“Just reading me my rights as Piper's best friend,” I say plainly, and her Alphas seem to accept that answer. Piper, however, doesn’t buy it as she gives me a soft smile, and she places her hand in mine.
I’m not sure how much longer these soft gentle touches are going to be enough. But I take the small intimacies in any way I can.
* * *
We’ve just about got one of the playoff spots with our name on it. It’s going to be close with the Lightning, but I know we can do it.
It’s taking every ounce of my energy, but I fucking know we can.
Tonight is a special home game. Not only are we playing the Canes again, much to Nilsen’s pleasure, but Piper is also attending the game. She hasn’t been able to come to a game since we’ve officially started dating. Which I guess is the term I would use for it. You can’t easily say I live with my scent match and we’re in a vow of celibacy, but as soon as the season is over, I’m going to go completely feral over the woman.
Dating is a simple way to say it, but she's far more, so is Alexi.
Alexi, who seems not himself. He’s fully dressed and ready for the game, looking sexy as he always does. The man is larger than life in both personality and stature, and I can’t seem to get enough of him. It took finding Alexi and Piper, but I finally feel like I can be myself—almost. While I can’t let my scent fully perfume or be as needy as I want to be, I’m not the same jaded, grumpy bastard I was when I started on this team.
I feel less angry at the world, and I can’t tell if it's the shift in my medication or these two Alphas who have helped center me.
“You good?” I ask Alexi.
“Yeah,” he says softly.
For the first time since we’ve met, I feel like Alexi is lying to me. I grab him by his jersey and take him to a small alcove in the locker room.
“What’s going on?” I ask, seeing worry written all over his face.
“It’s fine. We’re fine.”
“You look stressed, and you’re not joking around like you usually do.” I don’t care that we’re in the locker room, I place my hands on his chest, even though the padding stops me from touching his body.
He looks away from me for a moment before looking back. “Are you still going to want me after you can have Piper?” he asks. I’ve never thought that Alexi had any insecurities. He’s always grinning and making jokes.
“Of course I want you. Nothing about that has changed. Did I do something to make you feel this way?”
He sighs and scrubs his hands through his hair. “No, you didn’t do anything. We’re just getting closer to the end of the season. I just worry that once you’re with Piper, being with me won’t be the same for you anymore.”
I fist his jersey and tug him down so he has to look me in the eyes. “There is no pack without you. Don’t you see it?”
“What?” he says, and I shake my head.
“You’re the heart of the pack.”
He shakes his head. “You’re the Omega.” He says Omega softly, so no one in the locker room hears.
“Sure, but without you, we’re nothing. You’ve been there for me and Piper when we needed someone the most, despite not being a scent match. You’ve taken care of both of us with no expectations of anything in return. You were the one who was adamant that we would be a pack, and look at us now. You made this happen. You’re the pack Alpha, and I don’t want to hear any more of this bullshit again. I want you today, I’m going to want you tomorrow, and once this season is over, I’m going to want your bond mark just as much as I want Piper’s, you got me?”
A wide grin takes over his face, and I take a relieved breath knowing that my Alpha is back to his usual self.
“I’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head.
“Don’t be sorry. You’re allowed to feel however you want. Just know that it’s not based in reality. I want you, Alexi, just as bad as I want Piper.” Alexi and I haven’t fucked, but we’ve done everything else. I’m too nervous to let him knot me and send me into heat. Even if he isn’t my scent match and I’m still on a slew of drugs, it’s a risk we can’t take.
Right now, I’m about to throw risk to the wind to prove to this Alpha how much he means to me. I tug on his jersey again and bring his lips to mine. I’m sure we look ridiculous, both of us dressed head to toe in our uniforms, making out. But it feels right. He eases my nerves, and I’ve put his insecurities at bay.
There's a whistle, and Alexi shakes his head.
“You two gonna make out all day, or are we going to win this fucking game?” Mikael asks.
“Shut the fuck up. Let’s go kick some Hurricane ass,” Alexi says before swatting my ass, and Coach Applegate starts his speech.
