Page 56 of Vampire Pack

My rage from the hockey game still simmered quietly, twisting my lower belly, but I was trying to ignore it. Acknowledging it wouldn't do me any good at the moment. It was just instinct. Nothing had really even happened.

We talked for a few more minutes, and both of my friends decided reluctantly that they would go to the party for a few minutes. I hugged them both goodbye and warned them that I’d probably be late, before I left them with their pretzels and made my way to my physical therapy appointment.

The clinic was nearly empty, but my therapist was a woman, and I could take most men in a fight, so I wasn’t worried about it.

We were halfway through the exercises when King showed up, freshly showered and visibly relieved to see me.

My therapist congratulated him on the game, and I mostly managed not to growl at her.

There was no hiding my pissiness, though.

Dispelling rage was difficult for werewolves. We needed to run, fight, be bitten, or fuck someone.

"The post-game interviews were really sweet,” my therapist added. "I think they’ll help with the targeting.”

"Which post-game interviews?” I tried not to sound like a complete bitch, but King had dipped his head, so he obviously knew what she was talking about.

"The whole team was asked questions about you two,” the therapist explained to me.

King silently handed his phone over, along with one earbud so I could listen to it in private.

I put the earbud in and hit the button to play the video he'd left on the screen.

"Yorkie and King? Oh man, we’ve all been waiting for this for years,” Reed, one of our wingers, said with a grin. "He’s the one who gave her the nickname, you know. They’ve been together for ages. The whole team’s got an agreement to pile on anyone who touches her, now. You don’t fuck with a defenseman's mate.”

The next video played.

It was Hollis. He raked a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. As the team captain, there was a little more attention on him than most people. He tried to play it off, but we all knew it.

"Yeah, King protected Carmen before, but this is going to take it to another level. We’re all in it now. Anyone who touches her is going to be targeted by the whole team. There’s no more mercy.”

The next video was Jude’s. He wore a bloodthirsty grin. "King already sent a notice to the head honchos in the league. We’re done playing around. Fuck with Yorkie, and pay for it with your life. Goalies are off limits.”

Another video played.

And another.

Everyone on the team made comments about protecting me, and being out for blood.

My heartbeat picked up when I saw King on the screen, the last person to speak. It was stupid to be that affected by the sight of him. Our bodies had literally been locked together earlier. I couldn't prevent my reaction, though.

King leaned toward the microphone. "Would I kill for Yorkie? Yeah. I would. Now that we’re mated, I’ll get a pass for it with the league, too. Hockey is a violent game, but targeting goalies isn’t a part of it. Anyone who purposefully attacks my mate from here on out is fucking dead.”

King’s threat would spread through the league, quickly. Him and his pack were already known for leaving the men who attacked me in bad shape. The players were usually injured enough to be out for multiple games.

No one had to wonder if the vampires would follow through.

The threat, and King’s new ability to follow through without losing his standing in the league, were possibly the one thing that could stop the violence toward me.

"What do you think?” my physical therapist asked. "It’ll help, right?”

"Probably. Sorry, I’m…” I gestured to myself, with my injured arm. The pain was basically gone, so I was back to using it normally for the most part. "Ragey.”

"I’m used to it. Dealing with pissy werewolf athletes is in my job description.”

My lips almost curved upward.

Almost.