Page 31 of Knot Your Pucking Secret

Fate literally put her in our paths for a reason. Because she’s our scent match. Our Omega. Now it’s our job to prove to her that fate didn’t fuck this up. We did. And it’s our job to prove we’re worthy of the second chance fate gave us. Even if I have to play the long game. I’ve got the rest of my life. I’m in no hurry.

But if she decides she wants to keep this professional? If all she wants from me is for me to be her forward. Then I’ll respect that. It’ll kill me. God, it’ll fucking kill me. But I’ll do it.

Because I’m in love with her.

Love isn’t forcing someone to stay. She’d be on the first ticket out of here if we tried to pull that shit. Well…she literally owns our asses now, so we’ll be the ones doing the leaving, for sure.Love is becoming the man she deserved all along, even if she never chooses me. From this day forward, I’ll be everything she needs me to be.

“See you tomorrow,” I whisper, listening as her footsteps disappear into nothingness.

And this time, I’m going to do this right.

I will not fail her again. I want off that list. I know she’s got one. And the thought of being on the same one as Patrick, the man who murdered her whole fucking family only to raise her as his own, makes my skin crawl.

My mind drifts to her uncle. To the conversation I overheard months ago. To the way he spoke about Lennon like she was nothing more than another asset to acquire. I’d wanted to rip out his jugular. I’d wanted to rip his fucking tongue from his throat for even talking about my girl like that. But I didn’t. Because what right did I have?

I’d heard rumors about him since, and I don’t know the situation between those two, but I know he can’t be trusted. He’s known as a fucking shark in this city, and he didn’t get where he is by kindness. He’s certainly not the kind of person you can turn your back on. Something is telling me that Lennon is going to need someone on her side when it comes to him. Protecting her has to mean more than protecting my own feelings. Even if it means she hates me for it.

I sling my bag over my shoulder, and finally make my way out of the locker room. I’d already said my piece. Tomorrow was another day. Or so I thought.

The moment I step out into the parking lot, my eyes land on a familiar figure standing beside a black SUV.

Lennon stands beside the driver’s door, keys clenched tightly in her hand, staring straight ahead like she’s forgotten how to move. She doesn’t get in. Doesn’t leave. She just stands there. And I just know that something isn’t right. I clear my throat,cringing as she startles, her head snapping up to meet my eyes. Her mouth opens before it quickly shuts as a frown settles over her features.

“What the fuck do you want, Holden?” she says, the calm demeanor she’d had before in the locker room is gone, and in its place is the wrath she’d managed to bury during our one-sided conversation has clawed its way back to the surface.

“You looked good out there, today.” Real smooth asshole. What was supposed to sound casual, came out all creepy and wrong. An attempt at trying to get some of my balls back after ripping them clean off with my word vomit earlier. She scoffs, rolling her eyes.

“And you look like fucking shit, Woods.”

“Okay. Ouch.” A critique and the last name all in one.

“I’m tired. I heard you. I listened. And now I’m going home. If you’ll excuse me.”

“I came to the city, you know,” I interrupt, inwardly berating myself because I’ve already done this, and going around in circles isn’t going to be good for anyone. But it’s the truth. And in the name of being honest, I can’t lie to her anymore.

Her brows narrow, a confused expression replacing the blank one she’d just been wearing, but there’s an edge of surprise on her face now, so I keep going despite myself.

“I went there a few times actually. Spent the entire off season there.”

Lennon is silent for a moment as she processes my words. I hadn’t told anyone about where I was or what I was doing. I didn’t want anything to get back to her. Not until I got to say all of this to her in person.

“Why?” she questions, her voice barely above a whisper, but I hear them.

“I had to know that you were okay. I wasn’t there to protect you any longer. I had to know that the place you were stayingwas safe. That the media couldn’t break into your apartment while you were at work.”

She scoffs bitterly, “Oh, so onlyyouare allowed to break into my apartment?”

I don’t answer. She already knows what I will say without even having to open my mouth. Is it okay? No. Would I do it again? Yes. Only this time, it won’t be to torment her. It would be to protect her. We are her fucking scent matches. We are the only ones other than her friends who should have that kind of access. While we might not be together, it’s still our job to see that no harm comes to her.

“Your uncle. Brett. He can’t be trusted. I know he’s your only family, but you can’t trust his intentions. He is money hungry and I know given the chance, he will deceive you.”

She nods thoughtfully, chewing on her lip. “And how do you suspect he will do that, Woods? Ruin my nest with a dead bird? Take pictures of me in the shower while I’m naked. Threaten to be the end of me? Been there, done that. Now, if you’d kindly fuck off so I can go home...”

Her words spray me like bullets but I stand firm. I can’t crumble, even if it’s the easiest way out.

“I heard him speaking on the phone to someone a while back. You guys met at a restaurant near your firm. After you left, he got a call. I heard him talk about wanting to buy the team. That he would do that by using your inheritance.”

“Yeah, well. Look how that turned out for him. Do you see him here, Holden? No. You and your pack made the mistake of underestimating me before, it seems you’ve underestimated me yet again. I don’t need protection. I don’t need your help. What I need is for you to play hockey. And to do a hell of a lot better than you did today. Understand?”