42. Adler
FORTY-TWO
Adler
Three weeks later…
“Nice wings,” Drax teases, pinging the elastic strap digging into my shoulder blades.
“Ouch.” I rub the sore spot. “Orin, did you see that?”
“See, what?” Conveniently, our pack leader must have been looking in the opposite direction, which only makes Drax’s smug grin widen.
“She’s got this,” Luca tells Orin with utter confidence.
Orin doesn’t usually get flustered, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so nervous as we file into the court to take our seats for Sabs’s final volleyball game. The match that will decide who wins the season. We all know how hard she’s worked for this and how much she wants to win.
“Don’t forget your wand.” Luca passes me the sparkly stick with a huge star on top. “Sabs insisted on it.”
“She says it makes a noise if you flick it,” Drax teases.
I groan, trying to ignore the snickers I’m attracting from everyone around us.
It’s not every day you see the hockey team captain dressed as Tinker Bell, but I’m a man of my word.
Staying true to the bet we made on the night we met, I’m wearing an outfit of Sabs’s choice.
The translucent blue wings are large but look comically small on me, making me resemble the fat caterpillar from A Bug’s Life more than a fairy.
Still, at least I was spared from wearing the green tutu.
It was impossible to get it up past my thighs—much to Sabs and Drax’s disappointment.
“Smile, Adler!” Kady slides into the seat next to me, flanked by a guy with a mohawk and a faceful of piercings. The guy doesn’t even ask before flashing his camera in my face, making my vision swim. “Thanks, Devon!” Kady smiles at him sweetly. “That should be all we need.”
“Looks great.” Devon checks out the back of his camera and shoots an apologetic smile my way. “Sabs asked me to commemorate the occasion.”
I guess I can’t be mad at that…
“It’ll also be on the front page on The Valley Voice tomorrow,” Kady says brightly, sounding way too happy about the idea.
“Send me a copy too, Devon,” Drax requests, a little too eagerly.
I glower at him. “I may look like a fairy, but I can still throw a mean right hook.”
Devon takes that as the perfect opportunity to make a hasty getaway, retreating a few rows behind to where I see the Silverwood Pack arriving. Laz is holding a giant cardboard cut-out of a drawing of Sabs’s face, which I’m presuming is his own work.
“Okay, that’s enough,” Orin intervenes as Drax opens his mouth to argue with me. “We’re here for Sabs, remember?”
Drax crosses his arms but stays silent. I may be the only one dressed up, but we’re all here to support our girl. Orin even canceled a meeting with the dean to make sure he could attend. If that isn’t love, then I don’t know what is.
“I’m so excited!” I look to my right to see Delilah arriving, linking arms with Faye. They both slide into the spare seats next to Kady.
There’s no way any of the Stellas are missing this game. From across the court, I spot Coach Rider wearing a somber expression. She’s desperate to win against Knottsville University after they’ve won for the last three years.
“I never thought I’d be attending two sports games so close together,” Faye says. “At least volleyball isn’t as violent as hockey.”
“I don’t know about that.” Drax smirks. “Have you seen Sabs play?”
“Shh!” Kady waves her arms. “It’s starting!”
The announcer begins introductions as Sabs leads her team onto the court, her shoulders straight and copper ponytail swinging as she strides with total confidence.
Her jaw is set in determination as she and the opposing team captain lock stares, both of their eyes narrowing. Fuck, seeing her in the zone is sexy.
After the other team captain is first to look away, Sabs scans the crowds, her gaze softening when it lands on us.
I jump up with the rest of the SVU supporters to cheer, swishing my wand through the air.
I don’t give a shit that I look like an idiot.
There’s nothing more important right now than backing her, and the way her face lights up makes my insides turn to mush.
“Hey!” Drax grumbles, shoving my wings as they nudge him. “Keep those things out of my face!”
I flick my wand extra vigorously, “accidentally” swatting his shoulder a few times before sending a shit-eating grin his way. “I’m just doing what Sabs would want.”
