For a moment, I thought he'd refuse. His jaw worked like he was fighting words, fighting instincts, fighting everything. Then he yanked open the door and disappeared, leaving me gasping in the tiny bathroom.
I made it back to my seat on shaking legs. Digging into the medical bag, I found what I was looking for and immediately dry-swallowing three emergency suppressants. Ben looked at me with concern.
"You okay, Doc? You look pale."
"Just airsick," I lied, pulling a blanket up to my chin. "The turbulence..."
But I could feel Knox's eyes on me from first class, could feel my body fighting against the suppressants, could feel the heat building despite everything.
This was going to be the longest flight of my life.
And we hadn't even reached the real storm yet.
Chapter 6
Knox
The hotel lobby seemed to have erupted into pure chaos. Twenty-three hockey players, coaches, and staff crammed into a space meant for maybe half that, all arguing with the lone female desk clerk who looked ready to cry. If it was any indication of how her day had been going judging on the smudge mascara, she was one more incident away from quitting
"What do you mean you don't have our reservations?" Sullivan's voice could probably be heard in the next state as he gruffly yelled at the desk attendant.
The front desk girl’s lip gave an honest to God quiver as she spoke to my coach. "Sir, the system crashed when the storm hit. We're doing our best, but we only have twelve rooms available."
Twelve rooms. For thirty-plus people.
I stood near the windows, watching snow fall so thick I couldn't see across the street. The blizzard had forced us to land in Denver, but barely. The plane had shaken so bad on descent that even I'd gripped the armrests. But that wasn't what had me on edge.
It was Harper.
She stood by the luggage, arms wrapped around herself, shivering despite the lobby being stifling hot. The emergencysuppressants she'd taken on the plane were failing. I could smell it from here, vanilla and something darker, richer. Her natural scent breaking through despite everything.
Every Alpha on the team kept glancing at her, nostrils flaring. They might not consciously realize what they were responding to, but their instincts knew. An Omega going into heat.
My Omega.
Well not mine.
Not yet.
"Alright, listen up!" Richards clapped his hands. "We're bunking up. Three to a room for players. Coach gets his own. Support staff doubles up."
"What about Dr. Graves?" Morrison asked.
Everyone turned to look at Harper. She straightened, trying to look professional despite the flush creeping up her neck.
"I'll share with whoever," she said, voice steady.
"Like hell," I muttered, moving forward. "She gets her own room."
"There aren't enough rooms, Maddox," Richards said tiredly.
Harper shook her head. "Then I'll sleep in the lobby."
"No one's sleeping in the lobby." The desk clerk looked panicked at the thought. "We have one suite left. Two bedrooms, shared living space. That's it."
"I'll take it," Harper said quickly. "Someone can share…"
"Maddox will share it," Sullivan announced.
