Ew. It’s cute when Caelia does it, but repulsive on her.
“One.”
Olive blanches at my short tone before taking a deep breath. I want to check on Caelia, but that would mean taking my eyes off the reporter. This is all for print, which means they want direct quotes, and all of their recorders are held up to record my words.
“What can you tell us about your new pack?” she asks. “Congratulations on the engagement by the way.”
There are murmurs throughout the room, and I force myself not to roll my eyes. We proposed in a public place, I’m not surprised that the news is spreading.
“Thank you,” I reply. “I can tell you that we’re very happy, and that it doesn’t impact my ability to coach in any form. I’ll still push Levon on the ice the way I always do. Until he passes out or he pukes.”
I wink at the reporters, because it’s very well known how hard I work the team. Even Allen chuckles under his breath, because my temper is also legendary.
“I think it’s interesting that you joined an already established pack,” she adds.
“Why?” I ask. “I don’t have to swing my weight around to gain respect, Olive. I’ve earned it as Levon’s coach every day for the past three years. Santo is a newcomer to the team’s staff, but he’s damn good at what he does. I respect the way that he works with our players, gaining their trust so that they’ll follow his professional advice.”
“Levon, Santo, and I love the same omega. Ego doesn’t matter when you’re all building a future together. To act as if any of us are doing anything wrong or shady is disrespectful to our scent match.”
“I asked at the beginning that we stay on topic,” Allen says, leaning forward to speak into the mic. “Coach Miles’ sex life has nothing to do with hockey. There doesn’t need to be a statement on it, nor are questions about his pack respectful.”
“We’re still curious about it,” Mike fromThe Heraldcalls out. “It’s an odd dynamic. Since Coach mentioned it, the idea that Levon might get preferential treatment is a concern.”
“Not from where I’m standing,” Allen laughs. “As Coach also stated, he doesn’t give two fucks who is closest to him, he’llcontinue to do his job. Levon works his ass off, and I think it’s easy to agree that he’s cleaned his act up.”
“He absolutely has,” I agree. “Santo is a really good influence on him. The majority of Levon’s aggression now plays out on the ice.”
“And the rest?” Mike asks.
I simply grin, because I’m not going to tell them that Santo’s ass takes the beating.
“I believe that goes under the category of ‘none of your business’,” Allen says. “Let’s allow Coach to get home to his omega. Have a great night, folks.”
Scanning the crowd for Caelia, I begin walking toward the back of the room to find her. The reporters are talking to themselves, and I roll my eyes when someone wonders if I’m sexually involved with my pack mates. I don’t care where those musings go either way, though I’ll have to have a conversation with my mom if that shit gets printed.
“Cae!” I call out, using my height to find her.
She wiggles through the open spaces between people to escape into my arms, and I kiss the crown of her head.
“Did you just tell the press to fuck themselves?” she murmurs, grinning up at me.
“Absolutely. I do it all the time,” I chuckle, guiding her out of the press of people. “The trick is never to outwardly use those words.”
“I can see that,” she says, staying pressed against me as we walk.
“While I don’t particularly care what they say about me, I know it bothers Levon,” I say. “I mentioned that you’re our scent match to close down any conversation about your age or anything else in that vein.”
“They’re always going to feed into it,” Caelia sighs. “Did you know that there is a website talking about who players are dating?”
“Ugh, please tell me you didn’t look at it,” I groan. “Sites like that are always going to pop up because people are bored.”
“I didn’t,” she says. “I have a feeling that I don’t have thick enough skin for that.”
My hand moves to slide under her sweatshirt, ghosting along her skin.
“I for one love how soft your skin is,” I purr. “Let’s get home so I can show you how much.”
Heat fills her gaze as she nods, and we practically run out of the stadium to the car. There’s something to be said for being the first one home. Santo and Levon can join us whenever they’re done.
