Footsteps drew my attention a few seconds later.
“There you are,” Assistant Coach Brent Scanlon said, his tone strangely devoid of emotion. “We thought you weren’t coming.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Exhaling, I lifted my head.
The fear in his eyes was more palpable than I’d seen before. These ridiculous stories were getting out of hand.
He noticed I was standing near the window and joined me, shoving his hands into his pockets. His expression changed several times as he watched what was happening in the parking lot. While I’d always considered him a thoughtful man, I could tell he was struggling with whatever was on his mind.
“You can say it, Coach. I fucked up.”
“How many shifters are playing in sports?”
The question came out of the blue. “I don’t know. Hundreds I would guess by now.”
“Try less than a hundred at this point. And do you know why?”
“Because we’re hated.”
Coach Scanlon sighed. “By some. People hate what they don’t understand and you have to admit, it’s tough to comprehend how folks who look like you and me can suddenly and willfully shift into a snarling beast. All they know are the horror stories read to them or told around campfires when they were kids. Or watchingAmerican Werewolf in Londonor any of the other werewolf movies depicting shifters as heinous murderers.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not who we are!”
“I know that, Steve. A lot of people do. There are good and bad eggs in every group no matter how or where you grew up. Or if your parents were rich or poor. Whether you’re black, white, or little green men running around. But here’s the thing. Shifters had the light shone on them because they chose to make themselves known in the world instead of living in the shadows any longer. That means shifters of every species need to prove themselves more than just about anyone else. It sucks, but that’s the way it is. That’s just something for you to keep in the back of your mind. Whenever you’re ready, we’ll sit down and talk.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And try not to bite anyone’s head off.” He grinned as he backed away, his attempt at making a joke falling flat on me.
Little did he or any other human truly understand the hardships we’d endured both before and after our discovery.
After a minute or so, all I wanted was to get the sermon over with so I could somehow figure a way out of the mess. As I headed toward the office, I could hear the group already starting without me.
I’d thought I’d grown pretty close to the men in the room, but I could tell by the uncertainty in their eyes and the way every muscle in their bodies was tense that maybe what I’d believed to be friendship was really just people tolerating who I was for financial gain.
“What did you need to see me about, Coach?” Might as well get the party started.
The coach remained behind his desk as if it were a nice barrier to keep me from ripping out his throat, whether to cure a beast’s hunger or because of what he was about to say to me. “I’m not going to beat around the bush here. You’re being traded, son.”
Just what I thought. “To?”
“Tampa Bay. They have a place for you,” my agent answered.
Gabe Andrews wasn’t a bad sports agent. In fact, he’d sought me out as a client based on my brother’s recommendation. It had been the single time Saint and I hadn’t been at odds.
“The Tampa Bay Gators?” My jaw was clenched and I shifted my stare from the coach to the assistant coach then to my agent. All three had smug looks on their faces as if they were harboring a secret among the three.
“You make it sound like you’re being demoted. They’re considered a hot up and coming NHL team.” Coach GiovanniRufini was a take no shit kind of man. In fact, he reminded me a little of my father. “Plus, Florida is nice this time of year.”
Leaning against the wall, I folded my arms across my chest.
“You’re sulking.” Gabe Andrews had been my agent for less than a year, hunting me down after my canine abilities had been discovered.
“I’m not sulking. I’m simply thinking about my options.” Tampa Bay had made a big splash during the past year. They were edgy with a young team and way too much testosterone. They were also on a losing streak, not expected to come up in the standings. Being caught dead playing with them would not be good for my career.
Now I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned the ridiculous interview on Friday. It was coming. I could tell the three men were literally bursting at the seams to say something.
“You’ll be seen as a hero if you can help them turn the season around. The sky is the limit if you do.”
