Chapter Twenty
Nixie
Alex?
Creepy, ‘where’s your clit’ Alex?
That can’t really be him, right? The chances of meeting a subscriber in the wild would have to be astronomical. It seems unlikely he would even live in the same state as me, much less work at the food truck where I’m having lunch.
He probably came into the diner at some point. Yes. That’s it. Definitely that.
Julius and Vonn’s sweet scents surround me, banking my growing panic. They finish placing their orders and usher me over to a table.
“Are you okay, firebrand?” Julius asks, his hand hovering over my shoulder, unsure if I’ll welcome his touch. Honestly, my feelings toward him are so mixed that I’m glad when he instead swivels around the table and plunks himself in the space across from me.
“Of course.” I flap my hand, waving off his concern. “Sometimes people recognize me from the diner or whatever.”
Vonn slides onto the bench and slips his hand around my waist, anchoring me against his side. My fingers find my heart locket once more, anxiously twisting the chain as I try to regain my composure.
There is absolutely no reason to worry.
Vonn’s warmth heats me, soothing my twitchiness; his strong hazelnut and chocolate scent seeps into my very soul.
Danger. Danger.
This connection is something my brain knows I need to fight, but my inner omega just wants to surrender. Unable to stop myself, I run my nose along his side, pausing where his scent is strongest and taking a deep inhale.
That’s the good stuff.
My body answers the call, nipples hardening to aching peaks. A fluttering in my pussy makes me wiggle as need simmers below my skin. Thank goodness for scent-canceling panties, because the longer I sit here, the more saturated they become.
Vonn’s nostrils flare, and his gold-flecked hazel eyes darken as he stares down at me.
I can’t look away. The gold turns molten, liquefying my resistance and softening my resolve.
Our breaths mingle, then catch. I’m not sure who moves first, but as our lips crash together, something in my chest swells, threatening to consume me.
The sweet flavor of chocolate-hazelnut overwhelms my senses. Our tongues dance, tangling together until nothing else exists. There are no more troubles or worries in my life.
Why fight this?
“Just so you know. I’m available for all your kissing needs as well,” Julius intrudes, but Vonn ignores him, so I do too, too consumed by his hunger.
All too soon, our food arrives, and the server coughs.
Pulling back quickly, embarrassment burns my cheeks, and I attempt to hide behind a curtain of red hair.
The long red strands hinder my view, but as I peek between them, there’s no denying that Alex is standing at our table.
The thunder of foreboding swells, crashing against my strongly built defenses.
“Thanks, man.” Julius reaches for the tray, but Alex holds onto it, his stare burning a hole in the side of my face before finally giving it to the large Alpha.
Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look.
With one last glance, he heads back to the food truck, but the slithery sense of eyes on my back is unmistakable. The whole thing makes me unsettled, but there’s really nothing I can do. The wig, mask, makeup, and fake accent should be enough to hide my true identity. Hopefully…
“That dude’s a bit of a strange one.” Julius passes out the food, and we all dig in. For a few moments, everything is blessedly silent as we fill our bellies with the delicious barbecue goodness.
“So, Nixie, tell us how Asher got into hockey,” Vonn requests, and I’m grateful to him for choosing a topic I always love to talk about. My son.
“It’s funny, raising him on my own, we couldn’t afford a lot of things, but he saw a game on TV one day, and it altered something in his brain chemistry.
Suddenly, hockey was all he could think about, talk about.
” They smile at me knowingly. I guess if anyone can understand him, these men can.
“So I saved up and took him ice skating at one of those little, you know, like Christmas rinks that pop up. I thought he would find it hard and stop. But no. He stepped onto the ice, and within a few minutes, he was flying up and down it like he’d been skating all his life.
From that point on, there was no stopping him. I’ve done my very best to keep up.”
“I know that feeling,” Julius shares. “When you’re out there on the ice, nothing else exists. It’s just you and your own abilities. Everything else fades into the background.”
“Asher tells me that, too. It’s incredible you have both made a game you love into a profession.
Few people find that level of enjoyment in their careers.
” I do my best to keep my expression neutral.
Being a camgirl was certainly not on my career choice list when I was young enough to dream of the future.
“It’s the best… Our team is having a pretty rough year, but it feels like we’re starting to turn a corner,” Vonn adds.
“I don’t love it quite the way Julius does, but being part of a team—the friendships, the camaraderie, and of course the fun—has been a great life experience.
I just hope to find something else I’m passionate about when I retire. ”
His candor is sweet, and my inner omega is determined to make me trust this man. He’s been nothing but honest with me from the very start. Handsome, humble Alpha. There’s no doubt I’m interested in exploring the spark between us.
“What about you? Do you have any plans once you retire?” I ask, spearing Julius with my eyes.
“Honestly, I probably should give more thought to it, but I haven’t.
” He shrugs his massive shoulders, and the sweet scent of lemon makes my knees weak.
Glad I’m sitting down. “As team captain, I think I’ve still got a couple of good years left.
However, I’ve never really overspent. After growing up poor, saving is a big deal to me and Vonn.
We’ve invested quite a bit, and it’s paid off.
I’m not sure we’ll need an after-retirement plan.
