“Sorry. I know the basics of hockey, most of the game rules and things like that, but I don’t know what it takes to be the best.”
Mikael grumbles something from the front seat, and we all ignore him.
The drive is longer than I was expecting, but I enjoy Anders’ touches and listening to the guys attempt to sing some of the songs that are on Eli’s playlist. It’s also nice to be surrounded by their scents without Mikael saying anything negative. Part of me wishes he would speak though, at least try to hold some conversation with me. I feel like he’s written me off without attempting to get to know me.
Eli pulls up to a small shop, and Mikael hops out of the car.
“We kind of guessed on what type of sub to get you,” Eli says sheepishly.
“I love pretty much everything.”
“Good. This place is the best.”
I clear my throat. “Is Mikael okay with me tagging along?”
“He’s fine, ignore him,” Eli says simply. How do I ignore someone when every instinct in my body is saying that he belongs to me? I just nod my head, Anders’ thumb rubbing soothing circles on my thigh.
Mikael comes back to the car without a word, holding two bags. Eli reverses, and we drive toward the stadium. “We’ll eat at the rink. Eli is a freak about people eating in his car,” Anders says.
“First of all, it’s a truck. And second, listening to you fuckers eat in such a small, confined space is my personal nightmare.”
“I’m fucking starving,” Mikael grumbles. I feel like we all look at him, having been the first time he’s spoken up the whole trip. He just faces out the window and stays silent the rest of the way.
Lunch was delicious. They ordered me a turkey BLT with avocado, and it was amazing. I grabbed a coke and a bag of M&M’s before sitting in the stands. The guys went to get dressed in all their gear as I sit here waiting for the game to start.
Eli gave me a very stern look and said, “If anyone gives you any shit, you find me right away, yeah?” I nodded my head, and I’m very grateful that I thought to wear some scent-blocking panties this afternoon.
I take out the book from my mom and start reading as I wait for the game to start. The book is about an Alpha named Pearson who met his scent match, Ebony, when he was twenty-five and she was twenty-three. She had already been bonded to two other Alphas at the time. When they met, it was unlike anything he ever experienced. He describes it as falling instantly, scenting her and knowing that she was his future, that nothing would ever compare. That if he didn’t make Ebony his bonded mate, he would never have a day of peace in his life.
A huge smile takes over my face when I realize Ebony is quoted in the story. She describes finding her scent match unlike anything else. She loved the Alphas she was already bound to and doesn’t want to compare her partners. But her connection to Pearson is cataclysmic, like the universe destined them together. She wanted his bite nearly as soon as she met him.
I’m eager to read more when a door slams open and a bunch of hockey players take the ice. There are two teams, black and white. I have to squint and try to find mine—damn, possessive much?I spot Anders first, mostly because he’s by the goal. He gets down on the ice and does these stretches that look like he’s humping the ice. I nearly have to excuse myself. Why don’t they air this portion of hockey on TV? I swear the female fan base would go up astronomically. He’s covered in thick pads and stretches his legs so wide it has my jaw slacked. I know guys joke around about wanting girls to be flexible in the bedroom. I realize I’m no better than a man as I think very dirty thoughts about Anders’ flexibility.
I only spot Eli because he waves at me. I grin and wave back, watching him skate around the rink. Him and Anders are both in black jerseys, so I know to look for Mikael in white. He’s scowling at someone in a black jersey, and Eli skates between them. I wish I could hear their conversation. At least I can take some solace in knowing that he doesn’t reserve all his scowling just for me.
There’s a lot of stretching, skating, and talking before two referees take the ice and blow the whistle, starting the game. I shove the book back in my bag, excited to pick it back up when the period ends, but I’m even more enamored by watching them all play. Eli is so fast on the ice; you wouldn’t think someone his size would be able to skate so quickly. I’m not sure about his position, but he seems like the guy who scores. Mikael is lethal on the ice, and it does more to me than it should. When he pushes a guy in a black jersey against the boards, I find myself liking it. Mikael doesn’t seem to be around Anders, so I guess his position is more defensive.
Anders stops a puck with his stick and passes it to his defensemen, who then passes to Eli. He does some quick stick work, getting past the white team’s defense, and smacks the puck right into the corner of the goal. I’m on my feet clapping and cheering before I even think. Eli’s teammates hug him and clap his shoulder. But I definitely don’t miss the beaming grin from him on the ice. As light as it makes my heart, it’s quickly squished when I see Mikael’s scowling face. I sit back down on the uncomfortable stands and tuck my hands under my thighs. I watch as Eli shoves Mikael, but Mikael just skates away.
It’s a lot of back and forth during the first period. I get the impression that Eli, Mikael, and Anders aren’t giving their all in this game, and I make a note to ask them about it. The referee blows the whistle, and the two teams skate off to their respective benches. I use this time to take a much needed pee break. I leave my jacket but take my purse with me. The bathrooms are right behind the stands, so I feel fine.
Just as I’m walking to the ladies, an arm reaches out, the large palm flat against the brick wall. He smells like patchouli, and I fucking hate that scent. Why do all these shit Alphas smell like patchouli? I look up and notice it’s the same guy that Mikael was scowling at earlier.
“Excuse me,” I say politely.
“What’s the rush, little Omega?” I furrow my brows, not liking that term from him at all. It only sounds right coming from my scent matches.
“I just need to go to the bathroom, if you could just move.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be like that.”
I go to bend under his arm and walk past when he grabs my arm. His grip is firm, but not enough to leave a mark. Just another intrusive Alpha who thinks he can take what he wants. I’m really contemplating kicking him in the dick, but he has all his hockey gear on.
“I’m used to Betas being the puck bunnies. No need to play hard to get, sweetheart. You came here for a knot, right?”
“Don’t touch me!”
“Maybe this whole putting up a fight thing could be fun.” He leans forward and smells my hair, and I push against his chest. Just as quickly as he was in my space, he suddenly has his back against the wall, a scathing Mikael in his face.
