Chapter 13
Ford
“Did you hear the board of governors is going to make their final decision on Portland in a few days?”
Being with Georgia had not gone as expected. Not even a little bit. The taste of her had been… amazing. Shit. What was I doing to myself?
Being lost in her wasn’t going to advance my career. Falling into some crazy notion we belonged together was an old wives’ tale, not anything that I’d ever wanted in my life. Plus, she was freaking human.
I wasn’t paying any attention, but knew daydreaming wasn’t going to win a single game in the playoffs.
But damn it, being with her had awakened a need within me that I didn’t need and couldn’t explain.
Being attracted to her was easy because she was freaking gorgeous, but my desires had drifted into something else entirely.
Need.
Unrequited need that created thoughts I shouldn’t be experiencing.
“What in the hell is going on with you?”
Hearing Beck’s voice finally drew me out of the intense fog. “What?”
“You haven’t uttered three words since we left the house. You’re fucking lost in space somewhere. Thank God I’m driving or we might end up in Oregon.”
I leaned my head back, offering a harsh glare. “We’re headed to a council meeting. You know how much I love those.” Of course I’d expected my father would make an early morning call, requiring his sons to be at the combined pack meeting.
After the horrific news of the night before with another shifter’s murder, tensions were running high. However, I wasn’t interested in becoming embroiled in pack politics. Not when the playoffs were just days away.
“Yeah, but something else is going on,” Beck teased. “It wouldn’t happen to do with that sexy therapist who was sitting with us at the game. Now, would it?”
“Don’t go there.”
“Oh, come on. Both Samantha and Roxanne pushed her into going to see you before that last period and poof, you were a different player when you returned. Even I can say you were on fire last night. Plus, you left with her. So what gives?”
“She wanted to help. I was in a cranky mood and told her she had to go have a drink with me if I allowed her to help. That was it. Well, that and I almost beat the shit out of a couple good ole boys hitting on her.”
“Wow,” Beck mused. “You’re finally rising from the dead. Maybe because of how she stood up for us.”
Yeah, well, I’d overheard some members of the team talking about how sexy she was and I’d almost beaten the crap out of the Dominator.
“Very funny. Just drive and keep the shock comments to yourself.”
He laughed while I remained uncomfortable in my seat. At least I hadn’t experienced a nightmare the night before, but I had left her after the passion had ended, fearing I’d scare her half to death.
“I heard about the dreams you’re having.”
I smacked my head against the leather headrest. “This family can be such a pain in the ass.” Even through being incensed, I couldn’t ignore the fact she’d also had a dream. In the woods. What the fuck? I’d left it alone, but our connection was odd to say the least.
“Jesus. I overheard you at dinner the other night. I might have an answer for you as to why you’re… more of a pain in the ass than normal.”
When I popped him in the arm, he winced as if I’d really hurt him. The man could both take and give a punch with the best of them, so I wasn’t buying it. “Fine. I’ll bite. Why is my wolfie driving me nuts?”
“You need to mate.”
“Wha… What? Not you too. You don’t believe that old wives’ tale bullshit.” As I glared out the window, I did my best to ignore the pain in my torso.
And in my groin.
“Maybe if you’d spent more time with Grampa you’d respect the old ways and legends.”
Beck wasn’t kidding, which shocked me. We adored our grandfather, but most of the old stories had either been debunked or no longer applied since shifters were more humanlike in every aspect.
Food. Drink. Sex. How we lived our lives.
Most didn’t consider getting married and having kids anything to do with traditional mating.
The word was even frowned upon by our generation and younger.
“So I’ve reached some magical age and now I’m required to mate or I’ll be exiled into being in wolf form for the rest of my life? ”
“Don’t be so damn dramatic. It’s different for every wolf, but given our bloodline is pure, supposedly the hunger is unforgiving.”
I waved my hand, mentally tossing the thought aside. “I’m not settling down. I’m about to embark on the career I’ve always wanted.”
“With the Hellions?”
“Like I said. We’ll see. Let’s just get this meeting over with.”
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as he made a turn. “The news isn’t talking about the murders enough. It’s all over the Ohio news.”
“Meaning what?”
“A couple of Cincinnati reporters think this group the Order has become organized and are well funded.”
“With what goal in mind other than for sport?”
