Page 72 of The Alpha and His Song: Volume One

Immy added, “I also conjured a list of acceptable nicknames for you to call Katie.” I chuckled, “Thanks, Immy.” I smiled when I saw Odette and explained what was going on. My mate’s color was much better. She really needed to remember to eat.

I drove home quickly and found the outfit even though I was pretty sure what I was wearing was fine. I quickly changed and found the paper on my bed. I didn’t need to read past the first choice: My Song. Odette was my Song. I ran back downstairs.

Mom squealed, “Have so much fun on your date!” I chuckled, “Ok, well I’m leaving now so…” Mom shouted interrupting, “WAIT!” I asked, “Uh, why?” Mom turned me so I wasn’t facing the window. She smiled, “We all have our secrets, now don’t we, Keaton?” I nodded, “Sure.”

Mom winked, “Well, I just wanted to make sure you had a great time.” I smelled my grandpa come into the room. Mom looked at him then urged, “Off you go, have fun!” I turned around and gave my grandpa a confused look, but he just smiled at me.

I shrugged thinking they could have their secret. I thought I smelled Lisa before I got in my truck, but I didn’t see her anywhere. I shrugged again, uncaring and drove to Odette’s place. I couldn’t wait to get back on the ice with her. Channing was purring in my head.

I stopped at the grocery store my dad owned and grabbed a crunch bar. I debated flowers, but decided Odette was a chocolate kind of girl. None of those flowers would’ve been up to Lisa’s standards anyway. Channing snorted, “What was?”

Yeah, well grocery store bought flowers would’ve meant things were thrown at me. My ex truly would’ve screamed a house down. Channing huffed, “Mate is not like that. We should see if she likes flowers first though.” My wolf was right.

Ken was not surprised to see me. He winked, “The ex killed the mood in the janitor’s closet, sorry kid. On the plus side, the whole ice skating rink is shut down. I’d never let Lisa past me in this place either.” I snorted, “What about your second base blocking self?”

Ken laughed boisterously, “I had orders from the Alpha. What did you want me to do?” I rolled my eyes grumbling, “Wait.” Ken wryly commented, “I waited ten minutes, kid. Move your hand to second base faster, should you want to get there.” I snorted and got on the elevator.

I was nervous as hell but quickly got to Odette’s apartment. I told myself as I walked to her door, “Take things slow. Just let the part of her brain trying to be human catch up to the intensity of her feelings. We got this.” Channing agreed, “We do.”

Immy opened the door all while linking me, “You’re welcome. Try not to rip the dress off though.” Dress? We were ice skating. Then I saw my mate. Holy shit. Odette’s dress clung to her like a second skin. Her boobs were bigger. Channing snorted, “If people would give us five damn minutes we could’ve felt for comparison later.”

I was absolutely feeling them later, that was happening. Bryce linked, “What can you do? It’s Immy.” I could care less. I might get Immy a present just because. Channing linked me, “Good call on not getting flowers, but not because she’s prissy like Lisa; because she doesn’t like flowers in general.”

I didn’t care for the reason she didn’t like flowers though. I’ll just bet her mom demanded Odette keep the flowers alive. I’d gotten her favorite chocolate too. It made me happy we had that in common. I actually hadn’t had a Crunch bar in years. Lisa said I got too fat when I ate candy or dessert. Which made my sex report brutal after I had either. Channing growled, “She was wrong.” Hopefully.

Immy linked me, “We are taking you to your truck, so you don’t ravish her right here. Because that’s the look on your face. Don’t worry, you don’t have to thank me. I’m just that good all the time.” I told her, “I fully plan to thank you. Do you know Katie’s shoe size?” Immy giggled, “Umm duh. I helped pick out her clothes. She’s a size eight.”

I was in a daze getting her into the truck and decided to use her new nickname. My mate’s eyes sparkled when I said it, so I knew I’d chosen the right one. I couldn’t help the excitement that bubbled up when Odette worried about Emmett liking her. Lisa never cared, and definitely never tried to get my family to like her. In fact, my ex seemed to enjoy that they didn’t.

