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We fall silent, and it shines a light on the other thing I need to say. Something that I wish I could just bury and forget, but futures aren’t built on omissions. I can’t keep this from her.

“Stacia, there’s something else we need to talk about.”

She quirks a brow at me, trying to hide the anxiousness I just evoked.

“That day, back in October… when you picked Derek up from the locker room. I was there. I smelled you. It hit me like a freight train. By the time I pulled myself together, you were gone. I had no idea who you were. I only had the assumption that you knew Derek.”

Her expression changes as she processes. There’s a softness even as her forehead creases in thought. There’s an array of emotions, and I hate that I’m the one that caused them.

I continue, “I never told my pack. Looking back, I should have. But I wanted to protect them, just in case I was wrong. Finding out that was the same night that Derek—” A small growl tries to emit from my chest. “I’ve felt uneasy.

Doubting my choice, thinking maybe I could have found you somehow.

But I didn’t, not until that night at the party.

Kendall punching Derek, that was a tell-tale, but it wasn’t until Ciro told me what you smelled like… then I knew for sure. I had fucked up.”

She swallows. “So… that’s why Ciro sought me out.”

I nod. I go to caress her arm, but hesitate. I hate that I hesitate.

“Technically, he probably would have done that anyway. The night you met, he was drunk and sad after you left. He said the prettiest girl at the party had left, so there was no reason to be there anymore.”

Her lips tilt up at that. “He is dramatic, isn’t he?”

The rhetorical statement brings a smile to my face. “He balances out all of my seriousness, that’s for sure.”

When I feel the tension ease away, I finally rest my hand on her arm, caressing it gently. She melts into me, and I give a breath of pure relief.

“I am sorry. I keep looking back, trying to figure out what I could have done so you didn’t have to go through that. I messed up.”

She shakes her head and looks at me with sad eyes. “Rory tried to get me to see reason after that night. I ignored it, pretended it wasn’t happening. That’s a choice I made. I don’t want you to carry that burden.”

“I think it’s a burden we share, then,” I rationalize. “We both could have made different choices. We just didn’t.”

“And yet, we’re still here. Together.” Her hand comes up to my face and rubs my cheek. “Whether or not the choices we made were the right ones, they led us here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Atlas.”

She kisses me, soft and tired. I don’t feel completely absolved of my guilt, but I’m glad she finally knows. I don’t deserve her compassion.

I’m going to do whatever I can to make it up to her.

After a few moments, she’s so still that I assume she’s sleeping. Then she moves her head slightly, her chin resting beside my pec, and whispers the sweetest words. “Will you read to me?”

I feel my heart squeeze, knowing this girl is so fucking perfect for me.

“I would quite literally do anything you wanted me to,” I tell her, pushing a few stray hairs behind her ear. “But that is one thing that I will take the most pleasure in.”

I climb out of our little cocoon and stand in front of my bookshelf. “I know you prefer romance. I have a small selection but they’re ones you’ve already read.” I look at her with a guilty smile.

“Why do you have romance books that I’ve read?” she asks, her eyes sleepy but surprised.

“My alpha feels closer to you while reading them,” I admit confidently, especially after the night we had.

There’s no need for secrets between us, not anymore.

I don’t feel any regret or shame at the things I did while my alpha was insecure, and what I’ll probably continue to do because romance books aren’t half bad.

That’s a poor statement. They are really fucking entertaining.

She preens at my words, her smile bright. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Of course I did.” I give a reassuring nod. “And when you have finished books, I’ll read those too. I’ll have a whole shelf dedicated to your work.”

“Atlas.” My name on her lips is music to my ears, her tone affectionate and soft. I look at her, and my heart skips a beat at the adoration on her face.

“Do you want me to read one, or maybe something else? I have fantasy, young adult, thrillers…”

“Nonfiction?”

I give her an incredulous look. “I mean, technically yes . But… you’re making fun of me right?”

She can’t keep her face straight, a laugh escaping. It’s something the rest of the pack would joke about, and it makes me smile.

Stacia bites her lip, thinking it over. “Which one’s your favorite? That you’ve seen me read.”

I look at the selection, and the historical romance sticks out to me. “This one, definitely.” I pick it up and fall back under the covers beside her. “I love the political intrigue and drama. And the side characters. Their humor really makes this one for me.”

She reads the title and gives a happy nod. “I really like this one, too. There’s a sequel coming out. Maybe we can read it together.”

