Page 55

Grif

S tealing the puck from one of the Jersey Titans forwards, I hurried across the ice. Elation burst through me as I evaded the defense, and barreled toward their goal.

Fuck, I’d missed this.

Carlos skated circles around the forward after me, distracting her so I could pass it to Clark. Chased by their defense, he skated around the back of the net, and I went the other way.

The goalie moved, anticipating me. We had a friendly but fierce rivalry.

Clark moved like he was passing to me. Defense got on my ass.

No, we weren’t losing tonight.

The arena was a sea of pink, both in the stands and on the ice. February was omega history month and today was our omega night game. The Knights wore black and pink jerseys which would be auctioned off to raise money for the Omega Center. Pink hats and Double-D bobble toys had been given out to fans, and there was a special menu of pink drinks and treats.

I knocked down the defender as Clark passed it to Carlos. The defender turned and pushed me, then froze.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Do it. I won’t break.” I made the come at me gesture. For now, Dimitri was technically our enforcer. But I never shied away from a fight.

I took off my gloves and threw them down. He had no choice now.

His gloves dropped. “Fine.”

I threw the first punch. He hit me back.

“You can do better,” I taunted, aware that everyone was watching. It was early in the game, and I hadn’t gotten into a fight yet. I hit him again.

Come on, fight me.

Getting people to treat me as always was the key to being accepted in the PHL.

“Fine, but if I get shit for hitting you, I’m going to tell them you told me to.” He hit me again. Harder this time. Though not his worst.

Shoving him against the boards, I hit him several times. “The only shit you’re going to get is for getting beat up by me. Though I haven’t changed, I’m still me. Fight me.”

This time, he fought back. The people behind the glass cheered.

“You get him, Grif Graf,” a woman shouted.

I savored the way it felt to punch someone during a game. Yeah, I’d missed this.

The ref finally blew his whistle and tried to tear us apart. I fought against them, continuing to throw punches.

“I think you’ve made your point.” Elias pulled me off him.

“I guess.” I let him rip us apart.

A penalty was called, and the lineman dragged me toward the box. I stopped and thumped on the glass when we skated past the family section.

“Hey, Tiger. You show ‘em!” Verity cheered, wearing my jersey.

“Good fight, Boo-Boo.” AJ has his arm around her, matching her.

I was so happy those two had bonded. Actually, I was happy she’d mated with everyone. Though Dean wouldn’t fucking shut up about it.

Verity made a heart with her hands. I blew them kisses.

“You call that a fight?” Mercy rolled her eyes, one of which was black. She’d gotten in a huge brawl and fractured her wrist and sprained her ankle, so she was out for tonight’s away game, though she’d be back for the next.

Also, she wore Jonas’ jersey.

“Love you, too, Mercy.” I flashed her a heart with my fingers.

“Come on, Grif Graf. I hate that this is becoming normal. I might have to eject you next time.” The lineman tugged on me.

I got into the box where I belonged. A fan hit on the penalty box as the game started back up again. Turning, I braced to be heckled.

“That was amazing. Welcome back,” some giant, slightly drunk dude wearing a Knights shirt said. “Nice to see you on the ice again. Glad you’re okay.”

“Yeah, you show them we’re not helpless. Can’t wait to watch you at the All-Stars.” A slight woman wearing a pink Knights hat leaned into him and grinned at me.

I gave a little bow. “It’s good to be back.”

It was nice to be allowed to return. To be a Knight again and to have come to an agreement with management. Especially since, in my post-heat checkup, I’d slipped back over to being an omega.

Dean dropped into a butterfly on the ice, stopping the puck, as the crowd cheered.

I glanced over at the family section. Verity was cheering for him, one of the Royce kids on her lap.

This was everything I ever wanted. Playing hockey with my pack, my other mates cheering us on. Sitting in the penalty box after a satisfying fight. Winning a game. Getting to play in the upcoming All-Star game after years of hoping to be chosen.

Hopefully, I’d bring the Knights all the way to the championships and get myself another ring. Despite the challenges we’ve had this season, it was still a strong possibility.

Verity caught my eye and waved. I waved back, heart full.

Maybe one day, just maybe, it would be our kids on Verity’s lap.

“Welcome back, Grif Graf. How does it feel?” The reporter from SportsBeat shoved a microphone in my face as I left the ice after the game.

“Do you think management will be pleased with your performance tonight? After all, you only scored two goals,” another reporter asked.