He rolls his eyes. Even though Drax can be a pain, I have to admit he’s grown on me. Although I was reluctant for him to join our pack at the beginning, he fits in with the rest of us, and I can’t imagine him not being around. Not that I’ll tell him that.
My attention gets drawn back to the court as Sabs and her team get into a huddle, putting their arms around each other’s shoulders.
I’m sure Sabs is giving them a winning pep talk, but my brain suddenly loses its ability to think rationally at the sight of her perfectly round ass in those skin-tight shorts.
They all put their hands into the center of the circle before raising them up with a cheer, and we all sit down.
Orin’s knee bounces up and down as there’s a coin toss to determine who serves first. He lets out a groan to find out it’s Knottsville, but Sabs doesn’t seem bothered.
I can feel Sabs’s excitement, wondering if this is how she felt when I was on the ice.
It adds a whole extra dimension to the game to feel her emotions too.
I’ve never seen a proper volleyball game live before, and it’s more intense than I thought.
The game gets off to a quick start. I try my best to pay attention, but my gaze keeps getting drawn back to Sabs’s ass.
Damn those shorts. Judging by how Luca drapes his jacket over his lap, I’m guessing he’s having the same problem.
When she plays, Sabs moves like it’s some kind of dance. She seems to have a psychic ability to predict where the ball is going to go and finds a way to block it. Her determination ebbs through our bond as her adrenaline spikes, making every hit of hers more powerful.
“She’s so good,” Faye coos in admiration.
Kady nods in agreement. “She could go pro, if she wanted to.”
As much as Sabs loves the game, I know that she’s far too set on making her impact on the engineering world, but I agree with Kady. She shines out there.
“Go on, Sabs!” I cheer, waving the wand. I press a button to turn on its rainbow lights.
Suddenly, the referee blows her whistle, and the game comes to an abrupt stop.
“What is it?” Luca cranes to look around. “Did I miss something?”
From what I saw, nothing untoward had happened, but the referee paces to our side of the stands. I’m stunned when she points her finger at me with a scowl.
“Give me that wand.” She holds out her hand. “The lights could be distracting to the players.”
“Fuck.” I blanch, wanting the ground to swallow me whole. “I-I didn’t mean…”
Fortunately, no one seems to be mad. In fact, even the opposing team seems a little amused by the whole thing. Sabs, especially, seems to find it hilarious, biting her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
“Hand it over, Tinker Bell.” The referee taps her foot impatiently. “Or I’ll have to ask you to leave.”
Cheeks blazing and knowing that I’ll definitely never live this down, I hand it over.
While Drax snorts with laughter, Orin seems furious.
“Why did you switch it on?” he hisses.
“I…” I drop my chin. “I... I thought Sabs would like it.”
He shakes his head as play resumes. After a strong start, the game races by until we reach the final set. I think I’m more nervous than Sabs as she serves.
She’s totally in her element, while the opposing team seems to be losing its earlier edge and making stupid mistakes. They rally back and forth with only one more point needed for SVU to win.
Time slows down as Sabs passes the ball to Carmen, who delivers a fast and clean return. A member of the rival team dives for it but misses, and the crowd around us goes wild as soon as the ball bounces off the ground.
“Yay!” I’m deafened by the Stella’s screams, watching as Sabs rushes into Carmen’s arms.
From behind us, I hear the roar from the Princeton Pack, chanting Carmen’s name.
“She did it,” Orin murmurs, shoulders sagging in relief as he slumps in his seat, as if he’s been the one playing.
On the court, the girls hug each other, squealing in delight, as they bring home the trophy for the first time in years. Even Coach Rider cracks a smile.
“Of course she did it.” I grin at our stunning omega, reveling in her win. Her euphoria rattles through our bond, filling me with total joy. I never had any doubt she’d pull this off, and just like the outcome of this game, there is no doubt that she was made for us.