” Dean bounded in and gave me a kiss, then hugged Verity, burying his face in her neck.
Jonas came back in, shirtless, with wet hair. We sat around the glass dining room table and dug in.
“I guess I’m not going to the greenhouse today.” Verity looked longingly outside at the snowstorm, which was still raging, as she took a bite of bacon.
“No one’s going anywhere if we can help it. Not that anything’s open.” Jonas took a bite of frittata.
“Movies and board games? We probably can’t order burritos, but I think we have everything we need to make them.” Dean grabbed more bacon.
“Yes, blanket burrito night sounds fantastic. I want to work out later.” I took a gulp of coffee. At some point, I wanted to spend some time at the piano. Verity’s song was coming along nicely.
“Me, too. Can someone teach me how to fight now? I know you hesitated before, but there has to be something you can show me,” Verity asked as she ate some potatoes.
“Actually, there is,” AJ replied. “Back after I was first injured, my physical therapist showed me how I could use my cane as a weapon. I can teach you some moves. I totally forgot about that.”
“You should combine it with both trying to get her to bark at you and throw off yours. She’s improving a lot.” Jonas took a bite of fruit.
Verity’s nose wrinkled. “Improving? I still can’t bark anyone.”
“It’ll come, Sweetheart,” Jonas assured. “You’re so much better at resisting than a few months ago.”
Mercy’s brown eyes blinked. “You’re doing what now?”
“Helping me so that the parents can’t bark at me ever again.” Verity’s look grew pained, and I squeezed her hand in reassurance.
“Do you need help with anything? Fighting, barks?” Jonas offered Mercy.
“Rusty and some others have been teaching me fighting moves. Please, teach me whatever you want. I don’t have a bark yet because I’m not awakened. But I’d love lessons on how to not get barked at by the parents, especially if I’m going to spend part of the summer in London.” Mercy looked at Verity, eyebrows knitting. “It’ll wake up soon, right? Hale was a senior in high school when it happened. I’m the only unawakened alpha on the team. Even Kaiko is a full alpha.”
“You’re younger than Hale was when he was a senior. It’ll come,” Verity assured.
“We’re here. If you’re holding your own as a crusher on a professional skate smash team against adult alphas, it’s going to be a little bitch to control your alpha when it wakes up,” Jonas told her. “I speak from experience.”
“Um, okay.” Mercy shrugged and took more bacon.
Her point of reference in alpha awakening was probably Verity, and I had a feeling it wasn’t typical.
“Verity, if you need to practice purring, I volunteer.” Dean licked his lips.
Mercy’s head cocked. “What’s wrong with Verity’s purr? You know, that’s why Mumsy is still salty with you. Hopey likes yours best and bitterly complains that it doesn’t work over the tablet.”
“Nothing’s wrong with it. Dean just wants to snuggle with her,” I snorted.
“Oh, is it something you need to keep doing then, like working out, and with no littles she’s not getting practice? Curious, since I can’t do that yet either.” Mercy plopped another slice of frittata on her plate.
“It turns out purrs have settings. I’m only good at the soft purr used for babies.” Verity laughed. “Been working on it, though.”
“Work on it all you want. I like having my head in your boobies.” Dean gave her a big smile.
