Page 62

Gwen

Four Months Later

I entered through the back entrance of the arena in New York City, since Coach Kirov never disconnected my EBUG pass. Which was a good thing, too, since I was running late. I trotted down the hall with my backpack and roller bag.

There were cubbies in the family room, for the MASOs to store diaper bags, strollers, coats, and stuff. I’d drop my rolling bag there. If I wanted to be on time for puck drop, I had no time to stop at the townhouse. At least I only had a rolling bag and a backpack. Everything else was being shipped from Mexico City.

I flashed my family pass and stumbled inside the room. A bunch of MASOs stood around, eating, gossiping and drinking wine, while wearing matching jackets. A couple of kids played hockey with mini sticks.

“Um, I think you’re in the wrong room?” Muriel looked over and grinned at me. Sammy was so big now.

“I have a pass? I’m starving.” And underdressed. I’d wanted to be comfortable on the flight, so I was wearing leggings, fuzzy boots, and a giant pink Bowerman hoodie. My hair was done in pink ombre with fairy sparkles.

That had to count for something, right?

“Hey, pequena tigresa.” Atty laughed, looking dapper, as always. “Rough flight?”

“Remind me to never fly that airline again,” I joked. The cubbies were too small, so I half tossed my rolling bag on top, since the shelf was taller than me. I’d just keep my backpack with me.

“That is quite the fashion statement.” Patrice smirked, sipping her wine, manicured nails tapping on the glass. “I do like the fairy sparkles though.”

The Tigres liked my fun hair, so we had a social media poll as to how I’d dye my hair if we made the playoffs. This had won, and I liked the holographic strands among the pink.

Everyone was done up even more perfectly than usual. Most of them wore matching jackets. Their adorable black denim jackets were custom designed. Each one had New York Knights embroidered on it with their players’ numbers. Some jackets had rhinestone accents. They also had matching hats.

The Tigres getting a wild card spot in the playoffs had been a welcome surprise. However, it sent their MASOs scrambling, since they didn’t have the entire season to plan their jackets like the Knights. They’d ended up with orange zip up jackets with tiger ears, and the logo and numbers on the back, like a high school team. Some ladies added tails . They turned out to be the cutest thing.

Even if the hater with the worst dressed MASO lists had panned it as too bright.

Whatever, hater. Of course, the Tigres colors would include orange. Also, the Tigres fans often dressed as tigers. It wasn’t even really a game if some fan in an inflatable tiger costume didn’t try to jump onto the ice.

I went to the bar and got myself a beer.

“Do they know you’re coming? I thought you weren’t flying out until the weekend?” Muriel asked. “Though I’m so happy to see you. We miss you so much.”

“I miss you too.” I waved at baby Sammy. “It’s a surprise. They don’t know I’m here.”

I’d rearranged a few things. Having the offer of a private plane helped a lot. Some of the Tigre MASOs had helped me pack up and ship my stuff, so I could get to my guys faster.

“They don’t know?” Patrice’s voice went low. “Someone wants to be spanked.”

“Um, that’s the point, Patrice.” I grinned, given I hadn’t seen them in weeks, since the brief break between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.

“You made it.” Verity grinned at me.

“Thank you, Verity. It was nice of your big sister and her private jet to wait on my ass, so I could hitch a ride back and surprise my guys.” I gave her a big hug, beer in hand.

It had been an amazing flight–super comfortable and pleasant. There had just been a backlog at the runway here in New York, so we’d had to circle longer than we expected before landing.

Which was why I was late.

“She was already nearby at a summit and coming to New York anyway, so she can see Mercy play tomorrow. You know she loves you. Even if she wants you to just put in a transfer to the Rockland team, so you can work for her.”

Verity laughed and took a sip of her wine. Her sister didn’t really understand how professional sports worked and wanted me to do accounts for her top secret biotech projects and play hockey.

Verity looked stunning in her jacket, slim black pants, and flat booties. Her usual pink crutch had been replaced with a red and black sparkly one. Amazing.

“Because I can totally have all the time off I need for hockey stuff.” I laughed.

Celine gave me a hug. Her baby bump was giant. “I’m so sorry your team didn’t progress to the next round. That was quite a game.”

“Me, too. But hey, we weren’t expecting to make the playoffs at all. It was just too bad we ended up playing the Hurricanes.” We gave it a good run, losing in overtime, in game five. The first team to win three games moved on. Given the Hurricanes were one of the best teams in the league, no one faulted our performance.

In fact, we’d gotten a good job here’s a bonus and a giant-ass party.

I looked around and waved at all the familiar faces.

“Everyone, in case you don’t know, this is Gwen, otherwise known as every variation of shorty and tiny tiger imaginable in Spanish, English, and Portuguese,” Atty replied. “She’s goalie for the Tigres. Wonder Boy and Bucket are her intrepid sidekicks.”

