He grins at me, surprisingly confident. Yeah, I can see why Forest’s parents didn’t like him. “Top 5, actually, Luna.”
“So, I have heard,” I say. “It’s you, the Morales brothers, Bernhard and Jo, I believe?”
I know I’ve caught his interest because there is a sudden glint in his eyes. I don’t know if Forest talked to him or filled him in on anything, but it doesn’t really matter because the guy probably has his own agenda against Forest’s parents. Anything to embarrass them. “I had no idea,” he exclaims.
“Griffin, you are an old friend, but if you don’t let go of her hand any time soon, our friendship ends here,” Forest says.
Griffin chuckles and raises his hands. “I apologize. You land a hard punch. I wouldn’t want to cross you.”
It’s intriguing how relaxed Forest is with him. Their conversation looks very natural and easy-going. And I take a wild guess that it’s not a normal interaction for Forest.
“Shall we finally eat?” Harry asks, sounding more than a little annoyed.
“I hope you are hungry,” Forest says to me as he pulls out a chair for me, before sitting down next to me.
“Like a wolf,” I joke.
Griffin grins while sitting down to my right. Martin takes the place next to Forest. I strongly hope it will give a sense of unity to everyone who is watching.
sixteen
Cracks in the Mask
*ROSEA*
Ayoung she-wolf brings me some coffee. I smile at her. “Thank you, Sabina.”
Her eyes widen in utter shock, then her cheeks heat up, and her eyes sparkle with joy. “It’s a pleasure, Luna! I… anytime!”
“You already know their names?” Martin asks.
“I think it’s important to learn all the pack members’ names,” I tell him. “Particularly those who are so important to keep a pack’s infrastructure running. Forest knows all the names, too. I just went by his example.”
One of the warriors who is walking by us glances at Forest while Martin looks at him in surprise. “I wasn’t aware, Alpha.”
“It’s like Rose said,” Forest explains in his calm, composed manner. His parents apparently made it look like a weakness,while he is simply a very kind, fair and level-headed man. Once the pack members notice it, they will warm to him. “A pack can’t run without its members. Every single person is crucial to it.”
“Do you drink your coffee with milk?” Griffin asks me.
I nod, smiling when he pours some milk into my cup, just to be confused when he pours himself some, too. Forest grins when he sees my surprise. “Griffin is a weirdo,” he says.
“I am not weird!”
“He drinks his tea with milk,” Forest adds.
“I have a refined taste,” he tells me while he pours four teaspoons of sugar into his tea.
I turn to look at Forest. “I kind of get what you mean now.”
Griffin frowns. “Hey there, Beta. Help me! I am getting bullied by the alpha couple.”
“I can’t,” Martin says. “It’s my job to have the alpha’s back.”
“His back! Doesn’t mean you need to kiss up to him.”
Martin chuckles. “Sometimes that’s the same.”
“Funny,” Griffin says with a glint in his eyes. “I thought the future beta would be a boring, stuck-up guy.”
