Finding the Forward, Part One (HockeyVerse)

Chapter Twelve

Verity

“ O h, there. Right there,” Grif groaned. “Kitten, you know how to hit all the right places.”

No, you know how to hit all the right places. Big Daddy Hurricane had found all the right spots over and over. Best sex I’d had ever.

Because it didn’t just satiate my body. It filled up my heart, my soul, in a way I only knew from romance novels.

“All those years of fútbol paid off, I guess,” I teased as I continued to rub his calves as he lay on the couch in the living room. A rom-com played in the background. Two half-empty glasses of peach bourbon and a bowl of popcorn sat on the coffee table.

As much as I’d like to have a few more rounds, then sleep snuggled together, my sister would be home soon.

“Oh yeah. That’s it,” he moaned again as the door opened.

“Well, that’s not what I expected. But she does give the best calf massages. She’s good at taping injuries, too.” Mercy tossed her bag on the bench by the door.

“So’s Dean. He studied kinesiology,” Grif told me.

“That’s a great major. How was the movie, Mercy?” I moved, straddling his other calf.

Mercy’s nostrils flared. “How was coffee? ”

“We ate at this great Thai place.” I’d de-scented the house, put my discarded pants in the washer, and sanitized the counter while making popcorn.

“Yum. I had nachos and popcorn for dinner, then we got tacos. I’m ordering pizza.” She kicked off her shoes and put them by the door. “Any requests?”

“Skate smashers can have midnight pizza?” Grif gave her an amused look from his place on the couch.

“The team nutritionist can kiss my ass. What’s the point of having my own money if I can’t order pizza whenever I want?” She looked at me. “Usual?”

“Sure.” My fingers dug into his flesh, working out a knot, and he groaned. Part of me felt bad that I’d only made popcorn. We’d burned a lot of energy.

“You sound pornographic. I’m going to hit the shower. Then we’ll have pizza and watch something else.” Mercy left for her room.

“I know it’s late, but would you like to stay for pizza, a movie, and twenty questions from my sister?” I asked, not ready for our night to end.

Grif beamed. “I’d love to be subject to the great sister inquisition.”

I fluffed the couch pillows after Grif left, debating whether or not to de-scent them. Hugging one to my chest, I breathed deep, getting a hit of him. No. I wouldn’t unless Mercy asked.

“Thanks for being nice to him,” I replied, feeling Mercy behind me. We’d watched the latest Defender League movie and ate pizza. The superhero franchise was always a good time.

“I like him. Also, while he’s new to the Knights, they like him. You can tell a lot about someone from how their teammates speak about them,” she told me.

True. It was like her to check him out. Apparently his pack knew Rusty’s.

Mercy flopped onto the couch with me. “Do you like him?”

“Tremendously. I don’t know if I can let him go–don’t let me be a knothead?” I shot her a pleading look. The sheer force of my emotions overwhelmed me. If I didn’t know he was a beta, I’d think he was my mate. Maybe not my perfect fated alpha-omega scent match like in a love story, but definitely the one.

He was still the one even if he was beta. Grif was my pack. My person. I’d absolutely be happy forever with him, and I felt this in the deepest depths of my soul.

Hopefully, his packmates accepted me.

“Ver, are you okay? I lost you. You were safe, right? This is your first boyfriend, so maybe go slow?” Her spiced plum scent took on the musty tinge of worry.

“We were safe. Also, just because the parents banned dating doesn’t mean I lack experience. I even did a little secret dating back in undergrad.” When I was braver.

“Please tell me it was not some fútbol asshole like your arch nemesis Freddie the Fuckboy?” Mercy grimaced.

It was Freddie. We’d had an enemy-to-lovers fling that had ended badly.

“Ver, you didn’t?” With a sigh, Mercy glanced at the couch. “Um, you didn’t fuck on the couch, did you?”

“No.” I should clean the counter again. Whoops, before I’d found Grif, I’d meant to bake an apology treat tonight for the omega whose weight room I’d been using.

