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Chapter sixty-one

Three Months Later

VIOLET

This took forever to plan—like some kind of divine alignment of stars just to make it happen. We’re finally here, though, in a crowded rink that smells like popcorn and ice and bodies pressed a little too close together. The place is alive with noise, shouting, cheers, and the occasional crack of a puck against the boards. Roman is on the ice, gliding like it’s second nature, barely looking 23 with that boyish grin he flashes when he lands a clean pass. The Beta is all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and the crowd adores him. Every time he touches the puck, the noise swells, a collective gasp and cheer that rattles in my chest.

Sofie is cuddled up beside me, her face flushed from the chill of the rink. She’s wearing that oversized scarf again, the one that makes her look even smaller and more adorable, and she keeps sneaking glances at Roman with the kind of quiet awe she usually reserves for our Alphas.

The twins are missing tonight—Hawk and Lance stuck dealing with some gallery exhibit and Puma only barely made it. He’s sitting on the other side of Gray, both of them looking like proud parents as they watch Roman weave between defenders and set up another perfect play.

Sofie and I are both sporting small bumps, mine more pronounced than hers because apparently Betas show faster which is bullshit. I was just happy—as were our Alphas—that I wasn’t carrying twins or god forbid triplets. We’ve shared each little milestone, driving our Alphas mad with the strangest cravings and needs that always seem to happen at the worst times.

At least here, I can eat my chocolate covered popcorn dipped in ketchup in peace. It has to be the greasiest, buttered stuff with chocolate melting on my fingers as I crunch. It’s a whole process, one that Gray teases me about. Sofie isn’t much better, sneaking a piece of popcorn every now and then before dropping it into her tropical soda. It has to be the right amount of sogginess before she eats it. Unlike me, she wants no crunch.

I admit it’s gross but I’m not telling our Alphas that.

The game drones on, nothing about it making any sense but I find myself clapping along, getting caught up in the energy. It’s hard not to, though. Maybe I should be watching the whole team but my attention is on Gray’s brother. It’s clear he thrives on the attention, grinning every time the crowd erupts. Sofie giggles when Roman flips the puck casually over a defender’s stick and I nudge her playfully, feeling her lean more into my side.

Half time comes and goes, Gray and Puma both checking in on us multiple times, asking if we’re warm enough, if we need to move, if we’re comfortable and I have to growl at them both to stop bothering us. We’re fine. For now. That might change in five minutes.

My attention is stolen by a Beta slipping into a seat beside us, her face flushed as she rubs her hands together and blows into them. “Maya?” I ask, a little confused how we ended up in the same goddamn arena right next to each other. “What are you doing here?”

Her eyes widen as a smile takes over her face. “Sofie, Violet? Wow! I didn’t think I’d see you all out here. Damn.”

Gray leans over my shoulder, silently asking for an introduction. I grasp his chin between my fingers, smearing a little chocolate there. “Maya lived two doors down in our apartment building. Maya, this is Gray and Puma, two of our Alphas.”

She waves at them before refocusing her attention on us, her smile dropping when she notices the messy food we’re eating. I move the bucket out of the way to show off my belly, Sofie sitting up to do the same. Maya bursts out laughing. “Damn, they’ve got a handful but you two look good! I’m happy for you. You both deserve it so goddamn much.”

“What brought you here? This game isn’t exactly… on the way to anything.”

She nods, leaning back in her chair. Her thick, curly hair is pulled tightly back into a perfect, round bun, accentuating the sharp lines of her cheeks. “My dad used to coach the team decades ago and I guess this whole place is bittersweet. I’m heading here for grad school in a few weeks.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, maybe some sports medicine. I’m not entirely sure but I think this is where I’m meant to be. I spent so many damn mornings in ice rinks when I was little that it kind of feels like home. I was only in Ansdale for undergrad.” Her entire face is beaming, like she’s proud of this step she’s taken and I am too.

“Well, I hope it all works out.”

“I hope so. Even if I wasn’t going here in the fall, I’ve never missed a game since my dad stopped coaching.” Her attention turns back to the ice and I can see in the way her face moves that she’s analyzing every pass, every move, every little thing. I can only imagine all the things her father taught her and how much all of that sucked her in.

The very same way being around our Alphas truly immersed me into the art world. They’ve left a lot of it behind after all of the Orion bullshit. Puma said it wasn’t worth it to chance fate and while I felt sorry we were ruining their livelihood, after showing me his bank account, I no longer feel that way. Especially since Gray still takes clients when he wants to and the twins find ways of trading art when they can. Puma’s still sifting through collections, all of them busy in their own way… just differently than before.

As the game goes on, the tension rises, both on the ice and off. The crowd grows louder with every play, every near goal, and every time Roman skates past our section. Maya’s gaze drifts to the goalie, snagging on him several times, a warm smile playing on her lips. It’s when Roman seems to look into the crowd, searching for someone that I have to hold back a laugh.

Because who he’s looking at is the very same Beta enamored with the goalie. Fuck, I wish I wanted to go back to school so I could see how this unfolds. I eagerly chomp on my popcorn before setting the bucket on the floor, Gray graciously handing me a napkin. I’m too busy watching this vague threesome play out to even know the game ended except for the cheers erupting through the stadium.

“That’s it?” I ask, Gray shaking his head as he helps me to my feet. Puma hops up the row behind us to hoist Sofie up to his level. She grins up at him, saying something about ‘thank you, my king’, before breaking into a fit of giggles, our men guiding us down the steps to the rink a few moments later.

