“Tell us what’s going on,” Coach demands. “You’ve been spacy, unfocused, running off with that bodyguard. And now the curlers?” She points at Vann’s face on the screen. “He’s got a rep for getting into fights and starting trouble. He’s not a good guy, Raven.”
“There’s more to him than that.” I feel surprisingly protective of the overeager alpha. I’ll be the first to admit he makes a lot of mistakes. But he can also be sweet and supportive, even romantic.
“We should have expected this,” Ana grumbles, turning away. “I tried to tell the committee, but they wouldn’t listen.”
Harriett lets out a resigned sigh. “Omegas can’t help it.”
I’ve never felt so small, like a child they think is incapable of any kind of self control.
“It’s not like that,” I say, trying to harden my voice, fightingthe instinct to cower.
“What’s it like then?” Coach asks. “Are you trying to trap them into something?”
“No! Of course not.”I already have. The thought comes so fast and so hard I nearly lose my resolve. But, no, they wanted this. They wanted it even more than I did. Still, I acted without reason, I bit Orion without his consent, just like everyone feared. But it wasn’t my fault. Someone made me vulnerable. Someone did this to me by messing with my suppressants. I pull back my shoulders and stand straighter. “It’s not like that,” I repeat, squaring off with Coach in a way I’ve never dared. “They’re my scent matches. And I’m not going to stop seeing them just because of how it looks to other people.”
Harriett’s eyes go wide for a moment before she schools her expression back to disdain.
Coach puts her hands on her hips. “You know what’ll happen if anythingindecentoccurs…”
“What I do with my body doesn’t concern them.” I hold my chin high, even though I’m shaking all over. “It isn’t against the rules for competitors to be involved with each other.”
“It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do.” Harriett tucks her phone back in her pocket. “Just the assumption does enough damage.”
“What does it matter? I’ve already failed.” The last word comes out strangled.
“You still represent the USA, and if you want to keep up with this career you need to keep those legs shut until you get home," Ana spits out.
Before I can even process that vitriol, Harriet steps between us. “Don’t do anything for now.” She knocks on the door, letting Foster know he can come out. “I’ll put outa statement about how you all were friends in high school, and we’ll try to redirect attention with the fundraiser tomorrow.”
“What fundraiser?” I ask, eyes swinging from Harriett to Ana. I don’t remember a fundraiser on my schedule, but it’s impossible to keep track of everything Harriett has planned. And she’s right. I have been unfocused. It’s hard to tell how much of the spaciness is from exhaustion and how much is the bonding sickness.
“The Hart Foundation is putting on a gala,” Harriett says as Foster steps out of the hotel room, scowling.
“Are you alright?” he asks, hand coming to the small of my back.
“I’m fine.” Truthfully, I’m still shaking from standing up to Coach, but I feel lighter than I have in a long time.
Harriett watches me carefully as I lean into Foster’s touch. “We should get going.”
“Actually, no.” I take Foster’s hand in mine. “Cancel everything. We already have plans today.”
Foster gives me the biggest smile I’ve seen from him yet. Harriett and Ana look outraged, but I don’t give them time to respond before walking away, hand still in Foster’s.
50
TANNER
Ablack-tie gala isn’t how I want to spend the night before our last game. Normally, before a big game like this, I’d be going over tapes and planning strategies with my team. But we couldn’t turn down this invitation. All the best sponsors are here tonight. The movers and shakers, the people who can turn a sport like curling into something more than it is right now.
Plus, our omega’s here.
Which means, for once, the guys didn’t give me crap about putting on suits and trudging through the snow to the hotel ballroom situated just across the street from the arena where we’ll play tomorrow. As soon as we arrived, my pack scattered, looking for Raven.
The room is opulent to say the least. The lighting from the large crystal chandeliers is dim, creating an ambiance that feels more sultry than it needs to be. Ornate floral arrangements grace each table, the flowers perfectly fresh and the linens pristinely pressed. The irony doesn’t escape me that to make money, we have to come to anevent that is absolutely hemorrhaging it to impress donors.
“...excited to have partnered with Team USA to provide top of the line curling brooms. How are you liking them?” I tune back into the conversation with the alpha from CurlFX. I nearly missed what he said while I was scanning the room.
I stand straighter and lower my voice, projecting a confidence I’m not sure I truly feel. “The brooms are fantastic, sir. The carbon fiber is lightweight, but feels sturdy enough for an alpha’s grip.”
