Page 32

Maya

The weekend’s glow lingers, remnants of Roman’s knot still running through my head. We got back late that night, tangled up in each other, only to find Dakota and Holt passed out. Dakota’s heat was much closer than I thought, the Omega’s scent thick enough that I caught it before ever opening his dorm room. Add in the fact that Holt was just as flushed, wiped out from Dakota’s needs, I knew that it would be a day or less before we’d be heading to the cabin Holt rented.

I barely survived Monday, wading through classes, notes, and a quiz which should be criminal before break. Roman’s been there every time class lets out, never far, caressing my arm in the hall, brushing my curls in the one class we share, and stealing kisses between lectures. I’ve smacked his hands away more than once, my cheeks flaming, because he’s always trying to start something we can’t finish in public.

Lunch with the team was a mistake, but the best kind. Dakota wouldn’t let me go, feeding me fries, his grin wicked as the team teased us—Riley mimicking Dakota’s cooing, Tanner tossing napkins, all of them laughing. I felt like I had found a family, no one judging the scar on my shoulder. I’m not sure why I ever thought they would but it’s nice to see that I’m accepted here, for who I am, for all that I am.

However, minutes before practice is supposed to start, the dean called me to his office. It always feels like I’m entering the principal’s office, that something is going to be wrong even though I’ve never been in trouble with him. I blow out a deep breath and knock on the door, his cheery voice telling me to come inside.

I’m not sure what I’m expecting but it isn’t the smile on the dean’s face as he tells me that I won’t have to worry about Ethan any longer. “Ethan’s been removed permanently from the team after further investigation from that incident.” I’m about to say that the punishment is a little too harsh when the dean holds up a hand. “After a little bit of digging, we found out that his intent was to harm. He felt dismissed, not being a captain, and with you as coach, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. Letting an abuser into the rink is absolutely not okay.”

“Wait, he knew that was my ex?”

The dean nods, sorrow flooding his expression. “Ethan was very aware of what he was doing. We’re not sure what he thought the outcome would be, but we can’t have someone like that on the team or at this school.”

At this school? I didn’t think it was that serious but that’s not my problem to fight. What is, is the fact that Holt isn’t here receiving this information with me. “Why aren’t you telling me and Holt this together? Did something else happen?” My pulse spikes, fear creeping in.

The dean laughs, a warm chuckle that slightly eases my worries. “No, but it seems your Omega went into heat a bit early, so Holt’s taking care of him. I’ve been instructed to send you with Brogan, who’s waiting for you.”

“What about practice?”

It’s now 6:05 pm, which means I’m late or at least I should have said something.

The dean smiles as he stands, gesturing to the door. “Maya, I love that you’re worrying about everyone else. Practice was canceled the moment Holt let me know what was going on. Now go! You have a pack that needs you.”

A pack that needs me.

Those aren’t words I ever thought I’d hear as I rush outside, Brogan leaning against a bench as he opens his arms to me. I rush into them, Brogan letting out a little oof as he presses a kiss to my forehead. “You ready for this, love?”

“No, not at all.” I’m terrified that I won’t be enough or maybe too much, that I won’t be the piece that they need. Some part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, for them to tell me that it wasn’t really me that they wanted. But I shove all those thoughts away, swapping my worries out for a grin as I repeat the words the dean said to me. “We’ve got a pack that needs us, Brogan. Let’s go.”