I throw a wave back at Maya, keeping my thoughts to myself. For now. Because now we’re about to meet the family and I’m just a little terrified.

Roman’s still on the ice, making a few slow loops as the stands slowly empty. He spots us and skates over, a wide smile splitting his face. The kid barely looks old enough to rent a car, all bright-eyed and earnest, and the way he beelines straight for Gray has me stifling a laugh. Gray’s already bracing himself when Roman crashes into him, wrapping him in a tight hug that would’ve bowled over anyone else. I watch as Gray grips the back of Roman’s jersey, their laughter blending with the fading cheers in the background.

When Roman pulls back, his eyes flicker to me. He tilts his head, a curious smile playing at his lips as if he’s putting the pieces together. “So, you’re the reason my brother looks like he finally got his shit together.”

I chuckle, crossing my arms over my belly. The sweatshirt hides most of my figure but not entirely. “I think he got his shit together all on his own. But I’m happy to take credit if it makes me look good.”

Roman grins wider and then turns toward Sofie, his gaze softening. “And you must be Sofie.” He steps closer, reaching out to gently take her hand. “I’m Roman, by the way. Glad to meet you. My brother’s been bragging about you both and the fact that he’s going to be a dad twice over. Shit, you’ve got your hands full, bro...”

Sofie blushes furiously, her smile shy but genuine. “Nice to meet you, too,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Glad he’s got some female influence now. Lord knows he needed it. Hopefully, you have daughters so you can punish him a little bit.”

I raise an eyebrow, leaning forward just enough to catch Roman’s attention. “It seems there’s a little in your life too, no?” I nod toward the stands, my gaze locking on Maya who’s still staring out at the ice. Her shoulders fall just slightly before she picks up to leave.

Roman’s cheeks go red, his expression faltering for just a moment before he covers it up with a forced laugh. “There’s always a few fans around.”

I smirk, shaking my head. “Really? Because I know that look and I wasn’t talking about the way she was looking at you.” I nudge Gray, who’s watching the exchange with thinly veiled amusement. “That’s exactly how I look at Sofie. Like she’s my entire world.”

Roman shoots me a look that would probably wilt a lesser Beta, his cheeks darkening further. “Buzz off,” he mutters, but there’s no real heat behind the words. He glances back at the stands, Maya long gone, and then clears his throat. “You guys coming to the celebratory dinner?”

I exchange a glance with Sofie, who’s grinning from ear to ear. “Wouldn’t miss it,” I say. Roman skates back across the ice to join his team as Puma grabs my hand and Gray settles on the other side of Sofie. It feels amazing, although it’d be even better if the twins were here.

The cold hits hard as we step outside, the crunch of ice underfoot punctuating our conversation. My gaze finds Maya leaning against her car, arms crossed, her eyes fixed on the team entrance as if she’s waiting for one last glance at the players. I have no idea why I think Maya and Roman are going to end up together. But in my gut, it feels like fate. I also think the goalie is going to be involved. He looked kind of like an Alpha. He was large enough to be one. “Two months,” I murmur as we approach our own car.

Gray raises an eyebrow, smirking down at me. “Two months for what?”

“Roman and Maya and that goalie,” I say, slipping my hand into his. “They’ll be a thing in two months. Tops.”

He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “Were we watching the same game, princess?”

I nod, more sure than I probably have any right to be. “It’s fate,” I say simply, grinning when he rolls his eyes. “It’s written in the stars, Gray. Just trust me on this. Her eyes were locked on the goalie but she caught Roman’s attention. I’m telling you it’s going to be a thing. Call him in two months and ask how it’s going.”

Gray chuckles, squeezing my hand as we come to a stop. I glance back again and catch Maya still standing there. She looks conflicted. Her shoulders are tense, her jaw pulled tight. Before I can second-guess it, I lift my free hand and wave at her. She blinks, looking startled, but then gives a small wave back.

I tilt my head toward the goalie, who’s talking to someone near the exit. “Talk to him,” I call over. “Maybe it’ll be something.”

Maya’s mouth opens, then closes. Her expression twists and she shakes her head quickly, a flash of sadness crossing her face. “Just old friends, Violet. You don’t need to pair everyone up all the time.”

I shrug, giving her a small smile. “Fighting it won’t make it any easier.” I neglect to mention that Roman’s got his eyes set on her. She’ll figure that in due time when he tries to use his boyish charms on her. If Roman is anything like his brother, it’s going to be a glorious disaster and I’m so here for it.

Gray ushers me toward the car, almost like he’s embarrassed at my blunt self. As we climb in, Puma chuckles from the driver’s seat. “Alright, so Violet bet that they’d win by double,” he says. “Which means Violet gets to choose the sleeping arrangements tonight.”

I shoot him a grin, catching Sofie’s sleepy smile in the back seat. “Me and Sofie in the nest tonight,” I say brightly.

The collective groans from the guys are immediate and hilarious. Gray looks at me like I’ve betrayed him. Puma just shakes his head, laughing as he starts the car.

I settle back, smug as hell. “Blame Puma for that one,” I say. “Not me. And Gray? You get to tell the twins they’re not allowed in.”

“You realize what you do to us when you shut us out and then fuck each other, right? Do you know how hard it is to hear that and not be in there with you? God, Puma, this is why you don’t bet against Violet!”