“No, absolutely not,” he answers quickly.
Why? Lots of people go to the games alone. Without their parents. I’m twenty-one, Benton. I’m not a kid.
He glares at me, but it’s not anger; it’s something else. Concern maybe. My instinct is to look away, but I don’t. I force myself to hold his gaze, to show him I’m not backing down from this.
“Bayleigh, you know I’d do anything for you. But that’s not something I can agree to. It's not safe for a packless omega to be alone, especially in a hockey stadium filled with a bunch of hotheaded, horny hockey fans and players. Many of whom are alphas.”
I’ll be fine. I know how to protect myself.My fingers move quickly in response.
“I know you can. That’s not the problem. The problem is you can’t hear if someone is coming up behind you. You won’t be aware of any dangers lurking around you.”
James can come with me. He’ll make sure I’m okay.
He’s my best friend and a much better choice to accompany me than our parents. He’s also one of the only men that Benton doesn’t mind me being alone with, especially since he only desires another male’s appendage versus a female's lack of one.
Benton rolls his eyes. “James is a beta, and a ASL interpreter. He’s not a damn bodyguard."
For a long moment, neither of us moves, nor speaks; each of us holding firm on our stance. The air thickens around us with tension as we continue our stalemate.
“Fine. But I want you to ask me with your voice. Not with signing.” He smirks, thinking he’s won. I’ve been so hesitant to speak that he’s sure I won’t even do it to win our little fight.
My heart thuds in my chest, and I take a few deep breaths to steady it. The familiar tremor of my vocal cords vibrates in my throat. My first sound is barely more than a whisper, rough and uneven. I wince, then try again.
“Can I go…” My voice cracks, and I have to swallow to ease the rawness. “Can I go to your game with James?”
He blinks, a lone tear sliding down his cheek. My brother, the big, bad boy of hockey, shedding a tear for me.
“I don’t talk because…” I hesitate, eyes flickering away, shame rising hot under my skin. “Because it doesn’t sound right. It doesn’t soundnormal.” The child in me wants to stop, to run, to bury myself in a cocoon of safety.
Benton smiles at me, one that’s not only with his mouth, but his eyes. “Your voice is perfect. Anyone who doesn’t think so is an idiot. Just hearing it makes me happy. I’ve missed it.”
My chest feels warm, a gentle tug of safety. Of belonging.
Tears well, blurring my vision. “You’re lying,” I whisper. “It’s ugly. You’re just saying that because you’re my brother.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not. And one day you’ll meet a pack that feels the same way.”
All I can do is stare at him. Could he be right? There’s a pack who wouldn’t laugh or be ashamed of how I sound?
“Can I go?” I ask again.
“Yes. But you stay with James at all times. And when the game is over, he brings you straight to the tunnel, and I’ll meet you there.”
I rush into him, throwing my arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. “Thank you,” I mumble into his chest.
“I mean it, James. You’re to be glued to her side all night. No one talks to her, or gets close to her without you butting in.” Benton not only says but signs to James, so I’m fully aware that he knows the conditions of my going to the game.
I turn my head to James, giggling when I see the way he’s glaring at my alpha brother.
“I’m not dumb, Benton. Bayleigh’s my best friend. There’s no way I’d let anything happen to her, much less let any prick alpha get his grubby paws on her.”
Benton clenches his jaw, fighting to control his anger in my presence. It’s not like I haven’t seen him lose his cool on the ice a thousand times.
Okay then, now it’s settled. You need to get to the rink, and we have some shopping to do before we go.I sign enthusiastically as I take hold of James’ arm and practically drag him out of the house.
James opens the passenger door of his car for me, and I get inside as he heads to the other side and gets in behind the steering wheel.
We’re going to have so much fun looking at hot hockey players tonight.James signs rapidly, and I nod in agreement.
