Martin frowns, but there is a similar glint in his eyes. “Are you trying to provoke me on purpose?”
“Maybe I am,” Griffin says with a grin.
“Could you maybe not argue with each other when Rose and I are in between?” Forest asks.
“I agree.” I take a bite from my croissant. It’s been so long since I was able to have a normal breakfast. With Jordan, I was always tense and scared he would try something shady; I barely ate around him. Besides, eating with the pack always meant being humiliated by him. “It sounds like a lover’s quarrel. You must be good friends!”
“Luna, don’t make it sound weird, please,” Griffin exclaims, but his grin betrays his shocked tone. Also, he is calling me ‘Luna’ in front of the current luna, not even caring shemight hear him. Usually, when the future luna and alpha are addressed, pack members and those who care use the alpha and luna titles out of respect for their position and future rank, but usually add the name to it.
That’s why they call HarryAlphaand ForestAlpha Forest.
No one would just call me Luna without adding my name to it in front of the actual reigning luna, unless they very much intended to make a statement. And by the shocked and angry expression on Forest’s mother, Donna’s, face, it’s obvious she noticed.
We might have an ally sooner than later.
“I have to agree,” Martin says to me. “I have standards, Luna.”
He did the same; called me Luna in front of Donna.
Griffin laughs. “Bold of you to assume I would go for you.”
“Please,” Forest says. “Don’t make me separate you and place you on two different tables.”
“They should probably spar together,” I say. “And battle it out.”
Both Martin’s and Griffin’s eyes light up. Typical male shifters, especially when they are eligible for a rank. They just love to have a good fight.
“That’s a good idea,” Forest says to me. “Keep that thought, love. We need to discuss it later.”
Forest’s father clears his throat. “Since it’s impossible to have a conversation here,” he says, standing up. “I will retire for now.”
He is showing his true colors, again,Alora tells me.Not a good look for him. He should be over the moon that his son has a strong mate at his side and two strong warriors in the running for a rank.
I know,I say.And Griffin is clearly playing into that, just like we are. He wants the parents to lose face.
And Martin?
I am not sure, but he plays along almost too well for it to be a coincidence.I carefully glance around, noticing that indeed some of the pack members sitting closer to us look confused at their alpha’s reaction.
Harry must have realized, too, because he clears his throat. “Rose, maybe you would like to visit us for a quiet dinner? With Forest, tonight?”
I can almost instantly feel Forest tense next to me, instinctively making me put a hand on his leg before I can stop myself or even realize what I am doing. Forest looks surprised for a moment, but then relaxes a little. “We will come,” he says, because he obviously can’t decline.
“Fantastic,” his mother mutters. “We’ll expect you at 6 p.m.”
It’s not enough yet to change the opinion of the pack on the old alpha couple, but their mask is starting to show cracks. This is something I can build on.
Forest and I spend almost the whole day setting up a new schedule for the warriors. We redid Griffin’s whole schedule first. From now on, he will be in the same loop as the other warriors and be around them more. Forest himself was over the moon with my suggestion, and he also stuck true to his words, asking me to take over some tasks for him, so that he could join the warriors more.
“I feel like for the first time today, some of my warriors and I clicked,” he says.
“It will only get better,” I reassure him. “You are strong, and they will be drawn to your strength. And over time, you will form a bond of trust with them. However, we should start with it immediately.”
“I agree. I want to join the training tomorrow. Are you sure you have it covered here?”
“Don’t worry. I am good at paperwork,” I say. “What about Griffin and Martin? They seemed to get along well.”
Forest smiles joyfully. “I noticed. Do you think it would be good for them to train together?”