“That’s the big question. Maybe that’s all it is. But with that attorney being killed, I don’t know.”
“They aren’t taking trophies.” Although they didn’t mind doing so for kicks.
“They don’t need to,” he said, looking over his shoulder. “They’re forcing people to shift against their will or be killed. That’s the rumor anyway. If you ask me, I think they’re trying to prove without a shadow of a doubt shifters exist.”
“Brother, some days you need to step off the ice. Other than private showings, we haven’t made a point of highlighting our furry DNA. Now, have we? That’s why people are now refusing to believe the stories, thinking them hyped up. That’s probably why that hot girl of yours had no clue.”
“Georgia is not my girl and there’s been proof.” I thought about what he’d said. He was right. To the best of my knowledge, no one had gone on national television and made the big transition. That would solidify our fate. “Huh. Maybe not.”
“This is my personal view, but I think this group needs to prove our existence to continue their mission, whatever the hell that is. And I can tell Georgia has a thing for you. Or at least she can better tolerate your arrogance than most.”
It was my turn to glare at him. “You know why I’m cautious.”
“There’s cautious, then there’s stupid.”
“You sound more like our father every day. Maybe you need to settle down.”
We were close to the building used for pack council meetings for as long as I’d been alive.
It had once been home to some union group, purchased with combined funds from several of the local packs.
We had our own political climate and had for generations, the main focus until recently all about our lineage staying hidden.
His laugh was careful, something I envied.
“You’re the old brother. I’m young, hot, and fresh.
Come on. She’s beautiful. What’s the harm in wanting to be with her?
” He made the turn down the long driveway mostly hidden by foliage.
The location was highly secure, although no one would know it given the natural state of the area surrounding the building and grounds.
“Nothing, but I don’t need to feel anything before the upcoming playoff game. You know how we are when we become distracted.” I was throwing him some shade to keep him from prying into my business.
“You know what happened. Answer me this. Are you going to try out for Portland if they’re approached by the board?”
“I honestly don’t know. That’s preferable to moving to Vancouver.” If the team bothered to call me up. “It might be my only shot.”
“You obviously haven’t gotten on the internet today. Have you?” At least he was grinning, which should mean I hadn’t been raked over the coals as usual.
“I was a little busy.” I was surprised at the number of vehicles surrounding the building. Over the last few years, the need to separate town business with shifter business had lessened. Obviously, everyone was concerned about the recent murders and whether there was a trend.
When I was a boy, Pops used to allow me to ride shotgun to these quarterly events, long before he was anything but a dedicated member, determined to protect our way of life.
Even for a small town, the meetings had been popular, more like community get-togethers complete with outdoor games, music, drinks, and of course a huge afternoon barbeque.
No humans were harmed in the food presentation.
I released a heavy exhale as I thought more about my conversation with Georgia. She was more than curious about my lineage, skating around asking about our DNA. Maybe I’d present her with a little furry show one day. When and if the time was right.
He snorted while smashing his fist on the steering wheel as he found a parking space. “I knew it. You’ve locked onto a mate.”
“I have not.”
“You have too.”
“Not.” The same as when we were kids, including the heavy puffing up and willing our wolves to crawl to just below the surface.
My wolf is badder than your wolf. Unable to stop grinning, I yanked out my phone, pressing the icon for Instagram.
If you wanted to find anything fast and furious, that was the place to go.
HornyPuckBunnyinSeattle: Wowzer, girls. Did you see Mr. Hot Stuff on the ice tonight? Ford Kendrick is utter perfection. All I can say is I’m thirsty. I think his jersey number needs to switch to 69. What do you think, ladies?
The picture was… rude, highlighting the thick bulge between my legs just before I made the last shot.
Who the hell had the photographer been? Oh, my God.
Roxanne Stryker, our social media guru. I needed to have a nice, long chat with her.
Now I was snorting but for an entirely different reason. 69? Really?
“Oh, yeah. You like that one. Look how many likes and shares,” Beck mentioned.
“No freaking way. One hundred thousand likes? Fifteen thousand shares?” That was insane.
“Keep going. See if you can find the article from USA Today.”
While he cut the engine, I continued scrolling until I found what he was talking about on the front page of the sports section.
USA Today: The Twelve Hottest Hockey Players in the AHL