And the hashtags.
#TrinityBond
#HockeyKings
#OmegaGate
All trending.
"Oh god," I whispered.
I scrolled through my feed, my heart hammering.
"BREAKING: Frost Kings Captain Luca Vale and Steel Wolves Captain Jaxon Roarke both bonded to the same Omega"
"Trinity Bond Rocks NIHL – Rival Captains Share Mate"
"Conflict of Interest? NIHL Photographer in Trinity Bond with Two Team Captains"
Photos everywhere. Candid shots someone had taken at games, at restaurants, outside arenas. Me with Luca. Me with Jaxon. The claiming bites on both their necks clearly visible in close-up shots.
Someone had put it all together. Someone had exposed us.
My phone started ringing. Unknown number. I declined it.
It rang again. Another unknown number. Declined.
Text after text after text from numbers I didn't recognize. Media outlets. Reporters. Everyone wanting a statement.
I silenced my phone with shaking hands.
Sports shows were already discussing it. I found a clip on Twitter, watched with growing horror as commentators debated our bond.
"Look, I'm all for love," one of them was saying. "But this is a clear conflict of interest. She photographs both teams. How is that appropriate?"
"Trinity bonds are rare but they're real," another argued. "We can't discriminate against her for her biology."
"But two rival team captains? Both bonded to the same woman? This is unprecedented."
I closed the app. Couldn't watch anymore.
The group text exploded.
Jaxon was pissed as he fired off a text.I'm going to kill whoever leaked this.
We don't know who leaked it yet,Luca typed back.
There was a slight beat, before Jaxon sent,I have some ideas.
I sighed watching their text come through before adding in my own thoughts.It doesn't matter. It's out now.
Luca immediately responded,Are you okay?
I started to type a response but my work phone rang. The number on the screen made my blood run cold.Emma Burns.My boss. Head of NIHL Content Division.
I sighed my thumbs sliding over the screen,Work is calling. I have to answer.
Don't say anything until we're there with you, Luca’s text hit quickly.
