“You ready for today?” Kenzo asked when I remained silent, his worry for me not completely abated. I might have been in a better place, but it still wasn’t a good place.
“Ready,” I confirmed, forcing a smile. “I’m excited to be able to play without the stress and worry over Kellan. Even leaving the house felt wrong when Kel could take a turn and be gone from us at any moment. Now he’s here, annoying the crap out of everyone, and it just feels right.”
Kellan appeared like I’d summoned him by rubbing a magic lamp and making a wish. “He totally cried when I was dying,” he said to Kenzo, dropping heavily on the other side of me.
Carlson, our goalie, let out a loud laugh. Fucking lion shifter sounded like a hyena when he cackled like that. “Baby bear was even more grouchy than usual. Just ask Lewis.”
Lewis was another defenseman, and despite having played together for years now, we were casual enemies. Occasional allies. “He got in my face when I was trying to move the puck,” I reminded them. Lewis called out his own bullshit version of events, before the locker room erupted into laughter and argument, everyone chiming in with their two cents of what happened.
“What did you do?” Kellan asked, turning so a hint of Emme’s bite was visible as he scratched his hand over it, obsessive as ever.
“Knocked him on his ass during the game,” I said shortly, shaking my head. “I shouldn’t have to battle the other team andmy fucking ownwhen trying to clear the net. He knows that.”
Kenzo snorted. “But for real, I need to know if he did cry when you were dying. I’ve never even seen him cry. You shouldask Slade for the video footage.” Myformerbest friend held his stomach as he laughed harder. “We could have blackmail material forever.”
No one had seen me cry since I was eight years old and my mom stabbed my dad, almost killing him. That was the first time, and it was my weakness that had cost him. I swore never again to allow my emotions to put others at risk.
Christian was a great distraction as he pushed through the room, most of the team having moved on from the Lewis argument. It felt right for the four of us to lace up before a game again, as we waited for Coach to appear.
Kellan leaned back with his hands behind his head, stretching out. “As if Slade has any footage that’s not Emme-related. I swear he’s just up in his lair jerking off to our pretty omega sleeping every night.”
Right. Sleeping.
Even from down the hall I’d heard her with Kellan and Hunter, and I was fairly sure sleep didn’t factor into their nightly activities. Thank the goddess for noise-cancelling headphones and sleeping draughts. Not that they worked much these days. The healers had warned me I’d eventually develop a resistance, and apparently, the time was now.
Kellan pressed his hand to the bite once more. “You should feel how happy she is right now.” He released the most contented sigh I’d ever heard from another shifter. “The alphas let her drive, and she’s zooming through the streets, turning both of those lucky assholes on with her skills behind the wheel.”
I slid forward, my body jerking toward him. “You can tell that much about her through the bond? Even without the quintet fully formed?”
The corner of his lips twitched until he laughed out loud. “Hunter might have sent a few messages and an image to fill in the blanks, but I can absolutely feel her joy. It’s weird, but alsoeverything.I know it’s not my emotion when it blazes through me, but we’re also linked, so it feels like my joy somehow. My wolf is a contented ball of fluff. When Emme’s feelings seep through, it’s like I stumbled into the warmth of summer after being lost in a snowstorm.”
The Ice Queen shouldn’t feel like summer.It just didn’t mesh with her personality.
“Speaking of, we’re actually scheduled for a snowstorm tonight,” Christian piped up. “I think they’re working to organize one of our winter runs as soon as the first flakes fall.”
Further conversation died off as Coach appeared. “Listen up, Wolves,” he roared, his lion flashing in his eyes. “Firstly, let’s give a moment of thanks to have our captain back and ready to go.”
Kellan waved his arms in the air as everyone shouted and called out. “Thanks, Coach,” he said, pretending to wipe a tear away. “I’m thrilled to be playing again, and it’ll be even better to have my girl, pack, and family in the crowd. We’re going to destroy them tonight.”
More cheers and shouts, and I slapped him on the shoulder as my adrenaline started to build. The excitement that hockey and skating usually brought me had been duller without Kellan, but it blazed as bright as ever today.
“Yes, we are,” Coach continued, shutting down the cheers. He never had to raise his voice, having long ago earned our respect—helped along with suicides until we puked if we talked over him. “This team is one of our greatest rivals, especially now they’ve gotHenderson,who is an absolute machine at center. He’s fast, built like a tank, and without mercy. Do not underestimate him.”
I’d been studying game tapes of Henderson, and he was a worry. Matching me in size, he played like it was his last day onEarth, and to make it to eternal paradise he had to take out as many of his opponents as he could.
It wasn’t that I was worried about stopping him, but it wouldn’t be as easy as usual. My eliminator socks felt a little extra snug as I flexed my toes, hoping they’d come through as always. I didn’t even want to think about my boxer briefs and what they represented, but for the rest of this season as least, they were important. I carried the omega with me, whether either of us wanted it or not.
Knowing she would be in the stands again gave me mixed feelings. She’d saved Kellan’s life, and I’d owe her forever. For that, I’d decided that shit had to change between us, and while we might never be a fully mated portion of this quintet, we could learn to be civil.
I’d mentioned as much to Kellan and the fucker had thrown his head back and laughed. “Emme is always civil with you, bro. You’re the jerk here. It’s your attitude that needs adjusting.”
My bear had reared up, but it was a fair call. She’d triggered my trauma, and I’d been clinging to my anger to ensure that I never softened and got hurt again. Letting her close and then losing her wasn’t a survivable option for me.
And I was still sure we’d lose her. It was the inevitable future that she’d been preparing us for since she’d first arrived.
When Coach was finished, we headed out for warmups. I grabbed my stick and jumped to my feet, bouncing on the rubber floor, ready for the game. We might not be on home ice, but we’d have plenty of support out there in the stands.
The moment we hit the ice, and the chill washed over my face, I breathed more freely. There was no feeling comparable to this—I didn’t care what anyone said. I’d had plenty of sex in my life, and I fucking loved sex, but the first glide across smooth ice was better.