“I’m confident my performance tonight was well in line with how I usually play.” My hands itched to punch him. Only two goals?

Sure, I hadn’t gotten a boner. Dean hadn’t recorded a shutout. But we’d won. I’d still have my sweet kitten mewling for me after the game.

“Well, I’m happy to be back,” I added, answering her. “Certainly, I’m looking forward to the All-Star weekend coming up.”

While I knew a lot of reporters were bursting with personal questions, both about my designation and Verity taking a bullet for me, I wasn’t feeling up to it. Waving, I continued on toward the locker room.

“Good job, Grif Graf, Welcome back.” Coach Atkins slapped me on the back.

“I’m glad you’re pleased with me.” It was in earnest because Coach had fought hard for me, and I wanted him to be happy with his choice to back me.

“Feeling okay?” Jonas slung an arm around me. While I’d gotten the go-ahead from both Dr. Arya and Dr. Mosser, I knew Jonas worried.

“Feeling good.” Like I needed to fuck one of my mates.

The coaches went over a few things and assigned press duty to people who were not me or my pack. I stripped off my clothes, including the rumble vest, which was one of the compromises so I could continue to play.

Sure, Dean didn’t wear one, but he didn’t get in as many fights as I did.

Another was scent blockers and shields, but I’d use those, anyway.

I hit the ice baths and showers, and got dressed.

“Who’s going to Tito’s?” Nia called as she shimmed into her suit, a pretty scarf over her brown twists.

“Lucky and I are.” Carlos smacked Clark’s ass with a towel.

Clark threw a pickle at him and missed.

“Don’t throw pickles at Lucky. He’s a good cat,” Dimitri scolded.

Dean, hair wet, put an arm around me. “Will you dance with me?”

“Always.” I leaned into him.

“Good. We missed you,” Nia told me.

I was so glad everyone on the team was fully accepting of me.

Jonas, Dean, and I left the locker room and went to the family room. Verity was talking with some MASOs.

“Grif.” She beamed and flung her arms around me. “That was so good. I’m proud of you.”

“What about me?” Dean fake pouted.

She kissed him. “I’m proud of you.” Verity then kissed Jonas. “You, too.”

“Gross.” Mercy made a face. “Let’s go to Tito’s. Gwenifer’s on tonight.”

We left for the parking garage and got into the SUV. I did like this new, larger vehicle Jonas picked out.

“That was a great game, Boo-Boo.” AJ squeezed my hand.

Tito’s was busy, full of happy teammates and rowdy fans, as the music blared and the beer flowed.

“Good job, Grif Graf,” yet another random fan told me. “Glad you’re back.”

“Thanks.” I was so grateful that the Knights’ fans were behind me, too.

Ladybug brought another round of beers to our table. Well, Mercy got a soda and Verity got one of her fruity little drinks. Tonight’s was peachy. AJ, Dean, Verity, and I sat at a high top, Verity’s crutch leaning against it. Jonas talked to Elias and Winston. Mercy was having a good time with Dimitri’s little sister and a few others.

“Team Mom, I loved my cake pop bouquet. My boyfriend and I already shared one. They’re so cute,” Gwen told her. Her hair was still light blue.

“Happy Birthday.” Verity gave her a big smile.

“Dance with me.” Dean tugged my hand as his favorite song played.

I took his hand in mine and twirled him around. “Hey, can I have Verity to myself for at least the start of the night?”

Since we’d come back from the cabin, it had been mostly puppy piles in Verity’s bed or Dean hogging her. Not only did I want some alone time with her, but I think she was getting overwhelmed trying to balance all four of us.

Dean’s head lolled as he thought for a moment. “I suppose.”

Jonas joined us and we finished our beers.

“Ready to go home?” Jonas asked.

“Yep.” I handed Verity her crutch. “Let’s go home, Gorgeous.”

In the car, Mercy had some sort of weird teenage music playing.

“Mercy, I know you enjoy being a big tipper, but that was pretty massive. Is Ladybug still behind on rent or something?” Jonas asked as he drove.

“She got caught up. But her boyfriend has no parents, so she’s taking extra shifts to pay for his graduation fees and graduating player hockey shit. It’s a lot for her.” Mercy shrugged as she texted someone. “Excellent service should be rewarded.”

Fair. I remember working extra shifts to cover things so there was less to ask my parents for. Graduating got expensive.

“Hey, I know what restaurant I want you to take me to,” she looked up from her phone. “Can we go to Wilderness Cafe?”

