Page 40

Gwen

T he energy in the premium ultra-bullet car was electric, since nearly all of us were on our way to Montreal for Jean-Paul and Celine’s wedding. Or rather, their multi-day marital spectacular, filled with activities, dinners, and parties.

Betas couldn’t bond with each other the way alphas and omegas could, so weddings were a huge part of beta culture. They weren’t always fancy or expensive, but they were usually a big deal. Not only for the couple, but for their family and community.

Jean-Paul and Celine’s was no exception.

Tenzin was off with Cooter, going to his ranch, hitting a couple of weddings, then going on one last fishing trip before pre-season began.

Shit, I missed him. At least I had Clark with me.

My summer was officially at an end. On Tuesday, classes started, as did official NYIT hockey practices. I was ready for my last year; I was all paid up and had the classes I wanted.

This was going to be a great year. I was going to soar.

Thrive.

Succeed.

Nerves bounced around inside me as the train sped closer to our destination. I was going back to Canada. That was a lot, even after talking with my therapist about it.

I’d also paid zero attention to where exactly we were going, letting the guys organize it. For all I knew, the wedding was at a castle, which would be so very Celine.

It’ll be okay. You’ll be in Quebec. It’ll be fine.

“Are you okay?” Clark asked, pulling me closer to him.

“Nervous.” I took a deep breath. “It’ll be okay, right?”

“When were you last back? Was it when your mom died?” Clark stroked my hair.

“I…” My chest shook. It was during one of the times I didn’t like to think about.

“You don’t have to talk about it,” he told me, holding me tight.

“Last time I was in Vancouver, I literally climbed out of my bedroom window, in the middle of the night, after leaving my dads a fuck you letter,” I admitted. Not my finest moment, but I had to get out of there.

“You’re going to be fine. Besides, you're going to love where we’re going.” Clark gave me a boyish smile. “I’ve got you.”

“Okay.” I put my head on his shoulder. “I… I’ve been to Canada since then, but it was only Toronto for pre-season hockey with NYIT.” Which felt different, since it was only a couple of hours. We’d be here for days.

What if the dads found me and tried to keep me like last time?

Dean gave me a silly look from across the aisle as if to say, oh, that’s how it is. I scratched my nose with my middle finger.

Clark was mine. I was keeping him. Tenzin, too.

There was an announcement that we were at the Canadian border, and to get out our IDs.

My heart sped up. What if the dads had done something to my record? Or what if they were tracking it? They knew this name. Really, I should have changed it again. But I liked my life. Starting over would mean giving up my hockey dreams. I’d already had to fight for them once.

“Whoa, are you okay?” Clark’s brows furrowed.

“Yeah.” I gulped as I got out my phone and pulled up my ID.

Two people in uniform came through, scanning everyone’s IDs. One scanned Clark’s ID, and it turned green. “Enjoy your trip,” she told him.

She scanned mine. I held my breath, waiting for it to beep and alert her that I was a runaway or wanted, or something. It turned green, and I exhaled.

“Welcome home.” She went on to the next person.

He turned to me. “You’re Canadian. Right. I forgot.”

My ex always did, too.

The train continued on, and we all disembarked in Montreal, got our luggage, and Dean led us to a waiting bus, while holding a little Knights’ flag like he was leading a tour.

We got on the bus, which I presumed took us to the hotel. Celine had rented the castle, didn’t she? An exiled omega princess had built it. I’d toured it once as a child. A wedding there would be beautiful. I just adored castle weddings.

One day…

Dean stood as the bus drove away, holding his phone. “This bus is going to Jean-Paul and Celine’s wedding. If you’re not going there, you’re in the wrong place.”

Everyone laughed.

“JP wanted me to read some notices. First, they speak French here, so don’t be surprised that things are in French ,” Dean said. “Second, the really attractive flight attendants are Celine’s co-workers and friends. Don’t break any hearts, or Celine will hit you with her purse.”

That elicited chuckles and a few people looked at Carlos. Celine was one of those ladies who liked large purses. She also loved the gym, so that would hurt.

“Third, we don’t have the whole place to ourselves, and there’s another big party, so please be courteous. Fourth, it’s a nature park. There are going to be animals everywhere. Be cautious, especially when walking across the park at night, drunk, so you’re not eaten by a deer. And…” Dean started laughing. “JP wrote, “ Will someone please check Ladybug’s bags before you depart, so she doesn’t take any animals home? ”

The entire bus broke out in laughter. Including me.

“I’m not going to steal a baby deer,” I told him. Wait, we were going to a nature park? While that sounded amazing, something wiggled in the back of my mind. Maybe I should have paid more attention to where we were going.

Nia laughed, her hair now in short braids. “Of course not. You’ll steal a baby wolf cub and pretend it’s a dog.”

“Then you’ll cry when it eats your cat,” Dimitri added.

