Page 19

Brogan

I’m watching Maya from across the diner table, my sloppy joe half-eaten, because I can’t peel my eyes off her. She’s laughing with Dakota, a real, genuine laugh, her curls bouncing as she tips her head back. It’s different from yesterday when fear clung to her like a second skin and seeing her here, alive in a way she wasn’t, twists something deep in my chest.

Memories of last night flood me—her wrapped around me, soft gasps spilling from her lips, vanilla blending with my rain, her trust, a gift I’m still reeling from. I’ve got a billion ideas spinning in my head with ways to provide for her, to give her the world, a life free from Nox’s shadow but I’ve gotta tread carefully with Holt in the picture. I love the guy, respect him, but we’ll never be pack. I’m pretty sure Maya’s it for me, my north star, and I’m hers, whether she’s ready to name it or not.

She relaxes a fraction when Dakota leans in, pushing a curl behind her ear, his lavender scent soft but unmistakable. Her blush reddens that rosy brown skin of hers, a hint of dimple hiding along her left cheek. My attention shifts to Roman beside them, the guy a little more restless than he was in practice. He’s glaring at Ethan across the table for reasons I can’t pin down and I’ve been trying to puzzle it out for the last hour. Ethan and Roman aren’t friends by any means but they definitely aren’t enemies, not that you’d know by the sharp tinge to Roman’s scent.

I glance at Holt for answers but his eyes are locked on Maya, like she’s the only thing in the room. He’s oblivious to the undercurrent here or maybe he doesn’t recognize the problem because he doesn’t spend as much time around Ethan. I’m not sure Holt knows how close Roman was to shoving Ethan into the glass and flattening him out. Had Maya not stepped in, it would have gone south really quickly. My problem is that I don’t know why.

When Ethan mutters something about the bathroom, Roman following, I know that if I don’t stop whatever is about to happen, I’ll regret it. Holt frowns toward me as I push to my feet but I put a hand out, mouthing, ‘I got it’. The last thing we need is two mates piling on Ethan—Holt’s protective streak and Roman’s whatever-the-hell-this-is would be a disaster. Ethan’s a shit sometimes, yeah, but he doesn’t deserve that.

I slide out, weaving through tables and rethink that stance when I round the corner to the hallway and hear Ethan’s voice. “I don’t understand why you’re so fucking angry. You all took a crack at her. Hell, Brogan’s sleeping with her. She might be the assistant coach, but that’s really just to give us something to stare at, yeah?”

I take it back. Ethan’s more than just a little shit. Before I can move, Roman’s fist collides with Ethan’s face, a sickening crack echoing off the tiles. Ethan stumbles back, cupping the side of his face as he glares at the Beta. Not good. I rush forward, catching Roman’s fist mid-swing, my grip tight as I stop him from landing a second hit on Ethan

“I’m gonna get you kicked off the fucking team for this bullshit,” Ethan spits, his words muffled by the side of his hand.

Roman snarls at Ethan, a fight still waiting to erupt if I step out of the way. Knowing that I might very well be inserting myself into the problem, I press my hand flat against his chest, pushing him a few steps away from Ethan. “Pipe the fuck down, Roman, before you get us kicked out.” He tenses, but doesn’t push, his gaze flicking to mine, a flicker of trust cutting through the haze. I turn to Ethan, knowing that he’s going to blow this shit out of proportion. “If you knew Roman had the hots for our coach, demeaning her position with the team probably wasn’t the way to go.”

Ethan scoffs, rubbing his cheek lightly. “Rich words coming from you, since she was in your bed last night.”

I sometimes forget how fast gossip travels at this university. “And? She can choose to be with whoever she wants. You expecting something from her is disgusting. You never talked about Holt that way when he got with Dakota and Roman. What’s the difference? Because she’s a woman?” I’m close enough to see Ethan’s eyes flicker, guilt or shame or something he won’t admit as I hold his stare, daring him to push further.

He spits out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Save your words. I’m taking this up with the dean and you can explain your shit there. Roman’s been off all day and if Maya knew he hit me, she’d be all over his ass.”

“Do what you need to, Ethan, but I’d suggest going back to the table. Roman and I need to talk.”

Ethan opens his mouth, ready to jab again, and I brace, because I’m done with his crap. “So, you can kiss Roman better?” he says, smirking. “You fucking him too?”

Roman roars, lunging, but I slam him back against the wall, my forearm across his chest, pinning him there… just barely . “Enough,” I growl, then turn back to Ethan again. “For the record, no, I’m not. That comment was uncalled for. I’m gonna see if I can knock some sense into Roman. Excuse us.”

