On the drive, the guys explained the rules of the game to Talon. The dragon’s eyes lit up when they described their defense, and the ways they were allowed to check their opponents.
Kellan got us to the hockey arena in record time, pulling into the already crowded parking lot and sliding into his spot near the players’ entrance. Finley opened the door for me and took great pleasure inhelpingme from the car, my body sliding down his as he grinned unrepentantly.
This lighthearted, flirty side of Finley was utterly addictive and intoxicating. Especially when he growled, “You’re welcome, darlin’,” to my thank you.
At the entrance just behind the security who kept out the average hockey fan, Kassidy, Danielle, Conrad, Julien, and Tyson waited for us.
Kellan walked into his mom’s waiting arms, and I found it odd to see a shifter so comfortable around his family. There was not the slightest sign he expected to be hurt or rejected by them… just embraced by unconditional love.
It was the sort of love I’d never known until I met my alphas.
As we headed inside, Kellan filled his family in on the other team’s stats, and I found myself walking arm in arm with Kassidy. She wore a Wolves jersey too, with Finley’s name and number on it. I’d seen herin Kellan’s too, as she swapped them frequently. She told me it was whoever was her favorite that day.
“Have you heard from Cora?” she asked as we followed everyone down a well-lit but empty hallway. Everyone except Talon, who remained protectively at my back.
“Not really,” I said, my excitement over tonight fading. “I tried to see her today but didn’t make it past the start of their street. We just left them with food and our love.” My voice dropped lower. “I really want to kill that fucking witch.”
Kassidy’s breaths were shallow, as the mild sea breeze scent she always carried deepened. She hadn’t known Marcus well, but she grieved for our friend. “We will kill Jewels,” she decided, as if already manifesting it. “I don’t care what it takes. She cannot be allowed to exist, let alone control our beasts.” My pack weren’t the only one prepared to die before letting a witch control our beasts, even as I hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
When we reached the t-section which branched off into the lockers or the main stadium, we nearly collided with other Wolves players. They all wore suits, like Kellan and Finley, and I could feel their high energy as they got into their gameday mindset.
Front and center was Christian, Kellan’s bestie, who I hadn’t seen for ages.
“Strawberry Shortcake,” he crowed, racing right for me.
He almost collided with Talon, who moved like a damn ninja to stand in front of me. Talon was an expert at remaining still and calm, until he snapped into action and you found yourself dead at his feet.
Christian, who was no doubt well aware of our newest pack mate from Kellan, managed to avoid a collision. By the time I peeped around Talon’s broad shoulders, the wolf shifter was backing away slowly, hands held up in front of his chest as his sports bag swung by his side.
“Sorry, Alpha…” He squinted an eye, and then turned to Kellan, who wore an expression of amusement.
“Talon,” he reminded his best friend. “I told you about him, moron. Did you hit your head while off playing in the sand?”
Christian mocked a furious expression, while keeping one cautious eye on Talon. “I was helping my mom’s pack in Hawaii. The sickness almost took them all out.” He shrugged. “Though, to be fair, there was a lot of digging in the sand.”
He continued to back away until he collided with Kellan, who slapped a hand on his shoulder. “Good to have you back, brother. Are you ready for the game tonight?”
“Uh huh,” Christian said, sounding distracted.
To no one’s surprise, his focus remained locked on the quietly vibrating dragon.
When I tapped Talon’s shoulder, his chest rumbled once, the tremor tingling through my fingers, but he must have decided that Christian was no real threat and eased up just enough for me to view the rest of the shifters.
Including a semi-familiar face that I hadn’t seen on this team before. It took me a beat to remember the huge Viking-looking shifter’s name… Henderson.
What is he doing here?
Kassidy must have noticed where my curious focus was directed. “He just joined the team,” she murmured near my ear. “Trace Henderson. Apparently, our GM thought he was too good a player to leave on another team. He offered up a trade to get him.”
Finley and Kellan didn’t really acknowledge the Viking as they caught up with Christian. When Henderson’s gaze landed on me, it lingered for a few seconds, but other than mild curiosity he showed no other interest. At least none that got my guard-dragon moving.
The Viking alpha had sharp, masculine features, intense gray eyes like a storm at sea, and full lips that were flat and unsmiling. When his stare skipped past me, it locked right on Kassidy. And that was where it stayed.
Kassidy cleared her throat and he didn’t react at all. “Can I help you with something?” she asked, her gaze darting around like she was uncomfortable under that penetrating stare. It was clear she wanted her question to sound annoyed and abrasive, but the breathiness in her tone betrayed her.
Kassidy had called him hot the first time she saw him, and up close he was magnetic. Not like my alphas, but there was certainly a unique strength in this shifter that most alphas didn’t possess.
Henderson must have felt the same way about Kassidy—she was drop-dead gorgeous, so I wouldn’t blame him—or she’d triggered his beast to take control. His stare was unwavering.
