Page 12
Dakota
I yank on my goalie gear, the familiar weight of pads settling over my shoulders, but my hands shake as I fumble with the straps. Holt looms over me in the locker room, all broad shoulders and furrowed brows, his mahogany scent sharp with worry. “Fuck, I’m good,” I snap, trying to sound convincing, but my voice wavers, betraying the heat still simmering beneath my skin.
Holt crosses his arms, not buying it. “Sweetheart, you look like you’re gonna pass out again.”
I huff, reaching up to my scent gland, fingers brushing the patch of skin now slathered with the cream he grabbed from the clinic. It dulls the lavender flood pouring off me, thank god, because I don’t need to smell like a whole-ass flower shop out there. No telling what the other guys would do—unmated Omega, fresh-presented, ripe for the taking. It’s dangerous as fuck, but I wasn’t about to sit at home, curled up in my nest like some fragile thing. I’m still me, still the Hawks’ goalie, heat or no heat.
I stand, legs wobbling under the bulk of my gear, and Holt’s there in a flash, hands steadying my hips. “I’ll be okay,” I insist, meeting his brown eyes, trying to mean it. “I’m just hot, but otherwise I feel fine. If that changes, I’ll let you know, Alpha .” I smirk, tossing the title out to lighten the mood, but Holt’s not smiling. His jaw tightens, worry etching deeper lines into his face.
“You were in a daze all morning,” he growls. “Do you even remember going all caveman on Maya before flattening me on the bed for a knot? Your pheromones are out of control, Kota, and I’m worried something could happen to you.” His words hit hard, stirring a flicker of shame, because yeah, I remember—bits and pieces, anyway. Maya’s lips, her vanilla scent, then Holt’s knot filling me.
But that doesn’t mean he gets to go all Alpha on me like those needy little Omegas love. “I’m not a damn puppet for you…”
Holt moves fast, gently wrapping a hand around my throat, his palm warm against my pulse. “No but you are my Omega.” His touch sends a shiver through me, and I sag, instincts immediately settling. The door swings open, and Roman pokes his head in, but Holt doesn’t look away. “Give us a minute, Ro.”
Roman’s eyes flick between us. “Yep, yep, absolutely,” he chirps, popping back out like he’s dodging a bullet.
The door clicks shut, Holt’s gaze softening, thumb brushing my neck. “I’m just as confused,” he admits, quieter now. “Maybe less but my instincts are all out of whack. Every time you make a noise, turn around, look at something, need something, I’m on alert. I’m not gonna get all protective and drag you off the ice, but I’m also not stupid. These weeks, days, leading up to your heat—they’re gonna be your most difficult, and all this is new to you.”
I sag further, his hand still massaging my neck, and I realize how much I love this—the softness of his touch, the way it cuts through my chaos. “What are you asking of me?”
“To be honest with me. To tell me what you need. This isn’t something we can keep from the team or the administration. You don’t have to tell everyone, and I’ll buy you an entire supply of scent blockers if that’s what you want, but I need you not to lie to me anymore, Dakota.”
I nod, swallowing hard. “Yeah. I can do that.”
He leans forward, kissing me softly, his lips warm against mine. When he pulls back, the worry has lessened, replaced that stoic smile I love so much. “Great, now remember that sign I gave you last year to let me know if something’s wrong?” I reach up, tapping my helmet lightly and he nods, relief flickering in his eyes. “Use it. For the love of God, use it. I don’t fucking care why, but you use it, and either me or Roman will be there.”
I agree, a quick jerk of my head, and he kisses me again, deeper this time, his hand sliding to my jaw. “Come out when you’re ready,” he says, stepping back. “I gotta help introduce Maya to the team.”
“I’ve got this,” I tell myself, hoping the little confidence pep talk will keep me from falling into a blubbering mess needing a knot. The heat is just barely at bay but I’m not ready to give up on hockey just yet. Grabbing my helmet, I shove out of the locker room, my goalie pads creaking with every step.
The air shifts as I hit the corridor, cooler, laced with the sharp bite of ice, and Roman’s there, leaning against the wall with a soft smile curving his lips. His citrus scent hits me, calming me even further. “You good?”
I snort, adjusting my glove. “You left pretty fast when Holt told you to,” I say, half-teasing, half-calling him out.
Roman shrugs, unbothered, pushing off the wall to fall into step beside me. “I’m all for you fucking each other but I also know you’re not dealing with this change as well as you’re trying to make us believe. Didn’t know if you’d want me to stay.”
I pause, turning to face him, helmet dangling from my hand. “You’re still my Beta.”
Roman’s grin softens and he steps closer, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Oh yeah, I’m not going anywhere, Kota Bug,” he jokes, the old nickname pulling a laugh from me despite the heat still simmering under my skin. “I’m just saying—you were pretty out of it this morning and it looked painful.”
“No, it’s more… disconcerting,” I admit, searching for the right word. “I’m not in control of any of these changes, so it’s a lot of freaking out about what’s going on in my head and not being present. Like, I remember Maya being there then getting knotted, but everything else was just a hazy blur of need. I’ve never looked forward to the end of the season before, but I am now, because I need to figure all this out.”
“We got you, Kota. You won’t have to deal with all of this on your own. Now, let’s go show Maya some skill on the ice. Brogan thought he was some hot shit getting her team, but I’m not about to let him win.”
I laugh, the sound echoing off the concrete walls, and nudge him with my elbow. “You’re not even gonna let her win?” I tease, raising a brow.
Roman’s eyes glint, all mischief and determination. “I’ve been waiting four years to show her my skills,” he declares, puffing out his chest. “Brogan’s going down!” We’re both laughing now, as we step out of the tunnel and onto the rink’s edge, the other guys waving us over.
The moment Maya’s face comes into view, it’s like everything is perfect. Like all I needed was the myriad of their scents together, in one place to settle my nerves. The hard part will be getting Maya to realize that this is exactly where she belongs, on the ice, with us, with me.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12 (Reading here)
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38