I swallowed some air, and nearly choked. "This could end both our careers."
"Maybe." Knox leaned down and kissed me once more, soft and sure. "Still worth it," he said.
"You're insane," I told him.
"About you? Yes," he admitted.
I stared at him, this violent, impossible Alpha who'd shattered my carefully controlled life in one night. Who'd claimed me. Who'd ruined me for anyone else.
"I still don't think this can work," I said honestly.
"But?" he prompted.
"But apparently my body doesn't care what I think," I admitted reluctantly.
He smiled, dangerous and satisfied. "Good enough for now."
Chapter 10
Knox
My skates carved shallow lines across the ice that seemed like glass beneath my feet.
Every single sound in the arena sounded sharp to the point even the crowd’s roar felt as if it was shredding my skin. The thwack of stick hitting against each other in a battle for the puck had me practically flinching.
She was back at the hotel per the general manager, Richard’s orders. Said it would be "better for everyone" if she sat this game out.
Better for everyone except me.
"Maddox! Get your head in the game!" Sullivan barked from the bench.
Right. The game. Colorado up by two, second period half gone, and I'd barely touched the puck. Too busy scanning the bench, the tunnel, anywhere she might appear despite Sullivan's orders.
The puck sailed past me. Again.
"Jesus, Knox!" Chen shouted as he slammed into me during the next whistle. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Everything.
My newly bonded Omega was fifteen miles away, probably pacing her hotel room, and I could feel her anxiety through the bond like acid in my veins.
"I'm fine," I muttered.
"You're playing like shit," Chen shot back.
The ref dropped the puck. I won the faceoff through pure muscle memory, passed to Peterson, and immediately got leveled by their enforcer, Briggs. We went down hard, his elbow catching my ribs.
"Heard you caused quite the scene at the hotel," Briggs said as we untangled, his voice full of mockery. "That Omega doctor must have some sweet pussy to make you lose your mind like that."
Holy fuck, does everyone on Earth know?
I saw red. Started to rise, fists already clenching.
"Oh, that's right," Briggs continued, grinning wider. "She's your pet doctor now, isn't she? Must be nice. Getting patched up and then getting to bend her over the examination table."
The world went silent.
My gloves hit the ice with a soft thud. Briggs' eyes widened for a fraction of a second, just enough time for his mouth to form a small "o" before my knuckles crashed into the spot where his smirk had been. His head snapped back. Forward again. Back again as I connected a second time. The third punch sent a warm spray across my face, tiny droplets that caught the arena lights like rubies before spattering across the white surface beneath our skates.
