“Forest.” I put a hand on his arm. “You are a good man. Don’t let your parents live in your head. You are not your father; you are not brash and arrogant, or lunge into danger headfirst, and that’s not a bad thing. You are much more levelheaded, and frankly, for the pack it’s much better to have an alpha who can see the bigger picture.”
He gently puts his hand on mine, squeezing it slightly. “Thank you, and just so we are clear: Jordan is the biggest idiot in the universe. He could have had it all with you at his side, but unfortunately, his ego was too big to understand what a loser he is without you. I will never allow you to get hurt and be chased away!”
seventeen
Changes
*ROSEA*
We are in the midst of setting up the new office when there is a knock on the door. To my surprise, it isn’t only Martin with the last few shelves but Griffin too, who helps him carry them inside. Martin himself was over the moon when Forest told him about the changes we planned, and especially that he would be responsible for the training of the advanced warriors.
A great honor for him.
Griffin looks around. “I have so many questions.”
“Grab a screwdriver and help Martin,“ Forest says. “Then you can ask.”
Griffin grabs the item and frowns. “I am multitasking.”
“The alpha is moving his office,” Martin explains.
Griffin gapes. “You don’t say?! Who would have thought that?”
“Well,” Martin says seriously. “Now you know.”
Griffin looks at him for a moment, then snorts. “I am still not sure if you are an asshole or not.”
“I hear that a lot,” Martin says.
“What do you think, Luna?” Griffin asks.
“Well, Martin has been very nice and accommodating towards me,” I say.
“Same with me,” Forest adds, grinning at Griffin. “Must be you.”
“You are the alpha couple, so obviously you are biased.”
“Didn’t you say you are multitasking?” Forest asks. “As far as I am concerned, you haven’t lifted a finger yet.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Griffin sighs, before gesturing towards Martin to put the planks of wood down. I watch him briefly, noting how he really knows what he is doing. He must be quite good at handicraft. “So?” Griffin says after a while.
“I want to be closer to the pack members,” Forest explains. “As in, I want to be approachable to them.”
Griffin nods. “I noticed that you changed the schedules for the warriors. It’s the only reason I was able to come at a decent hour.”
Martin throws him a thoughtful look. “Your schedule was insane,” he mutters. “I wasn’t aware until the alpha switched it up.”
“Hardly your fault,” Griffin says.
“I should have noticed,” Martin argues.
“No,Ishould have noticed,” Forest corrects.
While Martin and Forest are in their noble contest as to who is to blame most, Griffin looks at me again. The look in his eyes is curious and thoughtful. I only have a brief moment in which to decide how to react. I can smile and diffuse his suspicion because I am sure he has noticed that something is off. But thenI decide against it. Instead of smiling, I meet his gaze, equally serious.
Griffin doesn’t say anything, but the frown on his forehead remains. He doesn’t look hostile, though or suspicious; more curious.
I wonder if he is starting to catch up, and if he is, I’d like to see what kind of conclusion he reaches.
