"Nothing’s broken," she announced. "But you'll be sore. Ice when you get home."
She stood, and her eyes found mine. "You. Office. Now."
"Practice isn't over," I said.
"It is for you." She looked at Coach Sullivan. "Coach, I need to examine Maddox. That hit looked like he might have aggravated his shoulder."
Sullivan’s head nodded like a bobble head figure sold in the gift shop, and I knew he was probably grateful for an excuse to get me off the ice before I killed someone.
I followed her to the medical suite, my skates clicking against the concrete. She waited until the door was closed before rounding on me.
"What the hell is your problem?"
"No problem, Doc."
"Bullshit." She stepped closer, and even through the suppressants, I could smell her anger. It was intoxicating. "You've been stalking around here all week like some territorial Alpha, and now you're taking it out on your teammates."
"Maybe I am territorial."
"Over what? This is a training facility, not your personal kingdom."
"Over you…"
The second the words flew from my mouth, neither of us moved. For a few heartbeats we seemed to have turned to stone, rooted in place. The fluorescent lights once again seemed to buzz overhead, the sound bringing me back to earth.
"I'm not yours to be territorial over," she said slowly, like she was explaining something to a child.
"Aren't you?"
"No." She turned away, but I caught her wrist. Gently, but firm enough that she stopped.
"Don't let them touch you," I said again. "The other players. Stay away from them."
She yanked her hand free. "Are you seriously warning me off doing my job?"
"I'm warning you that not every Alpha on this team has control."
"Like you?" She laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Because from where I'm standing, you're the only one acting like a knothead."
The slur hit like cold water.Knothead.What Omegas called Alphas who let their instincts override their brains.
"I'm trying to protect you," I growled.
"From what? Peterson thanking me? Chen needing medical attention?" She shook her head. "I don't need your protection, Knox. I need you to back off and let me do my job."
"Your job doesn't require them touching you."
She threw her hands up, exasperated by my words."My job is literally touching them. I'm a doctor. It's what I do."
The thought of her hands on other players, other Alphas, made my vision blur red again.
"Not the Alphas," I said. "Treat the Betas, the Omegas if we had any. Not the Alphas."
"You're insane." She headed for the door. "Absolutely certifiable. And if you keep this up, I'll have you suspended for interfering with medical treatment."
"Harper…”
"Dr. Graves," she corrected, hand on the door. "And stay out of my way, Knox. I mean it."
