Warmth lit up my chest at her caring enough to notice this about me. “Don’t stay down here on account of me,” I blurted, ignoring Talon, who grumbled about me not getting whatever made me the happiest. “I haven’t even seen the corporate box, and I’m happy to sit up there.”
Kassidy, finally starting to shake off her shock, planted her hands on her hips. I took in her full badass alpha wolf glory, all decked out in combat boots, black leather pants, and her Celtics’ jersey. “Nope,” she said with a snap. “I’m staying down here. I’m also going to need nachos, a beer, and some form of chocolate. Stat.”
“Done,” Hunter replied, his mood lightening as his sister pulled herself together.
Knowing my mate, Florence and Gerald were out there already ensuring we were delivered the highest quality hockey snacks. Especially with the Annandale pack away from their jobs as they grieved Marcus. My eyes burned, and I fought to push the sorrow aside to focus on hockey.
The next hour was spent sandwiched between Talon and Hunter, one who mentally updated Slade, while the other sent him messages. Slade’s dragon also checked in with my wolf, and I was pleased that distance wasn’t an issue with our mental communication.
It came in handy with how often I forgot my phone.
As the crowds piled in, I chatted to Danielle, who had pulled an actual cross-stitch out of her bag to do while she waited. I was fascinated watching her create a gorgeous pattern of flowers across the surface.Was she even real?
Danielle loved to talk, and conversation was so easy with her. She told me stories of Kellan over the years, along with a list of her favorite plants, and what book she was currently reading. The next time she excused herself to use the restroom, Slade’s dragon surged in our bond, as if he’d been waiting for a lull to push forward.Everything okay, Snow?
I’m totally fine, bestie.
Besties who pranked each other. I missed that side of our bond, but I wasn’t complaining about where we were now.
Mate, he growled back.We are mates, which is a much stronger bond than besties.
As I composed my best rebuttal to that statement, he added,Though, I suppose we are that as well. We’re soulmates. Best friends is part and parcel of that.
Oh goddess. I was suddenly feeling a little hot under the collar.I’m honored to be your soulmate and best friend, Slade Riverson.
He was silent for a beat, as his beast nuzzled against my wolf, in what felt like a very loving stroke along my side.Are you sure you’re not hurt? I can feel some discomfort.
As if he conjured the pain with those words, I felt a mild throb in my lower back. Were these plastic chairs a little harder than usual and I hadn’t noticed while I was caught up in my chat with Danielle?
I’m probably just sore from being claimed by two giant dragons co?—
I cut myself off, but the damage was already done. Talon coughed out a smoky laugh beside me, and since he wasn’t in my communication with Slade, I had to assume he’d heard that through his twin connection.
Slade joined him not even a second later, and his deep raspy laughter had me feeling warm all over, until I was a puddle about to melt on the floor. I’d waited a long time to hear him laugh like that, and I was not disappointed.
You were made for us, Snow. There’s no part of me… or Talon, that you cannot take. Keep that in mind for the next time the three of us are together.
I spluttered out loud and my wolf stepped away from the dragon, breaking the connection. Not that Slade couldn’t have blasted his way through again, but thankfully he respected my need for privacy. Even as his warm laughter continued to echo through my mind.
Hunter slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer, and I wondered what they saw in the bond while I was privately chatting to the other alphas. Could they see the way our beasts drifted together, while they remained more on the outside?
Yes,he said softly, moving forward in our connection, while making it clear I still wasn’t very good at blocking my stronger thoughts.That’s what I see.
I shivered as his teeth grazed the shell of my ear. “You smell like the sweetest candy treat,” he murmured out loud, his right handsliding up to wrap around the base of my throat in my favorite power move of his. “What did our dragon say to get you so hot and bothered?”
“Sandwiches,” I blurted out, flustered as hell and relieved that Kellan’s parents hadn’t returned yet. “He was talking about a dragon sandwich.”
His laughter drew not only my attention but that of shifter groups around us. Golden Claw wasn’t used to seeing my pack express amusement so freely, but when darkness chased us around every corner, a moment of levity was exactly what we all needed.
CHAPTER 17
EMME
The hockey game was a demolition. The Wolves burst onto the ice with a vengeance, and by the third period the score was ten to one in their favor. Kellan had a hat trick under his belt, and so did Henderson. Every time the Viking shifter scored, his gaze flashed to Kassidy, who was resolutely pretending to be very interested in the giant screen at the top of the arena.
Kellan beamed at me when he scored, and my heart fluttered with each blown kiss as he skated closer. Finley also beamed in my direction whenever he smashed one of his opponents into the side. When he spent two minutes in the penalty box, he alternated between watching the game and me. As if I could have any doubt that he loved us both.
Being here to witness my alphas playing a sport they were so good at, especially when they showed off for me, was honestly foreplay. Nothing could change my mind.