Roman grumbles, following me without much fuss as we exit the diner. I lead us far away enough from the entrance, out of the direct line of sight of our table to give us a little more privacy. Gathering my emotions, I spin, folding my arms across my chest to confront the one Beta I didn’t think I’d ever be having a problem with. “Okay, explain this shit like I’m five, Roman, and don’t cut corners. The last thing Maya needs is more bullshit in her life and you’ve been avoiding her all day.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets, staring at the asphalt, kicking at a few spare rocks like whatever he has to say is worse than just some anger issues. I expect a fight, a deflection, that cocky grin he usually throws up, but when he speaks, his voice is soft, almost nonexistent. “I’m sorry.”

Confused, I try pushing the conversation to see if he’ll give me the answers I’m looking for. “I can’t help you if you’re hulking out at another player, Roman. What is going on?”

Roman sputters a laugh, running a hand through his hair before lightly pulling at the strands. “Hulking out’s one way to describe it,” he mutters, then exhales. “You realized Dakota presented as an Omega but, like… I went the other way.”

“What the fuck? I’ve never heard of that.”

He laughs again, the sound dropping off into a grimace, throwing his hands up in defeat. “Me neither but apparently it happens in the presence of the right smorgasbord of mates, so I’m over here growing a fucking knot and getting possessive and shit while Dakota’s into pillows.” He folds his arms behind his head, roughly dragging his fingers through his dark hair, like he’s trying to pull himself together, and I’m still a bit in shock.

“Wait, you have a knot?”

“Yeah,” he says, dropping his arms, his voice edged with frustration. “Thought my dick was gonna fucking fall off. Nope, just becoming an Alpha. Didn’t think I’d be hitting puberty at twenty-fucking-seven.” He shakes his head, a mix of disbelief and exhaustion, and I see it now—the strain in his shoulders, the way his eyes flicker, like he’s fighting a war inside.

I lean against a car hood, trying to ground myself, because this is… a lot. Dakota’s Omega shift was a curveball, but Roman as an Alpha? That’s a whole new playbook, and I’m worried about him, about Maya, about how this changes things. “But then what was that bullshit with Ethan?” I ask, narrowing my eyes, because the punch wasn’t just about her, not entirely. “Other than that comment.”

Roman lets out a low growl, his gaze snapping to the diner’s entrance, and I tense, sensing that primal edge Alphas are famous for. “He’s been taunting me all day with that bullshit, asking if he can get a piece of Maya. I thought he liked her as a coach. He was nice during the scrimmage, right?”

I nod, frowning, because yeah, Ethan was fine then. “What’s his deal? Talk to me.”

Roman hesitates, before trying to shrug it off. “I think my head’s all fucked up with the changes. Don’t worry about it.” But I’m not buying it, not with that growl and I’m done with half-answers.

“I’m worrying about it because you punched one of our teammates and it’s been brewing all day.” I slam him against the nearest car, my hands on his shoulders, hoping to knock some sense into him, because he’s spiraling. But he moves just as fast and then I’m the one with my back against a car door, his fingers pinching my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. My breath catches, a nervous swallow stuck in my throat, because his citrus is everywhere, his eyes are locked on mine, an expression on his face that I’ve never seen before.

“He was saying shit about you ,” Roman growls.

“Ethan always says shit about me.” The guy always has something to say when he doesn’t like it. He wasn’t a fan when Roman and I became captains with Logan. Didn’t like it when Mason wouldn’t take his idea for practice several years ago. I just usually ignore him and move on. “What’s new?”

Roman’s grip tightens just a little bit, a snarl curling his lips but the anger isn’t directed at me. “He was saying shit like you were probably our little bitch, that you were sucking Holt’s cock to get your position.”

The rumbly edge to his words is starting to affect me, my body heating, a traitorous hint that I like this position a little more than I should. “So? I’ve proven myself just fine. What’s going on for real, Roman?” Because this isn’t about Ethan’s usual crap, not with the way Roman’s looking at me, his thumb still brushing my chin, a softness creeping into his touch.

“I liked it,” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “I really fucking liked the image of Holt’s cock down your throat and then I realized I wanted it to be mine.”

Before I can process, his lips crash into mine, citrus flooding my senses, his kiss all heat and need. I freeze, caught off guard, my hands hovering, unsure, because I’ve never looked at Roman like this, never thought of men that way, but his mouth is relentless, and I’m kissing back, instinct taking over, a spark igniting I didn’t know was there.

He abruptly pulls back, his nostrils flared, gaze dipping to my lips and then back to my eyes. “I’m going for a walk before I go back in there and smash Ethan’s face.” Then he’s gone, stalking down the sidewalk, leaving me standing there, fingers ghosting over my lips, stunned. His scent lingers, confusion swirling in my chest despite the way my body is responding to him, my cock twitching in my jeans at the idea of Roman’s cock stuffed down my throat.