She looks at me with hopeful eyes, as if she actually thinks I’d say no to that.

“I would love that.” She settles back on my chest as I open the book and begin from chapter one.

Just as I’m getting to the third chapter, there’s a soft knock on my door. On the other side is our pack, peeking in to check on us after being isolated for so long. When they see us, they each breathe a sigh of relief before opening the door further and stepping inside.

“Sorry for intruding,” Uriah murmurs at the same time Kendall says, “We missed you two.”

I can feel Stacia’s happiness even without a bond. I slap a hand down on the empty space beside me. “Come join us, then.”

Ciro is the first one to hop onto the bed with us, making himself at home under my covers.

He secures his spot beside Stacia as she maneuvers to her back.

Kendall takes up the spot beside me, propping his head up as he lies on his side.

Then Uriah comes up last, eyeing the way we’re all tangled up together before crawling up the front of the bed and placing himself right on top of our omega.

She preens, lacing her fingers in his hair as he closes his eyes and rubs against her chest.

“Is Coach pissed off that I bailed?”

Kendall gives me a smile of disbelief. “Surprisingly, no. I mean, he was really pissed off at first but after he learned the reason why, he understood.”

I tilt my head at him, then look to Uriah to confirm. He’s giving me the same expression, nodding with wonderment. “He said he’d handle the press. Also, an agent was there tonight to see you, one of Coach’s friends. He said he’d explain the situation to him, too.”

I swallow down the curse wanting to come out.

I don’t regret what happened on the ice, especially not after the night I had with my omega.

Hockey is the only career I’ve ever wanted.

Play professionally for a few years, then coach after retirement.

It’s the only path for me, and I almost blew it tonight.

“Why is it suddenly okay?” Stacia chirps softly, looking between us three. “I’m not sure how hockey politics work but wouldn’t it be a bigger deal that the captain got into a fight with his own teammate?”

“It’ll be a big deal, definitely. But considering the circumstances, it won’t be as black and white for most.”

“Circumstances?” she asks.

Uriah gives her collarbones a light kiss. “That you’re our omega. Our scent matched omega. That changes things for people. It becomes an argument of instincts v.s. logic. And most people have experienced it themselves to know that it’s not so easy to control.”

She squints at that, likely thinking it over. “I guess I never considered it. I have beta parents. They’re not big fans of other designations, so I didn’t interact with many alphas or omegas growing up.”

The information is new, and is something I never thought about before. “Did they not support you when you presented?”

She coughs and tries to give a casual shrug. “Not really. They were disappointed when they found out I wasn’t a beta. Up until then, I had heard every derogatory thing in the book about omegas and why they were awful. After I presented as one, those insults were turned on me.”

I could feel my blood boiling, possibly even more than it did on the ice with Derek. I start to take some discreet breaths to calm myself, but Uriah lets out a grunt of disapproval. “They sound like shitty parents. Do you still see them?”

She caresses his hair, fingers moving thoughtfully. “I talk to them every once in a while. They’ll call, ask me about my grades. They pay for my rent and tuition. I’m just trying to stay off their radar.”

There’s a moment of silence following her words, all five of us sitting in thought. The air around us exudes with our discomfort but our exhaustion is keeping it at bay. A moment later, Kendall looks at the book in my hands.

“What are you reading?” he asks just before he sees the cover, “Oh fuck! This is one of my favorites.”

My face turns bright red. Ciro sneaks a peek and bellows a laugh. “Of course you two like that one.” He looks at Stacia. “I’ve discovered I’m more privy to alien romances, but those two have always loved a good period piece.”

Her eyes widen as she looks at all of us, her mouth slightly agape. “Have you all been reading romance?”

“Of course we have. It’s been a group effort. Started by our prime, of course.” Ciro’s excitement blooms. “We all thought it would be beneficial. And of course, these alphas needed a bit of extra help.” He playfully rolls his eyes. “Damn biology.”

A laugh rolls through me. “Ciro was the most enthusiastic about it, don’t let him fool you.”

She looks at each of us, a light shining in her. She plays with Uriah’s hair. “Do you enjoy them, Uri?”

He grumbles, already half asleep in her embrace. He nods and mutters incoherently before saying, “Lots of hockey players.”

She giggles softly. “Yes, those are some of my favorites.”

His tired smile pokes out. “Kismet.”

I continue reading, all of us tangled up. We relax into one another, and one by one, each of us finds our eyes shutting. It’s the greatest sleep I’ve had in a long time.