When I first met Kassidy, I’d been worried that she would see me as an interloper in her family and hate me on principle. But she’d been nothing but welcoming. She’d opened her arms and accepted me without question, and I considered her to be one of my best friends now.
The game started fast, and it was immediately rough out there. I’d missed who we were against today, but whoever they were, they were out for blood and on the attack.
Kassidy’s nachos lay forgotten in her lap as she leaned forward, her eyes trained on one shifter in particular. No matter how much she denied it, her beast’s desire to be with her mate was going to force her to deal with him.
By the end of the first period, the score was one apiece. Though it felt like there should have been ten more points on our side with how many shots they’d had on goal. The other team’s goalie was exceptional, and if I were the Celtic’s coach, I’d have been poaching him for sure.
Not that ours was far behind, really.
As the players left the ice, a shadow fell over our chairs. I glanced up to find Warrick settling into the seat beside me. I blinked in surprise and elation, even though I wished he’d sat one seat away like he normally would. But I was too happy to see him to suggest it.
“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” I said, taking in his bloodshot eyes and generally wrinkled and unkept appearance. “Is Cora okay?”
He nodded roughly, running a hand over his few days of beard growth. “Yeah, I just had to get out of the house and away from the grief.” There was a rasp in his voice, as if he hadn’t used it in days. “As I was driving, I remembered there was a game on, and knew you’d have these seats. I hope you don’t mind.”
“You’re always welcome,” I told him, relaxing only when he shifted a little to the left so we weren’t touching. Without my alphas here, I wouldn’t be touching another male, not unless it was to save his life.
Packs were sacred; you didn’t touch another’s mate withoutpermission. None of my guys had given Warrick permission, and thankfully he was respecting that.
We settled into a comfortable silence to watch the game, my hands clenched into fists on my thighs every time Finley and Kellan were out there. The game continued to be one of the toughest I’d ever seen them in, and when they were closing in on the third period, Warrick finally spoke up.
“Kellan and Finley will probably be in media for a couple of hours. Do you want me to give you both a ride home?”
“That’d be great,” Kassidy said before I could answer. “I caught a ride here with a friend, but she’s heading out afterwards, so I always planned to head home with Em and the boys.”
I could feel her desperation to get out of here and hidden safely behind the compound’s gates before Henderson cornered her. She’d come to keep me company, and since it was either go home with Warrick or wait in the locker rooms for the guys to finish up their interviews, I’d stick with Kassidy.
“Sounds good,” I said, wondering if he’d answer any questions about Cora on the way home. At least a very brief update about how she was doing, along with Richard and Sierra.
The crowds erupted around us. In my distraction, I’d missed the other team managing to score right on the final buzzer. “Fuck,” Kassidy snarled as the score flashed two to one on the Jumbotron. “What a messy game, and our boys still lost.”
So much for the beer and nachos ritual. It was an extra betrayal when food let me down.
“They’ll beat them next time,” Warrick said with confidence, already standing. “Come on, let’s get out of here before the crowds get crazy.”
I’m going to catch a ride home with Warrick, I said into the pack bond.He’s going to drop Kassidy and me back to the compound so she doesn’t have to deal with Henderson.
Slade’s reply came through immediately.Sit in the back seat, Emmeline. You were far too close to him during that game.
Ah, I loved that despite our new bond, my favorite stalker continued to keep an eye on me through whatever security system filled the stadium.
I promise, I replied.
Just wait for us, Kellan suggested, sounding a little breathless. That game had been brutal, and he was feeling it.We won’t be too long.
I’m going to try and talk to him about Cora, I told them.I’m worried about her, but I’ll meet you at home.
Finley’s bear pushed forward.We’ll be home within the hour, Em. Coach doesn’t need as much of our time as we initially thought.
Perfect.
I had the drive home now to grill my friend about Cora, and hope that she was doing better than I expected.
CHAPTER 41
HUNTER
From the moment my plane taxied out of Golden Claw, my wolf had been uneasy, but after the blood spell pulled the same Silver City location, I knew this was our best chance to stop the witch.