The idea of more wasn’t really in my plans and I would have never thought of Roman as part of that vision but I don’t… hate it.

“Fuck,” I mutter to myself, pushing off the car and heading back inside. There’s a few stares when I slip back into my seat, Ethan’s noticeably empty which is probably a good thing because I can’t deal with his bullshit right now. Holt sends me a glance, one of his eyebrows raised. I lean over, knowing that the next few practices are going to be a little tense. “Gonna have to say something to the team before the game about being nice,” I murmur, my tone clipped, because Ethan’s bullshit can’t fester like this.

“What happened?”

“I’ll tell you everything later but Roman went for a walk.”

Holt’s frown deepens and he glances toward the empty spot where Ethan was. “Ethan said he was headed back to campus.”

Maya’s looking at us now, her vanilla scent curious, her brow creased, but I just shake my head, trying to let her know not to worry. It doesn’t completely work because by the time we’re packing up, Maya is at my side just before I reach my car. She places a soft hand on my arm, pulling my attention to her, those big brown eyes searching my face for answers. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”

“Drive back with me?” I ask, needing to talk to someone but not really sure who. It can’t be Dakota or Holt so I settle on Maya, knowing she won’t judge. She throws me a soft smile, Dakota bumbling up behind her and pulling her into a big hug.

“I’ll see you back at the dorms, you big oaf. It’s like ten minutes, ” she teases and Holt has to all but drag Dakota away before the Omega carries Maya off with him.

We slide into my car but I don’t start it yet, my hands gripping the wheel as I look at her, wondering how to start this conversation. Beating around the bush and only giving her part of the story won’t do us any good so I just blurt it out. “Ethan’s been taunting Roman all day. Saying things about you, about the team, about me. I’m not sure what his problem is, but it set Roman off.”

Maya’s brow furrows, her lips parting slightly. “That would explain some things,” she says, then tilts her head, studying me too closely. “But something’s wrong with you . What happened out there? Did Roman hurt you?” Before I can answer, she reaches over, pinching my chin roughly, turning my face to hers, and my entire face lights up, a blush creeping hot across my cheeks, because her touch reminds me of the exact position Roman put me in.

“What is going on?” she presses.

“Roman kissed me,” I blurt, the words tumbling out before I can stop them, and her eyes widen, her hand dropping as she sits back, processing. I watch her, searching for anger, hurt, anything, but then her scent shifts—vanilla turning hella sweet, and I realize that she’s turned on by it, her body betraying what her expression hides.

I snort, a laugh breaking free. “Apparently, Ethan was saying I’m Holt’s bitch and Roman liked the idea of his cock stuffed down my throat. Jesus, why am I telling you this?” My face burns, because this is—Maya, my Maya , and I’m spilling shit I haven’t even processed myself.

“Because telling Holt would be awkward?”

“Yeah, that’s part of it. Fuck, this wasn’t supposed to be all that complicated.” I run a hand down my face, the memory of Roman’s lips swirling around in my head, taking up residence there.

Maya’s laugh fades, her nose scrunching as she looks at me, her expression half-amused, half-exasperated. “You mean the part where my best friend turned into an Omega, his boyfriend’s now an Alpha, their Alpha was too scared to ask me on a date, and now the new Alpha has the hots for you while my ex is trying to steal me back?” she says, ticking it off like a list. “Yeah, no, this isn’t complicated at all, Brogan.”

“Maybe we just all need to sit down and figure out where we stand?” I’m tired of dodging, of guessing, of almost, of trying not to step on toes.

“Like a pack meeting? That sounds terrifying.”

I chuckle, because yeah, it does, but I’m not seeing another way through this mess. “Don’t see any other way. We’re gonna keep twisting around each other until we fumble into something, and I really don’t like surprises.” She nods, slow, her fingers tapping her thigh, and I press on, because time’s not on our side. “Sooner the better. Dakota’s heat should hit within the week. Thanksgiving break’s nestled in there, so we don’t have time to wait and figure this shit out. Love, I know you said to go slow, but…”

She cuts me off, her hand brushing mine. “It’s okay. It’s a weird situation. Let’s get back to the dorms first, make sure the guys are okay, and then we can figure shit out tomorrow?”

“That works for me.” I start the car but before I pull out of the parking lot, she turns to me, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“Just one question, did you like the kiss?”

I freeze, my face heating again, and don’t answer, because my body’s already answering for me—heart racing, my cock stiff, a warmth I can’t shake spreading through my chest. It’s a problem, a big one, because I’ve never looked at Roman that way, never thought I could, but that kiss, his scent, it’s stirred something, and I’m not sure what to do with it.