“As soon as they clear the arena, I’ll see if we can get some extra practice time. You obviously need it,” she says, then walks off, presumably to talk to whoever she needs to in order to arrange that.
I slump down onto the bench, my muscles still shaking. Foster looks over at me, checking in, and I give him a weak smile, wishing I could go back and freeze that moment when he held me. I could use that comfort now.
Instead, he squeezes my shoulder, urging me to stand so we can leave the box as the next program starts. His grip is firm as he guides me through the crowd, his alpha presence radiating enough power that other alphas and betas alike avert their gazes and step out of our way when we pass. An omega whine tries to creep up my throat, but I force it back down and drop my face to stare at the ground. That is not a weakness I can allow anyone to witness. Not here.
Coach Ana was right, I should have attempted the triple axle to up my technical difficulty score. I just wasn’t sure I could nail the landing, so I played it safe. But this is the Olympics, not some regional event back home. At this level, you have to take big risks or you’re guaranteed to go home empty handed. I need to be better. Icanbe better.
After the press conference, I’ll head back to the arena. Coach Ana will get me extra skate time come hell or high water. That woman is a shark when it comes to getting what she wants.
Foster’s hand leaving my shoulder pulls me out of my panic spiral, but when I look up, we’re not at the media tent as I expected.
“What are we doing back at the dorm? We’re supposed to give a post-skate interview. And Ana wants me to practice for the free skate. Foster, we have to turn around. I need?—”
“What you need,” Foster cuts me off with a growl, “is to rest. Fuck the press and fuck practicing tonight. Your body and brain are being stretched past their limits, Raven.”
A warm feeling settles in my chest, swiftly followed by the cold fingers of panic and dread. “No, you don’t understand. I’m fine. We can just go back to?—-”
“No.” Foster’s voice is stern, just shy of a bark. When he feels me stiffen, he takes a deep breath then tries again, his face softer than before. “No,principessa. It’s my job to protect you, and tonight, that means no press, no interviews, no extra skating. Tonight, we’re going to go upstairs and take some time foryou. You’re going to take an extra hot shower to release some of this stress. Hell, stay in there until the warm water runs out. Or don’t. I don’t care whatyou do as long as it has absolutely nothing to do with figure skating or the Olympics.”
“But…” I protest one last time, but it’s weak even to my own ears.
“Cucciola. They call these the Olympicgames. It isn’t a matter of life or death. Nothing truly unsalvageable will happen if you play hooky tonight. Okay?”
A ball of stress I didn’t realize I was carrying seems to crumble off my shoulders. I take stock of my body, my mind. I’m tired of appeasing everyone. I’m tired of the interviews and the outings and the criticisms. I’m just fucking exhausted.
I look up into Foster’s dark brown eyes and smile softly. “Okay.”
19
RHODES
We nearly have an Olympic-sized crisis when my packmates see Raven in the arms of another alpha. A huge, attractive, muscular, tattooed alpha. Vann wants to jump down there and rip her away from the outsider, which makes sense given he knows she’s his scent match. But it’s the reactions of Tanner and Orion that catch me off guard.
A low growl has me turning toward our pack lead, only to find Tanner with fists clenched so tight his knuckles are turning white. His carefully held control is clearly being tested. The glare he sends toward the strange alpha could melt ice, and he’s holding himself incredibly still, like a bow pulled taut and ready to fire at any moment.
Orion is only marginally better. No growling or posturing, but the emotions flit across his face rapid fire. Shock. Anger. Melancholy. I don’t think the man knows what to do or how to feel.
It’s gonna take some serious effort for me to get themto leave before we cause a scene and disrupt the next performance.
“Guys, let’s go.” I try to get their attention but they have a single-minded focus. “Vann.” He ignores me, so I try for Orion. “Orion. Alpha!” That finally gets his attention. When he glares at me, I touch his shoulder in an attempt at comfort. “Not here. You don’t want to ruin Raven’s day. Let it go.”
The alpha looks back to the rink, but Raven and the man are gone. Heaving a resigned sigh, Orion smacks our other two packmates on their chests, one after the other. “The last shuttle leaves in 25 minutes. As much as I wouldn’t mind getting stuck in the same city as our omega, we have a game tomorrow.”
Our omega.I’m not sure Orion even realizes he just claimed her so casually. Tanner shakes his head, and when he stares at us he’s all business again. His voice is gruff. “Right, hurry up. We can’t miss our ride.”
Vann looks like he wants to argue again, but he doesn’t. His shoulders slump, head dropping. I want to take his hand and offer him some comfort, but I ball my fists instead. He probably wouldn’t welcome my attention right now.
We file out of the row, climbing the stairs one after the other like a line of depressed ants.
“We can’t wait to apologize,” Orion blurts, stopping in his tracks as soon as we’re out of the stands and in the hall.
I’m shocked he’s the one to say it.
“Hell yeah,” Vann says, jumping at the opportunity. “We can’t let some other fucker steal her away before we even get a chance with her.”
“No.” Tanner speaks the word through clenched teeth. “Nothing’s changed.”
We all stare at him as if he’s lost his mind. Something’s definitely changed. We were all working on the assumption that she’s unmated, but now we’ve realized she might not be.