Vonn will only need to work if he chooses to. ”
I’m not sure what to say about that. The concept of being able to choose to work has my brain in a jumble. That level of prosperity is nearly unheard of, although I should have guessed—they are professional hockey players. Maybe I should have looked up what these guys make on average.
The silence as my brain processes the new information makes them nervous, and Julius continues, “We have more than enough to take care of you and Asher. And would like to do so as soon as you’ll allow us to.”
What the hell? Is this a dream? Someone come over here and pinch me.
There’s no way I can accept an offer like this.
I barely know these guys, and I am not a whore to be bought.
Frantically, my brain searches for a way to move off the topic.
The last thing I want to explain to them is my financial situation.
They know about my lost job—thanks, Julius—but I’m not interested in sharing how I’ve made up the deficit.
Although I’ve come to terms with how I’m keeping a roof over our heads, I would prefer that other people not know.
“We’ll see how it goes,” I answer noncommittally, and Julius growls deep in his throat. His lemon scent grows stronger.
“We would love for you and Asher to come to a game as our guests,” Vonn changes the subject, and I am eternally grateful. The big Alpha seems to sense that I’m feeling cornered.
“That could work. Asher would absolutely love to see a game live. He’s been begging me to do that for as long as I can remember.
” I nod and take another bite of mouthwatering barbecue.
It really is sweet that he’s already so considerate of my child.
Every Alpha I’ve had the displeasure of spending much time with only wants one thing, and it sure as hell isn’t a ready-made family.
“It sounds like Asher’s father isn’t in the picture, but I just wanted to double-check before we go any further.
Is there anyone in your life we need to know about?
Do you live alone?” Julius forges on, oblivious to my discomfort.
The tasty food becomes dry in my mouth, and I struggle to swallow it.
The barbecue sauce, once sweet and tangy, now makes me feel sick.
I anticipated these questions because a single-mother omega confuses everyone, but even with all my practice, it’s still hard to say the right thing.
Inhaling around the concrete that’s now blocking my airway, I do my best to keep it vague, but still explain. Wariness settles inside me, but my instincts are certain we can trust these men.
“Asher and I live with my best friend, Cassia. She’s always there for me, and although, of course, my son is my responsibility, she steps in to help whenever she can.
Cass has been an amazing support and friend throughout my entire journey into single motherhood, and although neither of us is wealthy, we do the best we can.
Mostly, we make our rent on time.” That’s as far as I’m willing to share, my line in the sand.
The truth of Asher’s parentage is a memory best left alone.
Being pushed to remember his conception and everything that came after makes my stomach hurt, and I shove my food away.
Vonn nods, but his packmate has a one-track mind; he presses like a dog with a bone, “Got it. But what about the Alpha who sired Asher? Is he in the picture? Do you share custody? How does all that work?”
This so-called date is becoming more interrogation than romance, and the urge to run fills every part of my body. I squirm in my seat, my earlier lust completely forgotten. Mustering all my omega fire, I stare him down, hoping he’ll see my frustration.
Ever so slowly, I say, “I have already answered that. It’s time to stop talking about it now.” My voice is strong and firm. For a moment, Julius’s nose scrunches cutely, and I think he might let it go, but of course, that’s not him.
Instead of heeding my warning, the man blusters on. “So you don’t have a pack? What happened to Asher’s father? As someone who’s going to be part of your lives, I feel like we’re entitled to know the whole story.”
Entitled? Entitled! The word alone makes my skin prickle.
My fingers rub the cool metal chain around my neck until I find the heart pendant, allowing the smooth texture to soothe the growing discomfort.
Although my inner omega wants to give these Alphas anything they want, I’m stronger.
And I don’t need to relive my trauma for anyone’s benefit.
Especially someone I barely know, scent-matches or not.
The second he stops talking, a loud thump bangs under the table, quickly followed by a grunt from Julius. And before he has the chance to push me for an answer yet again, Vonn steps in.
“Dude, shut up. This is literally our first date,” he hisses at his pack brother, and while I appreciate the assist, it’s too little too late.
Julius’s jaw locks, and his eyes glint with curiosity.
He won’t let this go. No, the Alpha won’t be satisfied until all my history and dirty secrets are bared to the light. And I’m not ready to face my past…
Time to go.
“Thank you so much for lunch. I’ve got to be heading out.” Gracefully, I quickly slide off the picnic bench, getting to my feet. My eyes dart around, assessing the crowd for the fastest escape route.
“I thought you were free until parent pickup? That’s another hour from now.
Maybe we could take a walk in the park?” Vonn’s hazel eyes beg me to reconsider, but the entire encounter has me frazzled.
My muscles tense, ready to make a quick getaway.
I may not be done with these Alphas whose scents speak to my very soul, but a retreat to gather myself is in order.
His hazelnut scent intensifies, wrapping me in a cloud of lust, making my pulse quicken.
Slick pools between my legs, shocking me to my very core.
It’s been so long since I’ve had any kind of physical contact.
Yearning fills me, but then a cramp low in my belly nearly takes my breath away. I’m not ready for any of this.
“Sorry! I must’ve told you the wrong time.
It’s time to run. But I’ll see you at the next mentor session.
” My feet carry me forward, and I toss a quick wave over my shoulder.
The sound of my heart thunders in my ears, and I’m already weaving around the crowd.
Panting, I push my way through the people waiting in line and make a break for it.
Fast. Move faster…