“I mean, I did want to keep the wounded wolf my nonna and I nursed back to health,” I shrugged. I’d be a great wolf mom.

“Who got Ladybug a cat?” Dean shot me a look.

“Clark,” Carlos blabbed. “But it’s actually a cat and not a tiger. Do you think Lucky will like Snowball?”

I pondered this. “Absolutely.”

Carlos’ mom was cat-sitting for me.

Dean read a few more things, then sat down.

“I think I’ve been here?” I murmured to Clark. “That awkward moment when you can’t remember and there’s no one to text and ask.” I looked at pictures online. Would Lenny know?

No, I wouldn’t ask him, just so he wouldn’t tell my brother.

“It seems like a great place for a family vacation,” Clark agreed, leaning over to look at my phone.

His closeness was comforting and not only because I liked cuddles. Being with him made me feel like myself. That real self that I’d been trying to poke out.

We drove through the gates of the wilderness park. As soon as I saw the sign, the memories hit me like a puck to the face. The place was beautiful, filled with trails, deer, wolves, rabbits, foxes, bison, and many other animals. There was a drive-through path, a learning barn, hiking trails, a tree top adventure place, picnic areas, a lake, and streams.

By the time we pulled up to the sprawling wooden lodge, I knew exactly where we were. Dread lumped in my belly.

“Are you okay, Ladybug?” Dean asked as we got off the bus.

“What happens if the park doesn't let me stay?” I’d had a different name, but I’d be mortified if I had to go back to New York in disgrace.

“What did you do?” Dean laughed.

“My brother’s mating ceremony was here. I tried to take home an arctic fox that I’d befriended.” If it wasn’t for my sister Maricella, I’d have succeeded. I’d had a plan. My nonna was a vet. My aunt ran an animal refuge. It wasn’t like I was going to keep the fox in my room.

Okay, much or often.

Clark draped an arm around my shoulders. “It’ll be okay, Gweny.”

He went over to check in. I used the bathroom, then returned to the lobby. The opulent wooden lodge was as I remembered.

Clark bounded over to me. “I have our key code and schedules. Dimitri booked a wolf villa that you, me, him, Carlos, and Valya are sharing. Like it’s in the wolf area and you can watch them through enormous windows.”

“Oooh. That sounds amazing.” I remembered the wolves.

We set off in golf carts, and I looked over my schedule. Everyone’s was a little different; like I had goalie dance practice shortly. We passed the opulent chalets where I was pretty sure I’d stayed as a kid.

Not that the villas were dumpy. No, they were adorable three-bedroom suites with balconies and full kitchens.

Valya got her own room, Carlos and Dimitri were sharing one, and Clark and I had the other.

“Oh no, there is only one bed. Whatever will you do?” Carlos laughed as he showed us a room with a wolf view and one enormous bed.

“Fuck you, Carlos.” I laughed, giving him a playful shove.

“What? Not me.” Carlos knocked me with his hip.

It was a lovely room, with a fireplace and a couch. Obviously, these villas were meant for families, and this was the parents’ room. Carlos and Dimitri had bunk beds.

“Are you going to be okay?” Clark asked me as we brought in our suitcases.

“I’m okay sharing a bed with you, Clark.” I began hanging up my dresses.

It had been a few days since he’d eaten me out on his motorcycle and I think I was ready for more. Okay, my head was ready for more. My lady parts had been wanting more, since the moment I’d gotten off the motorcycle.

“I won’t make any moves unless you ask.” Clark put his arms around me.

“What if I ask?” My chest shook a little. “We’re in Canada and this is a big step for me. I might need all the snuggles?” I might need some full body snuggles later. Not to mention I liked the two times we’d been together.

“My snuggles are all yours, including the full body naked ones.” He scooped me up and spun me around, and I could feel the heat between us.

There was only one bed. Poor me.

“Non, non, turn faster,” JP scolded, as we practiced the goalie dance, in a ballroom, in the main lodge.

This was the silliest thing I’d ever experienced. It was just what you’d expect at a goalie wedding–a bunch of goalies dancing around to a medley of sexy club songs. The choreography was fantastic , and we had custom jerseys that said Team Trembley on them.

We also seemed to be short a dancer. I never had figured out who everyone was on the group chat. It wasn’t only me, Dean, and JP. Coach Kirov was there, as were other goalie friends of JP’s.

We did the routine again. Coach Kirov kept complaining that she wasn’t as young as we were. Not that she was old.

Much of the choreography hinged on the fact that goalies were a flexible bunch. Timing was also key.

“Double D, non, you go left, not right, Peter will go right,” JP directed.

“Who is Peter and where is he?” Dean looked around.

“Peter has another wedding, but he’ll be here tomorrow.” JP shrugged. “We played together at university.”

Well, it was the season for hockey weddings.

