That’s all I ask, Son. I’m proud of you for what you did today. We protect our mates and our families at all costs. You’re going to be a great enforcer one day. Keep me updated if there’s any more fallout.
Thanks, Alpha.
That’s another way Alpha Blackwood is different than the previous alpha. Although I never met him, older pack members say that he didn’t put the kind of emphasis on mates and families that Alpha Blackwood does. Our pack has grown and been more successful because of Alpha Blackwood.
When I get back to Tessa’s dorm, Zane is where I left him. “Is Evie still up there?”
“Yes, but she said she’s coming back down. We all need to get to class.” I nod, hoping I’ll get to see Tessa in the next few minutes then. “How’d it go with Coach?” I shake my head. “Not good?”
“I’m done for the season.” The words taste bitter in my mouth, but I don’t regret anything.
Zane curses low. “Seriously? That’s ridiculous.”
I shrug. “It is what it is.”
Zane studies me a moment. “I’m sorry, Man. But at the same time, I’m proud of you. I would have done the same thing.”
“You have done the same thing,” I remind him.
He chuckles. “Yeah.”
Evie comes out then, catching our attention for different reasons. I look behind her, hoping to see Tessa. Evie sees me looking and gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry, Slate. She’s going to try to rest for a little bit.” She bites her lip a moment.
“What?” I ask.
She glances at Zane and then back at me. “She’s just in pain, so she’s going to try to sleep it off.” She keeps her words soft and gentle, like she’s afraid she’s going to make me mad. That’s already happened.
“Is she okay?” I ask, voice rough.
Evie nods. “Yeah.” She blows out a breath. “How did it go with your coach?” I let Zane fill her in. Hearing it second hand doesn’t make it any easier to stomach. “Oh, Slate. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s fine.” I need to get away from here before I storm inside to check on Tessa, and I don’t want to do that. I don’t want to scare her.
“I’ll see you guys later.”
Chapter 21
Tessa
After Evie leaves, I close my eyes and let my body rest. I’m hoping I can rest for a little bit and sort of forget everything for just a little while. Thankfully, I fall asleep and sleep for several hours. When I wake up, my nose still hurts; but I feel a little better. I sit up and start getting ready to grab something to eat and then work on schoolwork before I have to work tonight. I also need to check in online and see what I missed today in my classes. I grab my phone to sign in and see a few missed texts. I’m surprised to see one from Slater. I open that one first.
Slater-hey, just checking to see how you’re feeling. Text me when you wake up, and I’ll bring you food.
I read it several times. Each time, it sets off the same kind of butterflies in my stomach. I don’t answer that text yet, because I don’t know what to say. I open my text from Evie next, and my stomach drops.
Evie-I know you’d want to know. Slate’s out for the rest of the season. His coach cut him.
I stare at the words in horror, reading and re-reading them. Then I stand to my feet and find my shoes. I pull up the campus directory and locate Coach Goodwin’s office. I don’t even bother with my hair. It’s two-thirty now. I have to get to his office before soccer practice starts at three. I’m still wearing Slater’s sweatshirt; I’m pretty sure I’m never taking it off. I book it across campus. I keep checking my phone as I go, making sure I can get there in time. The walk is a whole lot longer on foot than it is driving, and it takes me forever to get to the building where the offices are. I finally make it almost to the building. My heartdrops when I see Coach Goodwin and a few other members of his coaching staff come out of the building. I break into a jog. “Coach Goodwin.” He doesn’t even look my direction as he and his staff walk out onto the field. I can see Slater’s teammates warming up out of the corner of my eye, but I don’t look over at them. “Coach Goodwin,” I call louder. A few of his staff look over at me, but not him. Frustration burns through me, but I refuse to give up. I run towards the field, but somebody in a security vest stops me. Relief flows through me when I see that it’s Damien, one of the guys I work with. “Damien, I need to see Coach Goodwin. It’s really important.”
He takes a look at my face and frowns. “What happened?”
I use it as leverage. “That’s what this is about. It’s about one of his players.” He frowns harder. “Please, I just need like thirty seconds with him.”
He stares down at me and then caves. “Thirty seconds, Tessa.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you! I owe you!”
“I'll remember that!” he calls out after me.
