It didn’t matter that I landed another absolutely perfect goal because I’m just that amazing. Even if I’d missed, it was another way to get Timber on top of me. He never goes for me when we aren’t in our kit. At least not when he’s sober. I have to really push him to get him close to me off ice.
It’s easier if I do it like this. Whenever we get some alone time, I’ve tried to apologize. The only way to get him to come near me without a look of pain is to piss him off.
Marilyn presses her lips together, and I cringe at the icy look in her eyes. It’s not a good idea to act out, I might not be able to suffer the consequences. Especially when she sighs and threads her fingers together on top of her desk.
“We’re meant to be a team, and this is clearly not working. If you don’t get your act together, I’m moving both of you back to holdouts.”
We shoot forward in our chairs, gasps and shouts ripping from both of us.
“Wait, hang on,” Timber chokes out.
“We’re not that bad!” I cry. “Just because I like to get a little frisky with Timber on the ice doesn’t mean we aren’t producing results.”
If we get put into holdouts, we’ll basically be on the reserve team, and we might not touch ice for the rest of the season. It’s ultimately Coach’s decision, but Marilyn holds a huge amount of sway.
“We’re good players; you can’t boot us just because of a few fights,” Timber says.
“This is the fifth time you’ve been in my office this season. That’s essentially two fights a month. We can’t call it ‘a few fights’ when you’re practically exploding every other game. I managed to spin your last fight with that magazine feature, but there’s only so much I can do when everything gets recorded and uploaded to social media. There’s even fan accounts specifically for your fights, for God’s sake…” She pauses, running her hand through her silver hair. “We’re actually improving since your teammates have found omegas, and I don’t want to ruin our chances this season more than we already have.”
A funny feeling winds in my stomach as I get an idea of where she’s going with this. From the way he shifts in his chair, Timber seems to have cottoned on as well.
“I’m sure you’ve heard how some of your team members have changed. Now that they’ve found omegas, formed packs, andstabilized, our performance has definitely increased. We can’t trust either of you to stay calm when you’re on the ice, and in front of the cameras. So I’ll give you one chance.”
I grimace, glancing at Timber for support, but his head is firmly down, staring at his feet. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I hate that look on his face. Whatever it is, he’s nervous. Andno matter how much I liked to screw with him, I don’t want him stressed out like this.
“Marilyn, come on, seriously,” I say.
Marilyn said ‘found omegas’, but most of us know what’s going on. Ever since the guys started packing up, the rest of us have been suspicious of any omega we happen to randomly bump into out in the wild. Or more likeIs Marilyn behind this?
“No, Kane,seriously. I’ve been trying for years to get you boys back in shape.” Her voice softens as her fingers pull back, covering her wrist.
She strokes the gold bracelet her omega gave to her on their wedding day. And guilt comes knocking.
“You’re better than this. I believe the Scorpions can be a great team, but I need you to believe in yourselves and work together. And we won’t achieve that unless both of youbehave.”
Timber spreads his knees, his elbows pressed against them, his hands clasped in front of him as he finally lifts his head. He looks at Marilyn with the same determined stare that always gets me going.
“So, you want us to find a pack?” he asks huskily, and my stomach positively flutters at how alpha he is. Especially when he says words like ‘pack’.
“Hey, why don’t you hook up with me? Then we can find a nice omega together.” I sound like I’m joking, but only because the one time I tried to tell Timber my real feelings, he refused to talk to me for weeks. He ignores me when I flirt and tease him, but telling him I want to do more than fuck? Bad idea.
In the past, I’ve had to worm my way back in by convincing him I’m only winding him up. And who would want to be in a pack with the guy who broke your nose, your career, and your marriage?
It’s hard to flirt with the guy you’re crazy about while pretending you aren’t crazy about him.
“Absolutely not, I refuse. I’m not packing up with you. Never,” Timber says bluntly. But it’s to be expected.
“Timber, you—”
“No, Marilyn. Not in a million years am I touching that asshole with a ten-foot pole.”
“You could always touch me with something else. You didn’t have a problem with it earlier,” I hum, hoping the way he shifts his hips means he knows what I was aiming for when I held him close on the ice.
“I didn’t say you need a pack. Just an omega,” Marilyn presses. “Which is why you have three weeks to find omegas,separately.”
Silence weighs heavily around us, and I’m kind of enjoying the weird tension. That is, until Timber speaks and rattles me in a way he never has before.
“I can’t… Marilyn…” he rasps, his hands twisting between spread knees as he hunches over. “I can’t be with another omega.”
