Page 14

Holt

I shrug on a pair of pants, the locker room buzzing with the team’s post-practice chatter, all sweat, stink, and grins. Dakota leans over, stealing sweet kisses, lingering longer than he usually does, lavender muted but still curling around me.

Someone whistles and then Ethan, ever the shit starter, calls out, “You gonna give us a show, Holt?”

Dakota flips him the bird, not breaking the kiss, and I chuckle against his mouth, warmth spreading through me. The happiness of the moment dulls as sharp pain twists in my chest, stealing my breath. I frown, pulling back, and see Dakota’s eyes narrow, Brogan’s head snapping up from across the room, both of them sensing it too. The problem is that I don’t know what it is.

“I’ll be right back. Just gonna make sure we got everything off the ice.” It’s a flimsy excuse, but I don’t care, rubbing at my chest as I step into the hallway. The pain’s new, a raw distress I’ve never felt, and it’s not mine—it’s hers. A high pitched scream comes a few moments later and I take off, skidding around the corner as I rush toward the sound.

I’m not ready to see Maya charging toward me, naked and terrified, her vanilla scent burnt sour with fear. Her curls are damp, eyes wide as I catch her in my arms, steadying her trembling frame against my chest. My gaze snaps up, locking on an Alpha stalking toward us, everything about his presence here all wrong.

“Hands off, that’s mine,” he growls.

“What the fuck,” I snap, keeping Maya close, her skin cold under my hands. “She’s a person, not a thing. Second, who the fuck are you to be in this rink right now?” I twist her so that she’s not completely in his line of sight but without a shirt to give her, the best I can do is hold her until this Alpha is gone.

Maya’s shaking, tears streaming down her face, and I need to get her safe—clothes, warmth, somewhere he can’t touch her. The guy steps closer, eyes narrowing. “I’m her Alpha and you’d do well to not put your hands on her.”

Maya whimpers, pressing tighter against me, a sharp laugh tearing from my throat. “You’re not her Alpha because I am. Get the fuck out of the rink before I call security.” I’m not hers but the words feel right, words I’ll have to dissect later.

He growls, taking another step as if he’s going to intimidate me into letting her go. “Even if you were her Alpha,” I add, “her running away from you like that tells me otherwise. Out!”

He hesitates, muttering, “Stop fighting this, Maya. You’ve got three days to show up on your own, or things’ll be worse”—before stalking off, his footsteps fading into the rink’s echo.

I exhale, turning to Maya, gently caressing the side of her face, her cheek damp under my thumb. “You’re okay.” I’m not surprised when Dakota and Brogan show up behind me as I reach out my hand to Dakota. “Shirt. I need your shirt.” No words are needed; Dakota peels his off, handing it over, and I help Maya into it, the fabric swallowing her frame as I scoop her up, carrying her back to her father’s old office.

I set her on the edge of the desk, sitting in the chair to give her space, but her eyes find mine before she slides forward, crawling into my lap. I don’t hesitate, wrapping my arms around her as she tucks her face into my neck, nose pressed to my scent gland, inhaling like my scent calms her. The other two crowd the doorway, Roman pushing in a second later, approaching the desk with caution.

“You’re okay, Maya,” I murmur, tightening my hold on her. “I got you, angel. I got you.” She shudders, a sob muffled against my skin as I stroke her back, trying to calm her further.

Roman perches his ass on the edge of the coach’s office desk, a safe distance from where I’m holding Maya. “What the fuck just happened? Holt, you bolted out of there, and then it was like I felt this knot in my chest.”

I shake my head, Maya’s damp curls brushing my neck as she clings closer, her vanilla scent still edged with that burnt fear. “I have no fucking clue,” I admit, keeping my voice low to avoid startling her. “There was this guy calling himself her Alpha, and…” I trail off, glancing at Brogan, who lets out a low growl, his rain scent turning stormy. My brows lift and I fix him with a look. “Explain that.”

Brogan drags a hand down his face, jaw clenching in response. “He was on campus yesterday. Raised his hand to her. He’s a piece of shit.”

Dakota straightens a little from where he’s leaning against the wall, his expression darkening, his lavender scent flaring despite the blockers. “Did he look like he walked out of a GQ magazine?” he asks, eyes narrowing. Brogan nods, and Dakota’s fists clench. “That’s Nox. Her ex. Why the fuck was he here?”

Brogan hesitates, glancing at Maya, who’s still tucked against me, her breath uneven. “Something about a trust fund,” he mutters. “I…” Maya lets out a soft whine, barely audible, my chest tightening, instinct roaring to shield her.

“We’ll talk about this later,” I cut in. “Fuck. I need to get her dry. Brogan, tell the others dinner’s postponed. Roman, call campus police—if he’s tried this shit once, he’s gonna do it again. Dakota…”

I look at him, his eyes locked on Maya, and he shakes his head, stepping forward with arms open. My grip on her tightens, something primal stirring in my chest, screaming to keep her close, to never let go. But I see the need in Dakota’s face, the way his hands tremble, his Omega instincts pulling him to her as hard as mine are. I know he needs this, needs her, and I’m pretty damn sure we’ll all be sharing a room tonight—Dakota, Roman, me, and Brogan too. My instincts hum, telling me Brogan belongs with us, even if he’s not mine.

Loosening my hold, I ease Maya toward Dakota. She shifts, her body melting into his as he pulls her close, settling in the corner on the floor. He rocks her gently, petting her damp hair, a small purr rattling from his chest, his Omega side taking over. Maya curls tighter against him, nose pressed to his neck, and for the first time since she showed up, I see her differently—not just Dakota and Roman’s Beta. I see her as mine, too, a piece of this pack I didn’t know I was missing until she was trembling in my arms, needing me.