Yeah, because Mexico City had fully embraced their tiny pink tiger. Sure, I’d been stuffed in a duffle bag and put in the overhead compartment of the team jet, more than once. But it had all been in good fun. The Tigres were a great team, and we had a great season.

Now I was home.

Grabbing a plastic beer cup, I started filling it with sausage pasta. I was sad I’d missed warmups. I’d even made a sign on the plane. At least I was here though.

The Knights had beaten the Boston Royals, in the fourth game of the first round of the playoffs. Now they were in the second round of the playoffs and going against the Quebec étoiles.

“Gwen, you can get more food after puck drop,” Atty told me. “Your pass still works the entire game. Also, you have time. You can eat off a plate like a normal person.”

“Normal person, where?” I looked around. But I grabbed a plate and filled it with all the other offerings, like sushi and tacos.

“Nope, no normal people here.” Tegan turned the chair backwards and plopped down in it, her cap backwards over her now bright red hair.

“Tegan.” I grinned and shoved a piece of sushi in my mouth. I hadn’t seen her in months.

“Clark looks amazing on the pink bike,” she laughed. “You’re going to actually get your license, right?”

“Already scheduled both tests.” I’d practiced a lot in Mexico, mostly on Fitty’s bike and Jorge’s car. Clark had been using my motorcycle and inadvertently became a social media darling because of it. Especially when he’d go around the city, leaving comic books in all the little share libraries.

He also wanted to drive my antique truck back from Vancouver, instead of having it shipped. A road trip with Clark and Tenzin could be fun.

“Patrice, thanks for handling everything with the shelter,” I told her. Patrice had been the one to coordinate them getting their hot water heater and a few other projects. Yeah, I enjoyed using some of my mom’s money to help people.

“My pleasure. Honestly, we all like having our own cause. The new GM is all for letting us do regular drives for things, given the hygiene drive we did went so well,” she told me.

I nodded as I swallowed my bite. “Amazing.”

“What are your plans for the off-season?” Patrice asked as she took a sip of wine. “Has your sister planned your wedding?”

I laughed. “No. Not yet. Maybe next summer? My contract runs through next season, so by then I’ll have a better idea of where I might end up. Though I have told Stu I won’t be sad if I somehow get traded closer. Clark and Tens are talking to their agents, too. If anything, to work out a longer-term plan to get us all on the same team, or at least close enough to commute. I love the Tigres, but I miss my guys.”

“Of course you do,” Tegan replied.

Also, I didn’t just want to marry my guys; I wanted to bond with them. While it was usually a lot easier for betas to be away from their bonded mates than omegas, we had no idea what it was going to be like for me. So I wanted to do some research. Also, get that pre-bonding counseling.

“Find a fourth, start a pack, get a pack contract. Or somehow start a pack in a place that allows three. Or get all closer to those adorable babies,” Patrice said.

“That’s also part of the plan, well, try to be closer to the babies,” I replied.

Rockland looked promising, and the ultra-bullet to Portland wouldn’t be too far. As much as I wanted to be a Knight, being closer to the babies would be good, too.

“As for plans, first off, I need to finish up some stuff for NYIT, so I can graduate. ” I did a little dance as I ate my pasta.

Everyone at NYIT had been helpful in figuring out how I could do classes online. I’d donated all my extra scholarship money back to the hockey team, since that’s what AJ told me to do and paid for their end-of-year party.

I’d even got back for NYIT hockey’s graduating player night. While the four of us that had been signed didn’t get to play, we got to have our parents come out on the ice, like the other graduating players and attend the post-game banquet. It had been tempting to have Matty and Lenny play my fathers, but the dads had taken the time to come out, so I let them do the honors.

“We’re going to go to Portland to see the babies, visit Clark’s family farm, and annoy Cooter on his ranch.” Which I was excited about, because I missed Cooter. “We’ll also chase Tenzin’s sister around country fairs and possibly see my family in Vancouver.” And accost Francoise on the set of the Defender League movie. “Oh, the guys and I are going to Italy.”

It was my Christmas present from Luca, so that I could visit some D’Angelos, see Nonna Luci’s medals at the museum, and stuff like that. It was very thoughtful.

I’d also practice. I wasn’t about to let my training slide just because I had money to travel.

“Apparently, you, Mercy, Kaiko, Riley, Valya, and other assorted people, are going adventuring in Europe?” Verity gave me a look. “That sounds chaotic.”

“It’ll be fun. Girls trip. We’re going to harass my sister in Paris, break into her castle in Italy, squat in Valya’s friend’s chalet in the mountains, and traipse across Greek islands on a holy pilgrimage. Maybe annoy Mercy’s little siblings in London if we have time.” I started on my mini tacos.

