Suddenly, the lights dim. Strobe lighting and steam go off, charging the stadium atmosphere with shouts. Everyone sits at the edge of their seats as one by one, the starters take their spots on the ice. Julius is front and center, and Asher screams beside me, his voice echoing in my ear until shivers slip down my spine. The thrill of the moment races through me.
Let the game begin…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Julius
“She’s pretty hot for a mom. Kind of a MILF, if you will,” Beckett jokes, jutting his chin toward Vonn and Nixie’s seats.
“Keep looking at her and I’ll stab you in the eye with my stick.” The growl in my voice surprises even me, but having Nixie so close to the rest of these horny-ass hockey players has me fucking antsy. She’s stunning as hell and completely unbonded. It makes me want to hit something, and if Beckett is offering…No, don’t hurt your teammates; hurt the other team.“Eyes on the ice and off my omega.” He gets the hint and takes his stupid face back to the bench.
My woman’s not just a prize. She’s the whole damn game. And I’ll kill anyone who tries to play with her.
The ref blows his whistle to signal the game’s about to start, so I skate toward the blue line. My blades cut through the ice like butter, and my teammates settle in alongside my flanks. As the team captain, I get to take the opening puck. Although the coaches have been changing our lines quite often this season in an attempt to get something to click, I’m still the top Alpha.Clenching my jaw, I sneak one last look at my pack. Nixie’s on the edge of her seat, and I’m filled with electricity, charged with the determination to prove to my omega that I’m a winner.
My eyes swivel around just in time, and as the puck falls to the ice, I grit my teeth inside my guard and push her to the recesses of my mind. I need to win this game, for my omega, for my son, for my pack. With them cheering me on, I’m invincible.
Snapping my stick forward, I win the face-off and slide the puck toward Malcolm in a neat pass that would make any player proud. We’re completely in tune, and he’s already on it, darting forward on my right and cruising up the ice. My legs pump quickly, catching up to rush past their defense, and we fly down the ice, intent on one thing and one thing alone.
Score. Win. Claim mate.
My inner Alpha is riding shotgun tonight, pressing me hard, so when a blue-clad body from the opposing team speeds my way, I can’t help but check him into the boards. Much harder than I should.
He crumples to the ground with a pleasing thud, but hops back up, barely winded. The check is just what Malcolm needs to send the puck flying past their sub-par goaltender and into the net. The red light above it spins, and the stadium sirens wail.
Goal!
“The first goal of the night is scored by number twenty-six, Malcolm Evans. Assisted by number sixty-nine Julius Keene.” The cheers go completely wild. Yes, this is what we’ve been searching for all season.
Our quick score pisses off the other team. One of their players comes out of nowhere, slamming Axel in the center of the ice with a high stick. He wasn’t even anywhere near the puck.
They’re making this too easy; that’s going to be a definite penalty. The ref blows his whistle, but before he announcesthe other team’s penalty, and therefore our power-play, Beckett comes flying up on the outside and throws a punch.
“No!” I roar. Fucking hothead. If he’d have kept his cool, that would’ve been a penalty for us. With the first goal momentum, there’s no way we wouldn’t capitalize on the power-play. But now both teams are going to end up with penalties, effectively canceling each other out.
My eyes wander over toward Nixie, and I can’t help but grin when I notice she’s relaxing with a huge hot dog and a brand-new Scorpions hat on.Looking happy and adorable, just like I thought she would.She’s on the edge of her seat, biting her luscious pink lip with her upper teeth. Her eyes are wide and round, and as they catch mine, they crinkle at the corners.
Yes, I’m winning her over.Even if that wasn’t the most winning play.
Next to her, Asher sits, ice cream in hand, waving wildly at me. Breaking all the rules, I grab the goal-scoring puck and head for where they’re sitting. Vonn can’t be the only one spoiling them, after all. Seeing me coming, Vonn offers to hold Asher’s ice cream, already knowing what I’m about to do. After ratcheting back my arm, I give the puck a gentle toss straight into Asher’s outstretched hands. I want this to be a night he’ll never forget.
From today until forever, I realize I want every game to feel like this. My omega sitting rink side, right at the glass, her gaze trained lovingly on me. I press my hand to the glass and then, using the other, I blow her a kiss.
It’s impulsive, instinctive, and absolutely not what I’m supposed to do. But it just feels so right.
The crowd hoots and hollers, and my eyes jump to the Jumbotron, realizing our whole interaction was just caught on camera. Nixie turns a shocking shade of pink, eyes darting every which way. But then that sneaky fucker Vonn throws his armover her shoulder and presses a kiss to her cheek, making the crowd thunder, the electricity in Pinnacle Arena growing wilder.
Well, shit, our ultra private omega’s not gonna like that.
The whistle blows, and I’m called back to the game. But as I skate fast and hard, pushing for each goal that comes our way, for the first time, I just wish the game were over. My home has always been on the ice, but now home suddenly feels so very different—a fiery, fierce little omega with flame-red hair to match her temperament.
A beautiful puzzle I can’t wait to piece together…
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Nixie
Gripping the steering wheel tightly, I glance into the rearview mirror at the happy-go-lucky pre-teen in my back seat. Asher has transformed so much in the short time we’ve been preparing for the exhibition. His confidence has grown; he’s been happier and, most of all, he’s had a quiet pride that carries him through each day. Part of me wonders if I have Vonn and Julius to thank for that. On the journey home, he chatters about the game and holds not one, but two pucks he received. The first goal puck from Julius, and the game-winning puck, which has even been signed by some of the team. It seems like my scent-matches are making it clear just how badly they want to spoil my son, but I am not sure how to feel about their little display at the rink today.
