“At least we had a good afternoon,” he says. “I am happy that Martin and Griffin are getting along well.”
“Griffin is onto something,” I say.
He nods. “I had the same feeling. As for Martin, I think he is currently going with the flow.”
“But he might catch up on something, eventually,” I say. “He is sharp. He just doesn’t know you well. Griffin, however, knew you when you were younger, and he probably kept an eye on you all this time.”
“Do you really think so?”
I nod. “I think he really cared about you, and he probably was worried about your safety.” I pause. “He was right to be.”
Forest nods grimly. “Yes.”
We can’t chat any longer as we have reached the second alpha suite, where his parents live. It goes exactly as I expected it to. His mom is all fake smiles and chatting me up, while his father is stoic and looks a tad annoyed.
He keeps asking questions here and there, but I give them the bullshit story Forest, and I thought of first. I know I won’t be able to hide it forever, just long enough for the pack to like me, and for Forest and my work to pay off.
Around his parents, Forest is awfully quiet. It’s like he retreats to his shell immediately. He is a strong guy, obviously an alpha. It was beyond me that he didn’t see it, but now I know why.
We are not even ten minutes into the dinner when his parents start with the little digs. Maybe they think they are being subtle, but the fact is, they are constantly putting him down. “Forest has never been a big eater,” Donna tells me.
His father nods. “Yes, he doesn’t like meat a lot. Very unusual for an alpha.”
“I think if it were for him, he would love to be a rabbit shifter instead of a wolf shifter.”
Next to me, I can notice Forest tense up slightly. Yeah, I figured. They are doing it on purpose. Their subtle digs at his person are probably their very own strategy to neg him. From what Forest told me, it’s obvious they have toyed with him his whole life. He lacks confidence, which is very unusual for an alpha heir. However, after hearing his story and listening to his parents, it’s obvious as to why. No one would grow up confident if this were a daily occurrence.
And I have no doubt it has been. They are just too good at it.
I am better, though.
“Oh,” I turn to Forest with a smile. “You haven’t told me that, dear.”
He looks a tad nervous. “It’s not that I don’t like meat. I—“
“I always love some variety in my food,” I say, making sure my smile is as big as possible. Unsure if I can pull off a dazzling smile, but this has to do. “And I think it’s important not to have a too one-sided diet. What dishes do you like? I’d love to learn how to cook them for you.”
Forest looks relieved. “I love anything curry or hot pot related,” he tells me. “Basically, anything you can cook as a one-pot dish.”
“I love curry,” I say. “Did you know there are some great vegan curry recipes?”
“I have tried a couple of them,” he says.
“You know, when I traveled to Italy, I actually met a shifter who was allergic to meat,” I say. The story is true. I did travel with my parents to an Italian pack, and there was one girl who couldn’t eat any meat. “It was the protein, I think.”
“I had no idea that was a thing,” he exclaims. “I actually had no idea shifters could have food allergies.”
“I believe we come in all forms and shapes, with all types of problems,” I muse. “We are lucky to have our wolves, but I don’t think they can solve every problem for us.”
“The balance between wolf and human is important,” Forest says, a flash of guilt in his eyes. I guess he had issues with his connection for a while, which doesn’t come as a surprise. His wolf must have seen the bullshit his parents put him through.
If we weren’t with his parents, I would have asked a little bit more, but this is not the time for questions. So, I make sure the conversation with Forest keeps running. Not to come off as too impolite, I make sure to address his parents sometimes.
“What do you like to cook, Donna?” I ask her. “I bet you must be an amazing cook!”
Next to me, I can see Forest biting down on his lips as if to hide a grin. He is not the one who slips, though. “She can’t cook to save her life,” Harry tells me.
“Harry,” she exclaims.