“You mean you’re going on a holy pilgrimage to Feral Ratville?” Tegan grinned. “I heard Mercy and Kaiko talking about outfits. That sounds fun. I’m just hoping to not spend too much of the off season away. But that’s my job.”

“Yeah, we might have tickets to Feral Ratville.” I grinned. It was a big music festival on an island in Greece. I’d always wanted to go. Really, the idea of the trip had started with that. “But I need to visit the library at this certain temple of Artemis in Greece. I have permission.”

While Hestia was the patron Goddess of omegas in Greek mythology, and Hera favored them, Artemis was their protector. The temple had quietly been doing their own research and keeping their own records for a very long time. The expert on dead-matches Tenzin found thought they might answer a question I couldn’t find the answer to. So I’d reached out, and they were like you’re welcome to look.

Would my superpowers disappear if I took a mate? I wasn’t going to not mate Tens and Clark if I lost them. I’d been a good player before I got the alpha speed and reflexes, and I’d still be a good player. But I wanted to know, so I could prepare myself.

“That sounds exhausting. I have to wrangle two children and a dog on the flight home, while Pauley gets to drive the trailer by himself.” Patrice sighed. “But we’re going on a no-kids vacation for a week and have some fun things planned. So…” She shrugged. “Um, your sister has a castle?”

“Don’t most sisters?” I laughed and contemplated what else to get.

“Mine has an island. I’ve got to spend most of the summer doing research, because I’d like to finish up my PhD. But we’ll get some traveling in,” Verity replied. “Oh, I have your jacket.”

“Thank you.”

I took off my sweatshirt. Underneath, I had a cute top from Athlete’s world. With the jacket, cap, boots, and a little bold lipstick, it worked. My charm bracelet tinkled on my wrist, next to my mom’s bangle.

One of the times I came back, the MASO’s gave me the bracelet. It was the same sort Janessa had gotten when her mates retired. Only these charms were specific to me, not my guys.

A ladybug. A goalie mask. My EBUG number. A tiny enchilada and a little lasagna . And other cute charms, chronicling my time with the Knights.

It meant everything to me.

We finished up and someone got some photos of us for social media. Then we headed over to the family section.

“Looking great, everyone. I love the team spirit.” Mr. Longfellow stood there in the hallway with some people. His eyes fell on me. “Gwen. I was hoping you’d be here.” He fumbled in his pocket and excitedly came over to me.

There was a wary look on the face of Mrs. Longfellow, who came over with him.

My heart squeezed. Me?

“I found this when cleaning out my office and thought you’d like it. Someone told me you never got to know her, which is unfortunate, because she was Italy’s best. Anyhow, I knew your mother back when she played with the Blades.” He handed me an ancient hockey card that was a little beat up, but overall in pretty good condition for its age.

My mom? No. She never played hockey in her life. The card in my hand said Lucianna D’Angelo, forward.

My grandmother. Nonna Luci.

Italy’s best. The comment Constantine made came back to me. I’d thought Mr. Longfellow assumed I was related to Maria Barilla.

“She played for the Blades? I didn’t know that.” The Brooklyn Blades had been defunct for more than my lifetime.

How did he figure that out? Was he even old enough to have known Nonna Luci?

Also, Mr. Longfellow, being nice to me after trying to fire me, was weird, and I shot his mate a look.

“That was the year she was left off the Olympic team in an obvious snub. So she told them where to stuff their cannoli and came here.” He laughed, which took years off his face.

I laughed, because I’d totally do that.

“She helped the Blades win the championship. Set a record that was only just broken by Grif Graf. Eventually there was groveling, and she went back to Italy. The Blades would have gladly kept her for as long as she wished, but she was very proud to play in Italy, like her father before her. You're so much like her.” He smiled fondly. “Took me long enough to figure it out.”

“Would it have made a difference?” My head cocked as I turned the card over, to where there was a picture of her without her helmet. She had the same hazel eyes as I did.

My smile too.

“To Chester? No. He’s small minded and doesn’t care much for foreign hockey dynasties. He hasn’t returned my calls. I hope he’s okay. Usually we go out on his yacht during the summer.” Mr. Longfellow frowned and his wife rubbed his arm.

Chester Deloitte was in jail for kidnapping and trying to traffic me to Midwest Gabby’s dad. He wouldn’t serve very long, and it was a fancy prison. But he was serving time. Both the Gears and Deloitte Automotive were doing massive restructuring as well.

From what Ty told me, Austin was trying to go to another team, but no one wanted him and the Gears weren’t letting him go. Though he and his brothers did sit out a suspension.

