Finding the Forward, Part One (HockeyVerse)

Chapter Fifty-Six

Verity

M y body ached as I made my way toward the metro station. Everyone had fussed over me. By the time I’d shooed them off, the Knights were in practice, and I didn’t have time to wait. There was too much to do in the lab before being gone for a week and a half.

I sent Grif a text knowing he wouldn’t answer until after practice.

Me

I'm sorry. I love you so much. We don’t have to wait if you don’t want to. I just want to talk to everyone first.

I’ll find you when I pick Mercy up.

Something about his voice, his actions, even his scent was off. I texted AJ as I leaned on my crutch, waiting for the metro.

Me

I think I fucked up with Grif and I don’t know what I did.

AJ

I’ll call you in a few? In a meeting.

Me

Perfect, about to get on the metro, headed to the lab.

Snagging a seat on the metro, I sank into it gratefully. The Maimers’ trainer wanted me to go to the hospital. I’d told her I’d go to the campus clinic, which was only half a lie. I had to stop there to pick up my refill of the medicine I took when flying. But I was pretty sure I didn’t have a concussion. I’d landed on my ass, not my head.

A few pain relievers and I’d be fine.

AJ called as I walked from the metro stop to campus. “Hey, what happened, Princess?”

“I… I don’t even know. But I feel so shitty.” I told him about our conversation and Grif leaving abruptly. “It’s not that I don’t want to bite him right now. Oh, I do. However, I’d want to talk to you and Jonas–and Mercy–first.”

“Verity, Princess, take a deep breath,” he murmured.

I did, and my chest shuddered.

“Okay, tell me again,” he told me.

I sank onto a bench on campus and retold it again. This time, I included some of how I was feeling after that text from Mama.

“How do I fix it? Should I have stayed? But between Mercy having a game today, leaving tonight, and not being in the lab yesterday for more than my regular morning check, at the bare minimum I have to get things set up so everything doesn’t die while I’m gone. Still, I absolutely don’t want to leave town with him mad at me. What did I do, AJ?” My voice broke.

“You triggered something, Princess. But it wasn’t your fault. You two haven’t had that conversation yet–and it’s not my place to fill you in. As nice as getting naked with you two sounds, I’m glad you’re being practical about this. We’ll figure this out, okay?” He sounded so rational, so reasonable.

“Okay. I love him so much.” I squeezed my eyes shut, head in my hands. It was cold on that bench.

“I know,” he assured.

So, I did trigger something. But we hadn’t had that conversation yet. That was why waiting a little made sense. There were still discussions to have.

Also, inevitably, we’d have a fight. It was surprising we hadn’t yet. Then again, we were both easy-going people.

“Don’t hate him for the way he reacted. He was so in his head he didn’t notice that you fell. Are you okay?” he added.

“I’m okay,” I assured. Physically.

“I’m on my way to that part of town. I’ll check in with him and smooth things over a bit. Then, after my meeting, I’ll come and see you. Do you have time to have lunch, or should I bring something?” AJ asked me.

I really just needed a hug. “I’d love for you to stop by if you have time. You don’t need to bring me food. A chai latte would be nice. I’ll be at the greenhouses over in Bio.”

“We’ll get this fixed. I wish you weren’t leaving tonight, so you could sleep over. No, this isn’t me asking you not to go. I’ll see you soon. Also, don’t run. In this pack, we don’t run from our problems. It will gut more than Grif if you do.” He ended the call.

We don’t run from our problems. I could make a little book of all their inspirational quotes.

It also hit hard. Not that I planned on running, but hiding away to protect myself was tempting.

None of that now. No. I was an alpha. If I was to be the alpha they deserved, then I needed to face things head on.

My phone rang. Excitement rose in me, hoping it was Grif. That hope deflated like a popped balloon as Creed’s name came up. “Hey.”

“Mercy said you had a fight with Grif, then fell down the stairs. Are you okay? Do I need to fly over and punch him?” Worry tinged my big brother’s voice.

“He’s an enforcer for a hockey team, not sure you’d win. Though I appreciate the sentiment.” A smile twitched on my lips at his concern.

“Always. I train with Grace’s packmates and my roommates. I’m not as weak as I used to be,” he teased.

