Page 19 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“Wow, you’ve grown up,” I said, taking in the blond haired boy. Back in high school he’d been the toddler chasing after us. Dhara always had the patience of a saint when it came to him. It seems things haven’t changed.

Except now that I was studying her I could see the effects her life had on her. Dark circles were etched under her light blue eyes. She was so thin it seemed like she hadn’t had decent food in ages.

“Who are you?” the kid asked.

“My name is August. I was best friends with your sister when we were seventeen.” Recognition flickered across his face.

“What the hell, Renegades?” Coach’s voice finally cut through our moment. I let out a sigh and gave her an apologetic smile.

“Wait for me after?”

“I’ll be here anyway,” she said, not meeting my eyes. “I work for the team and clean the locker room at night.”

“Then I’ll wait for you after,” I conceded before finally looking away. “Come on, kid.”

“Don’t call me ‘kid,’” Gavin bit out as he pushed past us and let Coach lead him back to the ice. He was leaning in low trying to connect with the kid but even I could see he was shaken.

“What the fuck was that, Steele?” Conrad demanded. His voice was low so it was between us, but bordering on a bark. I turned to him and raised an eyebrow, shocked to see the alpha coming after me like this.

“What’s your problem, Flynn? I was reconnecting with an old friend, and my omega,” I challenged right back. The alpha bark was ineffective against me. I’d spent years building up a tolerance for their bullshit. Having a dad who was kind to everyone but you did that to a delta.

“She’s my omega,” he shot back.

My eyebrows went up in surprise. “She said she had no pack.”

He looked away then back, swallowing something down. “We just found out and she’s been… reluctant.”

“Well, the omega chooses, Flynn. If she wants to let me in, I won’t be stopping her,” I said before walking away.

“She’s Evans’s mate, too,” he called after me. I waved once over my shoulder in acknowledgment. They likely had no idea the shit that omega had to endure at the hands of her bitch of a mother. She wasn’t the sharing type unless she trusted you.

If she wanted to let me back in I sure as hell wouldn’t fuck it up by posturing with her other mates. They’d have to earn their place in her life just like I had.

“I’m glad you guys decided to join me,” Coach growled when we made it back. “I brought you here to help out, not to fuck this up.”

“That’s my omega that I haven’t seen in six years, Coach. I apologize but I’m here now,” I said evenly. He blinked twice then gave a curt nod.

“And you two?”

“She’s also our mate. We found out yesterday,” Evans admitted. He’d been fairly quiet through the whole interaction and I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

“Well, your personal life is not my problem. If you make it one then we’ll have to re-evaluate your standing here. Now, go show the juniors some tricks. That’s why you’re here,” he growled.

“Yes, Coach,” I said as I pushed over the boards and joined the kids on the ice. I could feel Gavin’s eyes on me but I gave him space. He didn’t know me at all outside my name if he followed hockey. As far as he was concerned I was a threat to his sister.

My eyes scanned the ice until I found a kid struggling with staying upright. I zeroed in on him and the kid helping him. I’d found my targets for tonight.

At fifteen, I was that kid. Skinny, starving, and just needing one person to believe in me. For me it was the high school hockey coach. I’m still not sure to this day why he bothered to try with a kid like me, but I was sure as fuck glad that he did.

I’d paid off his mortgage and medical debt my first professional year. Anonymously but I had a feeling he knew who sponsored him.

“Hey, guys, skates can be tricky at first,” I said as I came to a stop in front of them.

The little redhead looked up, eyes wide. “August Steele.” My name was an awed whisper on his lips. His cheeks were so red he looked like he might pass out.

“Yup, and when I started out, I wasn’t good on skates, either. So, let me show you how to hold yourself up on those skates,” I said. “If you lean too far back or forward you’ll tip. You have to bend your knees a bit and tighten your core.”

I demonstrated and they tried to mimic me. They fell over but I helped them up in the bulky gear before having them try again. We ignored what the others were doing, focusing on just staying upright.