Emmett linked me, “You know there are cameras in the ice skating rink, right?” I answered, “Of course I know that.” Emmett said, “Just making sure. Mom’s very curious about what this girl looks like. I’m sure she’ll peek at the cameras.”

I shot back, “So, you’re not curious?” Emmett snorted, “You’re making me feel like a Beta, because I am in fact so DAMN curious.” I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. I replied, “Imagine how Malachi feels then.”

Emmett snorted, “I don’t have to imagine. He’s annoyed that none of his siblings will take this girl's picture and show it him. I think my Beta is about ready to show up at school.” I replied, “More likely he’s sitting at a computer with the feed up so he can see her right now.”

Emmett acknowledged, “You’re right. I’m going to find him.” I rolled my eyes, knowing my whole damn family was going to be everywhere in different parts of the house looking at feeds from the rink. Channing replied, “Our family is excited for us.” They were curious, which wasn’t the same.

Keith linked me, “Look at you helping her lace up the skates. You are so smooth.” I replied, “Oh come on! You too? Why are you watching our date? You know what Katie looks like.” Keith answered, “Well, Finn is here because Emma wanted to see Katie. He told Malachi he was doing things on too small a scale. Your date is now on the big screen in the theater room. He has popcorn and is muttering about something being familiar about Katie.”

Keith paused then added, “Our brother in law is also bemoaning about how he has more questions now. Finn’s brain hurts because he can’t figure out why Katie’s so familiar. Don’t worry though, not everyone is here.”

I asked, “Who’s missing?” Keith answered, “Grandpa and grandma are out on their date night. So, it’s just our parents, siblings, their mates minus TJ, and lastly Malachi is here. Allison is sad TJ isn’t here, but I guess he has indoor soccer practice.” I rolled my eyes knowing I should’ve factored in Finn.

Odette actually caught on quite quickly to ice skating. Mom would probably teach my mate some tricks if she wanted. Uncle Heath and mom had us on the ice since we could walk. Everyone in the Hood could ice skate.

Uncle Heath felt it was important to be quick and light on your feet. To him ice skating was the ultimate test of your agility, balance, and several other things. Odette wanted to see me skate. Channing boasted, “Let’s impress mate.”

Keith linked, “OH MY GOD, SAY YES!” I replied, “You have sound? Come the fuck on!” It was like being on a chaperoned date. Keith continued, “Mom is almost in tears over the thought of you skating. Come on, do it. Impress your mate.”

Channing chimed back in, “Look at how hopeful mate looks. We should show her.” Odette actually already looked proud and she did ask. Channing repeated, “Mate’s not like Lisa.” My wolf was right. Lisa had actually never seen me skate. All I had done was ask her to come once and she sneered at me. My ex dressed me down really good about how unmasculine ice skating was. For two hours.

I changed the song and let myself get lost in the music and the ice. I could hear Katie humming which inspired me. I felt like I was ten feet tall, unable to keep the smile off my face when I was done. It felt so good to be back out here. Odette was clapping and smiling. She was practically bouncing on the ice.

I quickly skated over to make sure she didn’t fall. My mate thought I was good at everything. Lisa’s words came crashing back into my mind about sex and my shortcomings. Channing growled in my head. Odette brought me out of those thoughts when she kissed my cheek.

I explained why I hadn’t been skating recently. Odette’s eyes flashed with anger, and she went on a tangent about what being manly really meant. Keith linked me, “It’s official, mom loves Katie. Also, everyone clinked glasses when your mate said Lisa was wrong.”

My twin chuckled, “Finn is doing a toast, it’s a whole thing. It was good to see you back out on the ice. Mom’s trying to subtly wipe away tears. They all love Katie.” Except that wasn’t her name. Channing grumbled, “I want them to say the right name.” Odette would too, but we were going at her pace there.