AJ looked puzzled, sunglasses nestled in his hair as always. “I don’t know what that is.”

It was a chain of family restaurants done up to look like you were eating outdoors in the woods. There’d be servers dressed like park rangers and bear sounds and shit. Not AJ’s family’s style, though he’d like it.

“Great idea, I haven’t been there in years.” I told her. A juicy burger sounded amazing right now.

“Love it. Our hockey team in high school always had their end-of-season banquets there,” Dean added, giving me a fond look. “Their onion rings are the best.”

Those were always fun times.

“Ooh, they are. And that cheese dip they have for the fries,” Verity agreed, licking her glossy lips.

AJ looked up from his phone. “Are you sure that’s where you want to go?”

“If it’s too expensive, that cafe you recommended to Verity and I, the retro one, is fine,” Mercy added.

“More like feel free to choose something fancier? I expected a nice steak house. Though it’s your choice and I’m always up for trying new places,” AJ assured.

“That sounds great, Squirt,” Jonas told her. “That’s the place where you can roast marshmallows on the table, right?”

“Yep.” She grinned.

Yeah, I wanted to see AJ’s reaction to singing park rangers and animatronic bears.

“You know, once the updates are finished to the pack charter, we could all dress up and go out for a nice steak dinner together?” Jonas suggested, giving us a look in the rearview mirror as we drove through the dark streets.

“I’d like that. Um, are you going to tell me what you’re getting me?” While I didn’t need anything, I understood getting an asset was a legal issue, and I was very curious.

Especially since AJ had given me a nice watch and Verity had gotten me a beautiful chain to wear with her grandfather’s ring and a bracelet engraved with the coordinates of where we met.

A smug look crossed AJ’s face. “Nope. You waived your right to choose, so you’re going to have to wait and find out.”

“You’ll love it.” Verity squeezed my hand.

Okay, if she was involved, it probably wouldn’t be ridiculous. That’s what I feared, it being some crazy extravagance.

“Question. What if you’re a poor pack and can’t afford to buy your omega a house or an island?” Mercy turned around in the front seat to look at us.

“It just has to be some kind of asset that belongs to the omega alone. It can even be money in an account in their name only. The center has a calculator to help you figure out what’s fair based on income, but there isn’t a threshold,” Jonas explained.

We pulled into our space, right next to Verity’s car, still safe and sound. We took the elevator up. Mercy took off her coat and hung it on the beautiful hand-carved coat rack–with an umbrella bin. It appeared while we were at the cabin. She’d won it in the silent auction at the gala, along with a basket of purses for Verity.

Jonas shook his head and hung up his coat. “I don’t understand it, but it is pretty.”

AJ took mine and Verity’s coats and hung them up in the coat closet with his.

“I do see the appeal of the umbrella bin,” AJ admitted, taking Verity’s crutch and putting it in said bin.

“Does anyone want a late-night snack?” Dean half-threw his coat on the rack and went into the kitchen.

Jonas repositioned it so that it hung nicely.

“I’m taking mine to go.” I picked Verity up and threw her over my shoulder, careful of her injury, which was healing nicely despite her being kidnapped from the hospital by Jonas so she could fuck for days.

“Grif.” She kicked her feet.

“Well, this has been nice. Good night.” I gave Dean a kiss, then AJ.

“You have fun. I’ll check on you later,” AJ told us with a smirk.

Mercy gave us an amused look as she rifled through the fridge and took out a tub of dip and a lime soda. “That’s my cue to take my snack to go as well. Good game.”

Adding a bag of chips, she ran upstairs. I carried Verity down the hall and set her down in my room, closing the door with my foot.

“Oooh, I get you all to myself tonight? So luxurious.” Verity leaned in and gave me a slow and smoldering kiss, her hands going up and down my back.

“Mmmm, that you do.” I peeled my jersey off her. Today’s bra was black.

She took off her shoes as we continued to kiss. I took off her pants to see that she wore a black thong.

“Is your shoulder doing okay?” I threw my suit-jacket and button-down on the floor with her clothes. I didn’t feel much pain through the bond, but I wanted to verbally check in.

Verity grabbed my belt buckle and pulled me to her. “Yes. My leg, too. It’s a good body day. Also, I made another research breakthrough. I’m catching up on everything and feeling good.”

“Oh, I’m so happy to hear that, Kitten.” I whipped off my belt in between fervent kisses and kicked off my pants and briefs.

My rock-hard dick was ready to nestle itself deep in my sweet alpha. My mate.

