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“They are your Pack, honey?—“

“No, they aren’t. You know that. You’ve always known that, and you don’t care.” I spit, and they lean back as if blown away by my back talk.

“Well, those men certainly are not your Pack. They won’t care for you in the way you need.”

“They absolutely will, and have; they are my scent matches, my mates, and I proudly belong to them.”

I can smell the Fallon Pack getting closer. I know I’m losing time, and if they get their hands on me, they’ll overpower me physically. I won’t make it easy; I’ll make the biggest scene the people here have ever seen. My omega is scathing, pleading to find safety. Grabbing my purse, I’m racing to the door as my parents call after me. I see figures trying to approach me, but I don’t focus on figuring out if it’s the Fallon Pack.

I just run.

CHAPTER TWENTY

THORNE

The ice isn’t as chilling as I needed it to be. The house is covered in her peach scent, mixing with ours, and I had a fucking hard-on all night and all damn morning.

Never thought there would be a day when I was thankful we didn’t have a game. Now that I have an omega waiting on me at home… it’s my bond, it’s so close to complete.

I can feel it.

There’s an itch under my skin to bond her, to make my Pack whole, and I could skip practice, skip anything, to make that happen.

I want my Pack. Plain and simple. I never thought my dreams of pro hockey would be behind anything else, but that feeling, that drive to be whole, is so tangible I could fucking taste it.

Head Coach Wallace dismisses us. Silas is busy being the social butterfly he is, talking to our teammates. I can’t ignore this itch anymore. I’ll shower and pull the car up so we can go the fuck home.

I don’t even linger under the hot spray of the shower. I’m in and out of that locker room quicker than I’ve ever been. I’m damn near running my chest heavy and my mind rubbing a thousand miles a minute.

I’m so… anxious? It’s a feeling I haven’t felt in forever. Not since I went no contact with my parents. All I can think about is getting out of here and going home. I need to see her. I need to see them.

I—

What the fuck. A hot peach scent slaps me the moment I walk outside. My head whips around the parking lot, and I see her. Noa? She’s running towards me, and Havoc is quite a few fucking paces behind her.

Why is he so far from her? She slams into me, her arms are quick to wrap around me as she snuggles into my chest. I inhale again, and my eyes meet Havoc’s.

He gets closer and sighs clearly, not as out of breath as Noa is.

“What the hell?” I snap at seeing her run in the shortest skirt I’ve seen, in heels, no less. Her feet!

“She needed the run. She was scared–”

“Do you fucking smell her?” I ask, and he pauses momentarily, confused, and sniffs the air. Now that he’s much closer to her, he inhales again. His face isn’t asexpressive as mine, but I see the note of oh shit in his eye as he looks back at me.

“A heat flare-up.” He says, and I nod my head like no shit. “We have to get her home.”

“No time,” I mutter as she hooks her leg on my hip. I grab her other leg and lift her to me. She curls her head into the crook of my neck as her hands slip under my shirt.

“It’s so hot.” She mumbles. She tries to lean back, but I tighten my hold, knowing she’s reaching for her clothes. She sees me, but I don’t think she registers me. Like she’s been called by my scent, and I can’t help the pride bursting in my chest.

“Not yet,” I murmur in her ear as Havoc, and I run to my car. Fuck. The red sports car is far too cramped for all of us to fit.

Two hockey players, Havoc’s giant ass, and an omega in heat?

Fuck. Noa’s nails bite into my arms. I don’t even think there is time to get Silas. I think she’d fucking lose it if I let go of her.

“I’m sorry—” the words try to come out of her mouth, but I shake my head. I can feel her lips snap shut against the side of my head.