Changes
seventeen
*ROSEA*
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, I should 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 then I 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.
“Oh, right, Griffin?” Forest turns to look at his friend. “Rose wants to walk around the pack tomorrow morning. Please accompany her. I want her to be safe.”
At his words, both Griffin and Martin look up. They exchange a look. “Is she not safe here?” Martin finally asks. “The future luna’s arrival is some major news. Everyone is beyond over the moon that she is here.”
“Not everyone,” Griffin says lightly while putting some books on the newly built shelf.
“I just want to play it safe,” Forest says.
“Got you,” Griffin says. “I will give you my number, Luna. Text me please when you want to leave.”
“Alright then.” Forest stretches his back. “I think the three of us should sit together now and discuss our new training schedule. I want to know your opinion and see what else we can improve.”
We have also moved a little sitting area to the new office, and the three men sit down here. “Are you okay on your own, Rose?” Forest asks.
“I am.” I am unable to hide my smile, rubbing my hands. “I can’t wait to start working on this.”
I grab the many folders, sitting down at Forest’s desk.
There are a lot of really bad guys on the list of alphas that Forest’s father has been kissing up to.
Calling them and quitting on them will be great.
I completely shut out the voices of the other three while focusing on my own task.
Here and there, I notice Martin or Griffin looking at me during my phone calls, the most prominent being when I call one of Jordan’s friends and politely tell him we aren’t interested in his yacht opening, and another, when I cancel some flower bouquet investment that Forest’s mom had set up.
It costs a fortune!
Beautiful flowers and well-put-together bouquets are expensive, I know that. But it shouldn’t be a major investment.
How come?
Why is it that much money?
I put the piece of paper with the contact data aside, deciding to check on it later. I need to see if there is something fishy going on.
You think so? Alora asks.
I mean, it’s curious how flowers, of all things, are taking such a huge chunk of money from the pack, I say
But wouldn’t someone have noticed?
This is an old pack, similar to our former one, I point out. Flowers don’t attract any suspicion. Coupled with the fact that it’s considered a woman’s thing to handle anything flower- or decoration-related. I’ll bet if I had done the same, Jordan would have had no clue what flowers truly cost.
You have a point. So, has Donna been hiding something?
Most definitely. Just what?
We’ll need to snoop around a bit, Alora says.
She is right, although snooping around is always a dangerous thing to do. I’ll need to be very careful.
I continue my task and start setting up a budget for our security system, plus I cancel a random, high-society event where Forest was supposed to attend a debutante ball; the reason is beyond me. If he had a daughter or younger sister, it would be one thing, but just to be there and seen?
Ridiculous! They are just wasting his time.
It’s actually a miracle that he turned out to be such a kind person.
I hang up, crossing out the event with grim satisfaction. Suddenly, Forest’s schedule looks much better.
I had fun working with Forest. It’s not something I am used to, to be able to simply work in peace.
And it’s the type of work I truly enjoy, on top of that.
As a teen, my mom had already shown me the ropes of being a luna.
Maybe it’s in my blood, maybe it’s because of her guidance, but I really feel a sense of peace when doing it.
I do feel zero peace, however, when Forest and I start our dreadful journey to his parents at 6 p.m.
“We couldn’t decline them,” Forest mutters.
“I know.” Petty little me made sure to pack a beautiful orchid for his mother.
Good thing she doesn’t know yet that I am onto those investments she is making.
I didn’t cancel them yet. I want to snoop around that expensive flower subcontractor first. “We have to do it once,” I say.
“To fulfill our duty and introduce myself properly. Next time we’ll find an excuse. ”
“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.
“Oh, such a surprise,” I say, making sure to smile softly at Donna. “But it’s not really important. Cooking is just one of the qualities a good mate needs to have.”
Inwardly, Alora is cackling. I am not too big on cooking either, though I can do some basic dishes, but obviously Donna has some very archaic views on mates, which she can’t quite live up to either.
Hypocrites.
Donna throws daggers at her husband.
Maybe I can push them a bit more. “You must be very handy, Harry,” I say. “I saw some of the wooden figurines in the pack house. Did you make them?”
Donna shoots him a glare. “He isn’t crafty at all.”
“I made them,” Forest tells me what I already know. He and Martin showed them to me earlier that day.
“No way! You are really talented,” I say, impressed, and smile brightly at him. He takes my hand, squeezing it and placing a kiss on it.
The two maids who have been serving us the food smile at me when they walk by. I make sure to engrain their faces and names in my memory. They are Donna’s personal maids, and I guess they might have a story or two to tell.
The remainder of the evening is frosty, which is mostly due to Donna and Harry freezing each other out.
When Forest and I retire to our own suite, much earlier than expected, because Harry was pouting and Donna felt a headache coming, we both grab a glass of wine and sit down on his small balcony. “Promise me, you will never be my enemy,” he jokes.
“Just don’t be on my bad list,” I tease.
Forest chuckles. “I have never seen someone shoot my parents down so fast. I was scared they would bombard you with questions or humiliate me, but they were too busy with their own squabble.”
“To narcissists,” I say, “their own pride is always more important than anything else. Plus, a narcissist might appear smart and well-spoken, but many of them are not interested in those around them. I don’t think they even want to know anything about me. They are just annoyed that I am here.”
Forest nods thoughtfully. “They might try some cheap tricks. Promise me, you will be careful, Rose.”
“I will.” I take a sip from my glass. “I had fun today,” I admit. “It’s been a while.”
Forest looks at me, his gaze surprisingly gentle. “We will make sure that there are many more fun days for you to come.”