With my girl watching, I had to be top of my game. So I faked a slap shot, freezing the goalie. Then I dragged the puck into a backhand and with a quick, ruthless flick of my wrist, I let it fly.
There was silence in the arena, slow motion following. I watched the puck as it went top shelf, ripping the twine.
The red light went on and with full momentum, I fell to my knees, sliding across the ice. There was nothing on earth that felt quite as good a winning a game.
Well, almost.
I raised my stick in the air, saluting the team and my coaches, before freezing in front of Christine. “This one was for you, baby!”
With the little skating I’d watched her do, I remembered a move and did a little spin on the ice. The crowd went wild.
The roar was spectacular and as I took my victory lap, it seemed the cameras couldn’t get enough of the royal couple as we were being called in the press and on social media.
When I was done, I headed toward the exit, stopped by my brother before I could leave the ice.
We both ripped off our helmets and stared.
And I couldn’t tell if he was proud or angry.
Until he offered the huge Masters smile.
“You did good, little brother. Just don’t let it go to your head.”
“You know I will,” I answered as we moved in for a bear hug.
“Yeah. That’s what I’m counting on. Beast.”
EPILOGUE
Christine
The feeling of being free, complete free. Untethered by fear of a deadly disease. I was now allowed to let it all go, flying across the ice with much more momentum than I was used to. The music was raw and full of passion, exactly the way I felt about my love affair with a wolf.
In the weeks since I’d been cleared of cancer, I’d gone back twice for tests just to make certain the doctors hadn’t been wrong. And for them to take copious volumes of blood like the vampires they were.
All in hopes of using the profound discovery for other patients.
I was happy, healthy, and even talking to my family on rare occasions. Especially since my father had suddenly taken a one-eighty on his stance. He suddenly adored shifters and was a staunch advocate for them.
All because one big, bad wolf had used his body to save my life.
In the most delicious of ways.
Which he continued to do almost every night. The man was as voracious as the beast.
I spun around the ice, moving at a speed reserved for competitors, but I felt like one today. I was full of joy. With every jump, I seemed to go higher. With every spin, the rotations lasted longer.
The best part? I could keep doing this for hours.
But… as luck and karma would have it, the Zamboni operator needed to smooth the ice. Yet I kept skating. What the heck? I wasn’t afraid of the big, bad wolf. Especially when he was so expertly keeping up with me, doing his version of spins on the ice.
I skated around him in a huge circle, blowing kisses to taunt. He wasn’t affected at all, moving as if he had a mission.
To prove himself the better skater.
But that was impossible. Especially since I was on fire. After another jump and landing perfectly, I threw my arms into the air as if I’d won the competition. The music was loud, pumping the last chorus, which included baroque singers.
That’s when I realized the love of my life, my wolf and my fiancé had abandoned the machine. With a sloshing sound, I smiled and continued skating. Within seconds, he joined me, matching my footing.