“You want me to throw you against the wall and pound into you, don’t you?” I wrapped a hand around her golden throat.

And got a whiff of her sweet desire and felt her lust through the bond.

Good little kitten. Being able to tend to my mate’s deepest desires and needs satiated me on the most primal of levels.

“Make me scream, Tiger. I’ve been ready since you got in that fist fight first period. AJ had to put me in a corner and take care of me.” Her eyes met mine as she took my hand and guided it between her legs so I could feel that her pussy was dripping.

“Oh, did he now? Did you become so needy that our alpha had to fuck you at the game ?” A playful snarl ripped from my lips as I pushed her against the wall.

“Yes, he did.” She hummed in pleasure as my hand curled around her golden throat. “Fuck me,” she begged.

My dick twitched at her words as pre-cum and slick beaded on it. “Far be it to make my alpha wait.”

Lining myself up with her needy, wanting pussy, I plunged in. Her warm softness surrounded me as that rightness I felt when I was inside her settled over me. Warmth and love flowed through our bond.

A happy noise escaped my lips as I withdrew and pushed in again, feeling her flutter around me. “I love how I fit so perfectly in your perfect pussy.”

“I love it when you rail me like this.” Bliss coated her face as her ass thumped against the wall as I continued thrusting.

My free hand toyed with her breasts, and I ran my fingers over AJ’s bond mark. She raked her nails through my hair and down my back and moaned my name over and over.

“Come when you’re ready and lock me,” I told her, my free hand continuing to toy with her breasts.

My lips pressed to hers, then trailed down her throat. Dean’s bite mark had almost disappeared, but like AJ’s, Jonas’ was healing nicely, the scabs falling off to reveal the telltale silvery color of an alpha bond.

Verity gasped. Letting go of her throat, my arms wrapped tightly around my love, my alpha, as her body trembled, pleasure coursing through the bond.

Her pussy shuddered, choking and milking my cock. The lock clamped down, making me gasp as I came, my hot cum flooding her.

“Mmmm, I love how you squeeze my dick. You’re such a good little cum dumpster,” I murmured, nuzzling her.

She kissed the bond mark she’d left on my neck. “I love it when you call me that.”

Pulling her legs around me, I lifted her from the wall and brought us to my bed, still joined together.

I pulled the down comforter over our sweaty, naked bodies. The covers smelled of me and Dean, given we’d had a pre-game fuck.

“Mmmm, Tiger, we fit perfectly.” She put her head on my chest.

“That we do, Kitten.” I pressed a kiss to her soft lips.

The warmth of her soft alpha purr surrounded us as I stroked her hair until she unlocked me. Getting up from the bed, she went to the bathroom. A moment later, she came back with a wet cloth and cleaned me up.

Pushing me on to my back, she straddled me, facing my feet. Her hands seized one of my calves and kneaded them.

“Kitten,” I groaned. “Oh, yeah, a calf massage is exactly what I need.” Given I’d had so much time off, the exertion of the game made them a little sore.

“Thought so. I love you.” Her fingers dug into the muscles, relieving the stress and soreness. After that leg, she did the other.

Oh yeah. This was it.

A game win. A fuck. Some purrs. A calf massage.

Later, either Dean or AJ would want to join us, I was sure.

I turned so I could see that beautiful back of hers as she continued to rub my calf. We’d have to get her a pack tattoo. Maybe we could get something matching as well.

She finished the massage and climbed back beside me, snuggling into me. “How was that?”

“Perfect. I’m so lucky.” I stroked her hair as her head laid on my chest.

“You’re my Tiger, not Lucky. Who hopefully is playing video games with Mercy and not hiding in a corner watching us,” she giggled.

“He might still be at the bar with Carlos,” I laughed.

Her eyes met mine as she ran her fingers through my beard. “I’m the lucky one. I never would have thought that a kind stranger on the airplane would bring me so much happiness.”

“Me, too. I love you.” I hummed as her love and contentment flooded the bond. Yeah, I’d be eternally grateful to whatever force placed us together on the plane–and brought us both to New York. “Even if you thought I played fútbol.”

Laughing, I rolled over, pinning her back to the bed as I put her hands over her head and kissed her, straddling her.

“You’re my favorite forward. I know we’re mated, but I can’t wait to have our wedding and see Dean walk you down the aisle.” Her blue-green eyes bored into mine, full of love and hope. “Thank you for finding me. I love you, too.”

“Always.” The universe had given me and my pack a great gift.

For that, I’d be forever grateful.