Page 9 of Full Body Hit, Part 2 (Alpha Omega Hockey #6)

Yeah, that wasn’t good news.

It took a while for the insanity to die down. As Chase had predicted, he was taken to a dark room to be checked for a concussion, but he was allowed out for the third period.

Auston wasn’t there.

“What happened?” Chase asked Sammy as soon as he had a moment. “Where’s Auston?”

“Game misconduct.”

“What? Why?”

“I think they deemed it intent to injure—he ripped the helmet off the guy he was fighting and then went at him before he could defend himself,” Sammy explained.

“But Auston’s helmet was also off!”

“Uh, yeah…he did that too. He went fucking crazy after that guy hit you. Like…pretty sure he let out an Alpha growl?”

That was against regulations, which might also explain why he hadn’t simply gotten a five-minute fighting major.

Sammy regarded Chase carefully. “Is there something going on between you two?”

That knocked every other thought right out of Chase’s head. “ What? ”

“That was kind of nuts, Chase. That’s the kind of shit Alphas do for their mates.”

Mates? A laugh burst out of Chase. “ No . No way, Sammy. No, okay?”

There was a pause. “Okay…” Sammy agreed slowly, sounding not at all convinced.

Chase managed to concentrate on the rest of the game, but it was a struggle. Had Auston already left? His skin itched all over with the need to see him. To check on him, know that he was okay.

What if Auston had hurt his hip again? Or gotten a concussion?

Not even their win managed to calm him. He gripped his stick hard as the team made its way back to the locker room. It’d be okay if he texted Auston, right? He had to—

Chase stumbled slightly as he spotted Auston sitting on the bench in his stall, hair wet, dressed in his game-day suit.

There was a cut beside his left eye, a couple of butterfly bandages keeping it shut.

“Auston,” Chase breathed, hurrying towards him despite still being on skates. “Hey. Are you okay?”

Auston stared up at him. He was so still. Shoulders hunched, hands dangling between his thighs, gaze steady and searing.

Chase’s pace stuttered, hair raising at the nape of his neck, goosebumps flourishing all over his arms.

“Chase,” Auston said, voice a rasp. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah,” Chase replied quickly. “No concussion. Little bruised up, that’s all.”

A muscle jumped in Auston’s jaw, a fleeting crack in his armour. “Good.”

“You? Your eye…” It was already bruising, blood spreading beneath the skin.

“I’m fine.” It was curt—not angry, but closing the conversation.

“Okay.”

The rest of the team streamed around him, but Chase was caught in the light beam of Auston’s eyes, unable to step away until Sammy jostled him.

Showering and changing were a haze. He thanked the PR gods he wasn’t asked to do press, gathering his things and waving Sammy’s concern off—he wanted to crawl into his own nest that night.

He almost didn’t see Auston standing right outside the locker room doors, stopping just in time to avoid slamming into him.

“Oh, sorry.” He stumbled to a stop, blinking up at the Alpha, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “Uhm…you sure you’re okay?”

Auston nodded. Stilled.

They stood there for a long moment, just staring at each other.

Chase shuffled his foot. “Okay, well—”

“Let me drive you home.”

Chase’s mouth snapped shut.

“I know you have your car here. I can pick you up in the morning. I just…” That same twitch went off in Auston’s jaw.

Chase didn’t even think about it, relief unknotting the tight thing that had tangled in his stomach. “Okay.”

There was no real reason to have Auston drive him—like the Alpha said, he’d have to leave his car there overnight.

And yet he couldn’t stand the thought of not checking Auston more thoroughly. Of not at least trying to figure out what the hell had happened on the ice.

Quiet fell as they got into the SUV and Auston began to drive. It was dark and still and if Chase could smell pheromones, he’d probably be overwhelmed with the inside of the car. It had to be saturated with Auston’s scent—this was his territory.

Chase clenched his hands in his lap. They were trembling with adrenalin. There was something hunting him, breathing on his neck, even in the calm silence of the night.

Time warped. It was a second and an age before they reached Chase’s apartment. Auston parked outside, the engine still running.

“Thank you,” Chase whispered. He should get out, put some distance between them.

He stayed still.

He couldn’t move.

“Chase.”

Chase lifted his gaze. Auston was painted with shadow—the ones cast by his brow, the tangle of still-damp hair. His eyes were blacker still, pits of intent.

Chase couldn’t move as they stared at each other. Auston was sitting in his seat, not even leaning forwards, but the space between them was minuscule, pulsing with heat.

Slowly, cutting through the dreamlike air, Auston’s hand lifted. Got closer, landing on Chase’s cheek. Chase forced himself still as the touch rested there, a thumb stroking his skin.

Chase shut his eyes for a moment. The world spun.

“You promise me you’re okay?” Auston asked, voice a scrape.

“I’m okay,” Chase promised.

“But if you get a concussion symptom later—you’ll call me? Or call someone?”

“Yeah. I-I can call you.” It wouldn’t make any sense to do that, but in that instant, Chase would do anything to wash that expression from Auston’s face—drawn in. Desperate.

The seconds ticked. Chase breathed. His mouth was hot from the closeness of Auston’s palm.

This was all there was, and then, from another universe, a loud laugh broke the silence.

The spell shattered. Auston drew away.

Chase swayed, lungs tight. He swallowed down the urge to plead, No .

“I should go,” Chase whispered.

“Okay.”

A few beats more and Chase turned away, slipping out of the car, shaking as he made it through the veil between worlds and back to reality.