We finished the practice, as a few other players and people I didn’t know came in for another dance rehearsal. This one was all JP’s attendants, which were usually your siblings, cousins, and besties.

I found Clark with Anders and a few others drinking beer and eating snacks on the bar patio. Clark held out his beer. Taking a swig, I grabbed a chicken wing as he pulled me onto his lap.

“Anders, any word? Are you leaving us for the Gears?” I took another wing.

“The trade has stalled. Or at least that’s what it feels like.” Anders’ shoulders slumped.

“At least it hasn’t fallen through,” Clark replied, putting an arm around me.

Coach Kirov came over to us. “Ladybug, do you have a moment?”

“Aways,” I told her, hoping this was a good talk, and not a bad one.

We went to the bar and got some beers.

“You’re not firing me, right?” I bit my lower lip. I always felt like I was in trouble when someone asked to talk.

Coach laughed. She was a big Russian alpha who’d played in the Olympics more than once. She was here with her pack and kids. Today her blonde hair was up in a high messy bun instead of the usual bun braid she wore to the rink. Coach Kirov was good friends with my coach at community college. Before I became an EBUG, I’d babysit for Coach K. Sometimes I still did.

“You’re senior EBUG this year. This means you get to help with the schedules. I’ll send you the game schedule for the year, and the practice schedules for September and October, so you can start working on things. I’ll give you the contact info for the new one. Let me know if we need a fourth,” she told me.

We might. Weekend games were the worst, since so many collegiate teams played then.

Coach took a sip of her beer. “I hear you’ve been working hard all summer. The new assistant GM thought you were on the team. He took emergency backup goalie to mean, as he put it, the understudy goalie . He came from a big theater company on the west coast, but he’s a wiz with budgets.” Her look was thoughtful, not teasing.

“I mean, we sort of are?” I laughed. Constantine didn’t seem to know much about hockey. But then a business was a business.

“Also, put me in, Coach. NYIT doesn’t penalize scholarship athletes who leave before graduation to take a contract. Just call my agent,” I teased, feeling a little bold. Not that we needed a goalie.

JP and Dean played tandem, switching off. They had us EBUGs if there was an issue during the games and could always bring someone up temporarily from their farm team.

“If you don’t have an agent, you should get one,” she added. “I’ll help you the best I can, but you know there’s a good chance you’ll end up overseas. There are lots of teams in Europe that aren’t afraid of short betas, if they have a save rate like yours.”

“Working on the agent. I’m not afraid of playing overseas or in the minors,” I replied. A couple of agents wanted to see me play when the season started.

She nodded. “That’s what I like to hear. I know you don’t shy away from hard work.”

We talked for a while longer, mostly ideas for the EBUG program for the coming year. I hadn’t realized I’d be a senior EBUG. Even though I had seniority, I figured Ty would appoint himself, given he was an alpha dude.

JP came over to us and grabbed my hand. “Coach, I need her. Come, Ladybug. We have things to do.”

I waved to Coach and let JP drag me off.

Things to do involved folding paper airplanes to be thrown as JP and Celine ran down the aisle as a married couple.

“Hey, are you with Clark? I thought you were into Bucket,” Dean asked as he folded a blue piece of paper.

“Who’s Bucket? ” JP waggled his eyebrows as he threw an airplane at Nia.

“Oh, right, JP hasn’t met Bucket.” Nia laughed. “Bucket is Ladybug’s new rescue.”

I put my carefully folded plane in the basket. “Why can’t I like both?”

“You can,” Nia assured me. “Double D’s being nosey.”

I got a picture of Tenzin on the beach.

Tenzin

Did you make it to Montreal okay?

Me

No international incidents. How’s the beach wedding?

Tenzin

Warm and sunny.

Me

There are animals here. Miss you.

Tenzin

Miss you too, Firecracker.

I sent a picture of myself folding airplanes. I also sent one to Cooter with the caption goalie wedding. One day I hoped to meet him.

We were almost done when my phone buzzed.

Valya

Come back, I need to do your makeup before the welcome reception.

“Valya has summoned me. See you soon.” I waved.

The lodge lobby was full of people carrying flowers and pillars. Memories of coming here with my family hit me, one after another, as I left the lodge and walked toward the villa. My big sister thwarting my attempts to bring home an arctic fox aside, it had been a fun trip. Being here made me miss Matty and my dads a lot .

“There you are,” Valya said as I walked into the villa. “Get dressed, then I’ll do your makeup.”

“Sure.” I entered our empty room. Outside the window, I saw some wolves running by. I took a quick look at my schedule again. There was a welcome reception followed by a hockey bus, which looked like my entire night.

I was in Canada. For a wedding. Shit. I grabbed a beer out of the mini fridge and downed it. Hopefully, we were going bar hopping on that hockey bus.