Page 31

TWENTY-SIX

Practice was brutal.

Kendall is walking backwards, laughing at something Atlas is saying. I’m just fucking exhausted and want to get home ASAP. Possibly FaceTime Stacia, see what she’s doing.

Kendall runs right into someone as he tries to turn around. He makes a sound that causes me to laugh under my breath, fumbling his hockey bag before correcting himself.

“Shit, I’m so sorry,” he says, taking a step back from the girl he almost body slammed. She watches him through narrowed eyes, examining him but not in any hostile way. Her hair is a very specific shade of blue, one that should be recognizable but I’ve never met this girl before.

All three of us just watch as she looks at us, almost like she’s sizing us up. Just as Atlas starts to speak, she points at me.

“Grumpy, intense, dark hair. You must be Uriah.” I rear back, confusion etching over my face. Before I can respond, she points. “Kendall.” Then her eyes dart to Atlas. “And you’re the prime.”

“I’m sorry,” Kendall starts, “how did you know that?”

I wonder the same thing. Yes, we’re hockey players and an established pack, but we’re definitely not one of the more popular ones. We stick to ourselves, stay under the radar. Might as well enjoy our invisibility before Atlas gets drafted someday.

“Well, none of you wear earrings or have visible tattoos. It’s quite disappointing really, I wanted to meet Ciro the most.”

Something edges just along the side of my brain, but it’s gone before I can grasp it. “Ciro’s seeing someone. In fact, we all are. Nice to meet you though.” I start to walk around her.

“It’s nice to meet you, too. My best friend has said a lot about you.”

I halt. “Best friend?”

“Did all three of you lose some brain cells during practice today or are you normally this dense?” She chuckles, but it’s not unkind. “I’m Rory.”

She doesn’t put her hand out, and I suddenly realize she’s an omega. Her courteousness is bounds better than others’. Stacia’s not even here and she still knows not to touch us, even to shake our hands.

But also, holy shit. This is Stacia’s best friend .

Atlas goes to say something but Kendall blurts out, “You wanted to meet Ciro the most?” He looks appalled.

She laughs. “Of course. He sounds like the most fun in your pack. No offense.”

“Um, yes offense—” Kendall starts but our prime cuts him off by elbowing him. We really don’t need to start some silly competition on who can impress Stacia’s best friend the most.

Although …

No. No, we don’t.

“Anyway.” Atlas puts on a cautious smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Rory. Why are you here?”

I didn’t realize that before. She was strolling around in the hockey arena, and I’m pretty sure Stacia mentioned neither of them particularly enjoy the sport.

“It’s not obvious? I was waiting for you three.

Well, I thought it’d be four but now I’m not sure why.

The beta doesn’t play hockey.” She shrugs.

“Color me curious. You’re my best friend’s scent matches.

We’d meet sooner or later, and I wanted to sniff you out for myself.

Well, not like that .” She cringes. “You know what I mean.”

I’m a little bit amazed but also a little bit nervous by her straightforwardness.

Rory heaves out a sigh. “Look, I’m a bit protective of Stacia.

She was the only one there for me during a really tough time in my life.

So much so, that I had no idea what she was dealing with in hers.

I just wanted to meet you guys, make sure for myself that she was in good hands.

” She looks a bit uncomfortable and rubs her neck.

“I know you guys already know about dickwad.”

I raise a brow. “Dickwad?”

“Yeah, that’s how we refer to him in our house. I’m trying to get Stacia to remember he’s the devil.” She looks at Kendall. “Thanks for punching him, by the way. That shit made my entire week.”

Kendall snorts.

“Their relationship was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced secondhand. I persuaded her to get to know you guys, because she deserves to be happy. She thought it was too soon, and maybe it was, but not by normal standards.

“You have to be patient with her,” she says softly.

“She’s going to need some time to really believe you guys want her for her , and not just because she’s your fated omega.

That’s not strictly a her thing, but an omega thing.

And she needs time to heal from the shit Derek did to her.

Don’t let her sabotage this. I know she’s happier than she’s been in months, even if she doesn’t realize it herself yet. ”

There’s a pit in my stomach. Stacia always seems happy, but I see the same rigidness in her that I feel in myself.

I recognize it. There was an uninhibited light in her at some point, but someone wanted to shatter it.

To take that light for themselves. It’s a burden I wish on no one, much less my omega.

“We will,” Atlas announces to her, and it looks like a sense of relief passes through her expression. “We’ll be patient, for as long as she needs. We’re not going anywhere.”

“Thank you.” She nods before playfully narrowing her eyes at us. “Technically though, we still only just met, so I’ll be keeping an eye on you guys.”

Kendall finally cracks a smile. “We wouldn’t expect anything less. We’re just glad our scent match has someone else looking out for her. It’s relieving beyond belief.”

That statement seems to satisfy her. “I should go now. I’ll let Stacia know we ran into each other and finally met. She’ll be elated.”

She starts to walk away before looking over her shoulder. “Oh, by the way, Stacia’s birthday is the twenty-sixth. She’ll say she doesn’t care about it, but she’s a Pisces, so. Take her somewhere. Make her feel special.”

Atlas widens her eyes at the information before responding, “She is special.”

She gives a small smile. “Yes, she is.”

We wave her off before finally exiting the arena.

Looking at the calendar on my phone, I accidentally let a tiny smile slip when I see what day correlates with her birthday. The boys notice, giving me suspicious glances.

“What are you plotting, Uri?” Kendall asks.

I just smile bigger before putting my phone in my pocket. “Let’s just say the stars are aligning. It’s time to give our omega a birthday she won’t forget.”