"There's another problem," Reina said, her voice quieter now. "What do I wear?"
The question hung in the air.
I knew what she meant. Knew what she was really asking.
Whose jersey?
The possessive part of me, the Alpha part, wanted to say mine immediately. Wanted to see her wearing my name, my number. Wanted everyone to know she was mine.
But she wasn't just mine.
"It's a Frost Kings home game," I said carefully. "Wear mine."
Jaxon's jaw ticked. I felt the flash of jealousy through the bond before he controlled it.
"Next game," Jaxon said, his eyes locked on Reina, "you wear mine. Rest of the season. Deal?"
Reina stood, walked over to him, and kissed him. Soft and sweet. "Deal."
Then she came to me, kissed me the same way. "I'm Switzerland, remember? You two are still going to beat the shit out of each other on the ice, aren't you?"
"Probably," Jaxon and I said at the same time.
Reina sighed but she was smiling. "At least you're honest."
Glacier Arena looked the same as always. State of the art facility, Frost Kings banners hanging from the rafters, ice pristine and waiting.
But everything felt different.
I walked into the locker room and immediately felt the shift in attention. My teammates looked up, conversation dying mid-sentence.
Marcus was the first to speak. "Captain. Where the hell have you been?"
"Had something I needed to handle," I said, heading for my stall.
"For two days?" Marcus stood, crossed his arms. "Coach has been losing his mind."
I started pulling out my gear, methodical and focused. Trying to ignore the stares.
"What's that on your neck?" Johnson called from across the room.
My hand went automatically to my throat, to the claiming bite Reina had left. I'd worn a high-necked shirt but it hadn't covered it completely.
"Nothing. Drop it."
"That's a bonding bite," Marcus said quietly, moving closer. "You're mated."
The locker room went silent.
Every Alpha in the room could smell it now that they were paying attention. The change in my scent. The bond marking me as claimed.
"Yeah," I said, meeting Marcus's eyes. "I am."
"To who?"
"An Omega. That's all you need to know."
"Bullshit." Marcus lowered his voice so only I could hear. "Luca, everyone can smell that you're bonded. And you've been MIA for two days. What's going on?"
