When I get to Magnus’s snowman, I find a round snowblob sitting at its feet. The blob has button eyes, a straight stick mouth, and four small sticks around the base.
I laugh when I realize what it must be. “Is that Pete?”
“Yes, that’s what I was going for. I thought the sticks for legs would make it obvious it’s supposed to be an animal at least,” Magnus says.
“He’s perfect! The best snow frog I’ve ever seen,” I say.
Magnus smiles big and bright, flashing his pointy canine teeth. The sight makes my heart skip a beat. It’s the most I’ve ever seen him smile.
After staring at him for a little too long, I force myself to move on and look at the last snowman in the group.
It’s smaller than the others and has a pink scarf and mittens.
I glare at the unfamiliar accessories, too small to fit any of the guys.
“We always end up with extra gear from previous trainees, which worked out well for this occasion,” Orion says.
“Mhmm,” I hum noncommittally.
My omega is too busy growling to come up with a response, and I’m also irritated at the reminder that they used to live with someothertrainees.
I’m not jealous though. I’m just territorial, like any omega should be about their home. It has nothing to do with their pack specifically. Omegas are cautious,so I don’t like thinking about all the other people who have been inmyhouse withmybosses.
“The only beanie we had in your size is blue, but the pink scarf and gloves match your hair, so I thought that would be enough,” Orion continues.
That gets my omega’s attention. I squint, looking over the small snowman again and at the other five snowmen.
I don’t know how I didn’t notice it before, but the others look like the guys. One even has a balaclava.
“Do you think it looks enough like you?” Orion asks me.
My irritation dissipates and my omega purrs in my mind. They’re obviously not missing their previous trainees if they’re building an effigy of me in snow.
“It’s great! You can totally tell it’s supposed to be me,” I say.
I admire our little snow family, trying to hold back tears at how cute they look together.
A thump interrupts my emotional thoughts. Another thud is followed by a burst of snow as Cato hits Magnus with a second snowball.
I can’t hold back my giggle at the impassive expression on Magnus’s face.
Cato hits him again, even though Magnus is staring directly at him and could have dodged it.
“Hestia, are you going to join my team? My side is already winning,” Cato says as he packs another snowball.
I look at Magnus apologetically as I scoop my own snowball.
I bring my arm back slowly, giving him a chance to move. Magnus’s lips quirk, so I take that as permission and throw it, hitting him square in the chest.
Magnus lunges for me, and I squeal as my knees buckle.He grabs me before I hit the ground and spins us as more snowballs hit his back.
He releases me to fend for myself and starts making his own ammo to return fire. I laugh and run off when I see Charm aiming a snowball in my direction.
The fight quickly descends into chaos, unclear divisions between teams. I’m not actually sure if anyone called sides. Knowing Cato, he probably meant it was the two of us against the others.
Most of the hits gravitate to the guys, but some softballs are lobbed in my direction. If I tried, I think I could have dodged most of them, but it doesn’t seem fair to do that when they’re already going easy on me. Besides, the adrenaline from the battle is part of the fun, the cold rush from a hit is invigorating.
When the fight is over and the snow settles, Orion carries me back to the station. I’m too exhausted to do anything but smile.