That would be Dean, Grif’s goalie husband.

“I’m going to go to bed. Have you checked the sibling group chat?” With a grin, she left.

As I made a quick little something for Dean, I checked the ‘older sibling’ group chat, which was me, Mercy, Creed, Grace, Dare, and Hale. Mercy had sent a video of the ice bath along with pictures of me and Grif–and told them I was going on a date with Airplane Guy.

There were lots of replies. Most of them dirty. Not what I wanted from my siblings tonight.

While part of me wanted to talk to Grace about my feelings since she had a pack, she wasn’t an alpha and probably busy with her mates.

But Creed... his single alpha ass was most likely awake and playing video games with his roommates.

I finished the treats, cleaned the counters a third time, took a shower, and then crawled into bed–which smelled deliciously of Grif and sex. An ache grew in my heart. If only he were here with me. I texted Creed to see if he was up.

He video-called me.

“Hey, Ver Bear. You went on a date with Griffin McGraff? I should’ve figured your mystery guy was a hockey player with that sweatshirt,” he told me.

Creed was a beautiful alpha with blond hair, soft features, and blue eyes. He was also my best friend. Six months apart, the parents raised us more like twins, and we always attended the same grades together at school. We’d even gone to undergrad together.

He’d recently had a birthday, while mine was in the spring.

“We had coffee and dinner.” And a lot of sex.

“How did it go?” He hesitated. “I ask because knowing you, you’ve built Airplane Guy up in your head, and the real guy might not live up to your imagination.”

“No, I don’t do that, thank you very much. We spent a lot of time talking. The two of us have a good amount of common ground. Also... I feel sparks. He has a pack–and a husband. What if they don’t like me?” My belly twisted as I chewed on my lower lip.

“I’m sure you’ll charm them. Hey.” Creed’s grin widened. “Griffin McGraff is married to Dean Donovan, who is a giant omega .”

“I never should’ve told you that,” I laughed. “Still... I kiss Grif and feel like the world’s spinning so fast it’s going to fall off its axis. All I can think about is seeing him tomorrow. Am I pathetic? A stalker? What’s wrong with me?”

“It’s okay to be in love. You’re not the parents. You won’t be an asshole,” he assured.

That’s why we weren’t allowed to date. The alpha parents had been colossal knotheads back when they’d found our omega dad. The type of alphahole that ruined lives.

Decades later, they were still paying the price.

“I know.” I wished I could take some blockers to take the edge off all these feelings.

The parents never believed I’d grow up to be an alpha, despite what the basic test I’d taken in middle school said. They hadn’t even let me go to alpha classes in high school. I’d done the basic university ones, but I still struggled sometimes.

Also, I hadn’t fully come into my alpha until my last year of university, which was late for an alpha.

“If anyone deserves a nice, giant, dream guy and a whole fairytale love story, it’s you,” Creed teased. “It’s great you feel sparks and a connection. Don’t rush and keep communications open. It’ll be fine. Don’t overthink this.”

True. An intense connection didn’t mean we were ultimately compatible. I really hope we are. I’d grown up on fairytales of scent matches and love stories. While my life wasn’t a fairytale, I still yearned for love and happiness. For a pack of my own. Maybe even mates and an omega.

“Do you know anything about hockey?” Creed smirked.

“Like you do.” I laughed.

My older brother had done dance and figure skating when we were kids. Because like the parents were so sure I’d end up a beta, they’d thought he’d awaken as an omega. So certain our tests were wrong, they’d continued to force their ideals on us until we’d actually awakened. Though he’d awakened years before me.

“My roommates are into it. I hope it works out and you get your happily ever after with your pack of big guys. Grif Graf is huge. Not that Donovan and Soeng are small.” He flashed me another big grin.

“No hockey tickets for you,” I teased. “I love you.”

“I love you, too, Ver Bear.”

We talked a little longer. Shutting off the lights, I curled into a ball and fell asleep, wishing Grif was beside me.