Midwest Gabby’s dad was doing okay and rebuilding his life. While it looked like both his girls had died in the fire, he’d been reunified with one of his sons.

“How did you know?” I bit my lower lip. Because Mr. Longfellow knew it before I did.

“It’s the way you laugh.” Mr. Longfellow nodded.

What?

“I admire you for wanting to make it on your own. But no one will fault you if you use her name. She’d be proud either way. I bet if you bring the Blades archivist some cookies, she’ll find some footage for you, if you want to see her play. Anyhow, I need to go. Practice hard, kiddo. Call me when you’re ready to go pro.” He waved and rejoined the others.

What had just happened?

His wife lingered. “I… I’m sorry. He’s so convinced she’s your mother and retirement has been… interesting. Thank you for indulging him.”

I held the card to my chest. “She’s my grandmother. I don’t know much about her, other than she played hockey and was a diplomat. I’ll treasure this.”

“Oh. She is? Wow.” Mrs. Longfellow looked amazed. “The Blades' archives were lost long ago. But there are probably some things on the internet.”

“Yeah. It’s sort of crazy, he figured it out. Anyhow, I should go take my seat.” I waved and rejoined the few MASOs that had stopped.

“Um, what was that?” Atty blinked.

“My grandmother was a Blade.” I showed them the card, then carefully put it in the dragon shifter book I was reading and tucked it in my backpack.

What was that he’d said about her dad? Was I a fourth generation hockey player? I’d text Luca later.

We arrived in the family section, and Mrs. Rodriguez waved me down.

“Gwen! I brought you enchiladas. Jorge told me you were coming.” Mrs. Rodriguez brought a container out of her purse. A bunch of Carlos’ family was there, too.

“Gracias.” I took the container, sat in a random seat and talked to her, while I gobbled them down.

Atty shook his head. “All that and purse enchiladas? I guess you missed them.”

“I did.” Though the lady that ran the apartment building I’d lived in would stock my fridge with homemade burritos and other tasty things for a reasonable price, which was well worth it. Though nothing beat Carlos’ mom’s purse enchiladas.

The étoiles had their intro and their lineup was announced. Then the Knights came on.

My guys.

After anthems, the puck dropped and the game started off fast and furious, though Clark wasn’t on the first line.

Eventually, Dean saw me from the net. But my guys didn’t. They came and went and didn’t notice, not that they knew to look for me.

After I finished eating, I took a less-spicy sign and made my way to the very front of the section, then stood in the aisle against the glass.

Patrice shook her head. “This is going to be fun–as long as the étoiles don’t score, because you distracted them.”

Jackson and Nia’s twins stood with me, waving their sticks and being noticeable.

No one scored yet, which was to be expected. Dean blocked another shot, but the forward kept trying to dig it in. Tenzin tripped him up, while Clark got it out of the zone and fled towards the étoiles’ goal.

The usher came over to me. “I’m sorry, but you can’t stand there.”

“They don’t know I’m here. I’m waiting for them to notice me.” Maybe I should hold up my sign.

The étoiles’ defense was ready and chased him around the net. Before he could take the shot, one of them stole it and passed it to their center.

“Oh, Ladybug! You’re back.” She was a student too and had a nice regular gig as a family section usher. But she was related to someone who did staffing for the arena.

Ready, Grif stole the puck away, though one of the étoiles was on his ass, almost tripping him

Grif flipped the puck to Carlos and then slammed the étoile against the glass. Right by me.

His eyes met mine, and he grinned at me. I grinned back, as Carlos passed the puck to Clark. Grif waved at Verity and skated off, right as Clark scored.

Clark’s music played, and the arena went wild, since it was the first goal of the game, and we didn’t have much time left in the first period. He did a hilarious dance with Carlos, and everyone congratulated him.

Grif said something to him. Clark took off right toward me and stopped right in front of me, both hands on the glass. I held up my sign, which had their numbers on it and Will you marry me eventually? with pictures of donuts. I’d made it on the plane, because Grace had art supplies. No glitter, sadly, but she had stick-on rhinestones, which I’d used as sprinkles on the donuts.

“Hi, Tesoruccio. Wanna go home with me?” I felt all stupid giddy at seeing him.

“Yes.” One of his hands shot into the air into a victory pose.

Tenzin joined him and they play-jostled for a moment. Whoever operated the cameras for the screens had noticed, because we were now on them.

“Hey, Big Guy.” My silly grin went so big, I thought my face would split. I waved the sign again.

“Always.” He put his hand on the glass.

I put mine up, so one was mirroring each guy.

The ref came over and blew her whistle. “Stop flirting and get back to work.”

Though not before she winked at me.

“I’ll be here the whole game.” I waved as they skated off.

Mine.

I got to take them home and keep them forever.