He was never weak. Creed figure skated until he’d graduated university. Skating in alpha division took major strength.

“I’m fine. It’s embarrassing that she told you. I slipped trying to chase after him,” I shrugged.

“What happened?” he asked.

With a sigh, I told him.

“What should I have done? I feel terrible.” I got up from the bench and started walking across campus. It was pretty empty given it was still winter break. Also, cold.

“It doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong. I mean, that’s what the alpha classes say you’re supposed to do,” he assured me.

“Okay. It just was so out of character for him. That noise he made reminded me of when Dean whined for me on the plane. Grif even smelled different. Usually, I don’t get much off him, but today, oh, and last night. Mmmm. Between his smell and his taste, oh, that did me in.” That was before AJ and his yummy alpha pheromones.

I’d re-lived it with my dragon vibrator before bed last night.

“Yeah, don’t need the details of your sex life, Ver Bear,” he chuckled. “To clarify, this was Grif. Who’s a beta. ”

“Um, yeah, the same one who had that whole possessive display on the ice with his shirt last night.” I entered the biology building and headed toward the lab.

“My roommate is jealous you now have a game-worn jersey. Huh.” Creed was quiet for a moment. “If I had to give you my guesses who the secret omegas were in the PHL, Grif Graf would not be on that list. But a lot of what you mentioned sounds like omega stuff–especially him getting upset about not being bit that second . Considering how intense of a connection you two have, I could see an omega getting frustrated at waiting six more months.”

“True. Dean told me it gets hard for him sometimes, and he’s glad I keep reassuring him. But Grif’s not an omega. I mean, wouldn’t I notice? I’ve had sex bare with both him and Dean and there is a difference.” Frowning, I unlocked the lab and went to stash my stuff in my locker in the breakroom.

There was something different about last night. What had I overlooked?

“And again, I don’t need details about your sex life. He’s what, in his late twenties? Awakening now would be very rare,” he replied.

I leaned against my locker, my mind going back to the conversation AJ and I had last night about secret omegas. AJ did say something about a secret gamma. What if he’d been trying to tell me something?

“He could be hiding. It happens. What if…what if he’s a gamma? Gamma danger responses could make for some good hockey fights.” I sucked in a breath as it came together. “I mean, I have seen Grace spar.”

That would also make sense why we hadn’t talked about this yet. They weren’t quite ready to let me in on the secret. Gammas fell under omega rules, and it could wreak havoc with his career. Also, gammas didn’t respond normally to danger. It was like instead of fight or flight, they were stuck on random.

It could also explain why sometimes I felt so drawn to Grif. We might very well have that alpha-omega connection. Or even be scent matches. After all, Grace was a gamma and a scent match.

“Oh fuck,” Creed breathed. “Gamma. I could see that. Grace is a beast at the boxing gym. But if he’s a gamma, that means…”

“Yep,” I said slowly. Something in his past was so fucked a biological process halted .

“Try to talk to him before you leave on your trip. Even if you don’t bring up your suspicions,” Creed added. “It was probably an emotionally charged moment that triggered something and needs some smoothing over.”

“You’re right. I’m going to track him down when I get Mercy. Thanks for calling. I should go if I’m going to get anything done in the lab.” I sighed, wondering if I really had the time to fix things the way I wanted.

“Okay, I'm here. Love you.”

“Love you, too.” I ended the call and went into the lab. Shrugging on my lab coat, I got my goggles and tablet and went outside to the greenhouses.

The door of my greenhouse stood ajar. Odd. Saphira may have come in to check on it yesterday as a dry run and forgotten to close it all the way. She was going to check on them while I was gone.

Something caught my eye. Whore had been spray painted across the side.

My heart stuck in my throat as I threw open the door to my greenhouse. The overpowering stench of gasoline assaulted me, making my eyes water.

Pots were everywhere, broken and overturned. Salt covered the floor. The back room had been busted open, the floor strewn with the wreckage that had once been my research.

Bile rose in my throat.

Panic lit every cell in my body on fire. Gone. Everything was gone. My life’s work was in that greenhouse.

Who would even do such a horrific thing?

No. This couldn’t be happening.

Sinking to my knees, crutch clattering to the ground, I began to cry.