Chapter 40
Chapter forty
ASH
I watch Tia pull away with Bella throwing me kisses out the window.
My palms are sweaty, and I don’t want to wipe them on the designer jeans Tia lent me.
I almost regret not borrowing Bella’s clothes instead.
Tia’s clothes smell like expensive perfume, but Bella’s would be drenched in her scent, and that might have been comforting.
My head still isn’t on straight after last night. All that shit with Papa at the bar, then Bella with the ridiculous idea about the scent match. Now I have to navigate Liam and Pierce and hockey.
The crowd surges around me. Too many bodies pressed too close in Scorpion colors. I’m still outside, and everyone’s scent is already overwhelming.
What will happen when Pierce is added to that? Bella can’t be right. She just can’t be.
How can Pierce be my scent match? How can the man who might have killed my brother be my fated mate like that?
“Ash!” I whirl around when I hear my name.
Liam’s careful posture and Pierce’s broad shoulders are unmistakable, even from a distance. My stomach drops to my knees. Pierce stands with his arms crossed, scanning the crowd. When his eyes land on me, his whole body goes still. And mine lights up like a pinball machine.
Shit.
“Hey,” I manage as I reach them, my voice barely carrying over the crowd noise.
“You made it,” Liam says, leaning in to kiss my cheek. His hand at the small of my back makes me want to melt into him.
Pierce, bouncing on the balls of his feet, leans in and kisses my cheek too. It’s awkward and his lips burn my cheek. I take a deep breath like I have to confirm what Bella said, but back up immediately.
“Beckett’s already with the team,” Liam explains, his hand at the small of my back to guide me forward. “We’ll watch from Alexei’s box.”
I nod, hyperaware of Pierce’s proximity as we navigate through the security checkpoint.
The arena is a concrete maze of corridors and staircases, filled with the smell of nachos, beer, and too many bodies.
Liam efficiently leads the way, checking his phone periodically, while Pierce walks slightly behind me.
I can feel him there without looking, like a physical weight against my back.
It doesn’t mean he’s my scent match. He’s just… in my head.
A group of alphas in Scorpions jerseys pushes past, loud and already drunk. One bumps into me, nearly knocking me off balance. Before I can steady myself, Pierce’s hand presses against the small of my back, firm and warm.
“Careful,” he murmurs with a growl in his voice, like it was my fault.
“I’m fine,” I snap, more harshly than intended.
Liam glances back, eyebrow raised at my tone. Pierce’s expression doesn’t change, but his hand drops immediately.
We pass a concession stand selling corn dogs. A vivid memory flashes through me. We went to the state fair. Pierce flirted with the girl until she gave us all corn dogs. Reed loved them.
Reed loved Pierce.
And Pierce left Reed bleeding on our living room floor. There’s something not right about that night.
“You okay?” Liam asks, falling into step beside me. “You look like you’re about to bolt.”
“Just crowds,” I say. “Not a fan.”
“It’ll be quieter upstairs.”
Pierce trades one of those complicated hand-shake-half-hug things with the security guards stationed at a set of velvet ropes blocking off a bank of elevators.
When the door opens with a happy ping sound, Pierce holds the door, motioning me inside first. The space is small, too small even though a dozen more people could fit in.
The second the doors close, I know Bella is right.
Pierce’s scent, like fresh laundry, cozy sweaters, squishy nests, birthday parties, and summer days is everywhere. It makes me believe everything might be okay someday. And then, like his scent claims me, a wave of lust runs up my spine, making me shiver.
Pierce rubs his nose and blinks rapidly.
“Get punched lately?” I want to snatch the words out of the air and stuff them back into my mouth.
He looks me up and down and smiles.
“The day is young.”
Liam snorts. “Don’t you dare get us blacklisted from Alexei’s parties.”
“Alexei loves me, that will never happen.”
The elevator door slides open, and Liam steps out first, holding a hand out for me.
Suddenly, my body remembers what it felt like riding him, his cock deep in me.
Pierce gestures for me to follow. I step into the hallway, not taking his hand because I can’t trust myself.
My borrowed heels sink into the plush carpet.
We approach a set of double doors with “Volkov” etched in gold on a sleek plaque.
Liam knocks once before pushing them open, and I’m hit with a wall of scent that makes my lungs seize.
I freeze in the doorway, overwhelmed. The luxury box is something out of a movie.
Dark wood paneling gleams under recessed lighting, sleek leather seating arranged in tiers facing floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the ice below.
A private bar stretches along one wall, staffed by betas in immaculate uniforms. The gentle clink of crystal and ice cuts through murmured conversations.
And alphas, huge men, are everywhere. That’s what stops me in the doorway. The room is filled with alphas in tailored suits. Their collective scent forms a suffocating cloud.
“What?” Pierce’s voice is sharp, like he knows instantly something is wrong.
“Just… more people than I thought.”
Pierce’s jaw clenches. Liam’s eyes narrow between us again.
“You want to go somewhere else?” Liam asks, softening his voice.
I shake it off and fix my face into what I hope is a pleasant smile. “No. This is fine.” I’m not sure Liam believes me. To prove I’m fine, I peel my coat off and drape it over my arm.
I scan the room again, this time noticing there are omegas scattered throughout the space too.
Diamonds glitter at their throats and wrists, their hair and makeup flawless.
My hands smooth down the dark jeans Tia lent me, and I tug self-consciously at the low-cut top that seemed daring in her apartment but now feels painfully inadequate.
She promised me I looked fantastic, but measured against these polished, perfect omegas, I look like I wandered in from the street.
A server in black pants, a white shirt, and a skinny tie takes our coats.
With a beat of panic, I reach for my coat and pull my phone out of my pocket.
“Sorry,” I mutter to the server who gives me a sweet smile.
I wedge it into my back pocket. Bella would have a heart attack seeing it but girl jeans don’t have real front pockets.
“Drink?” Liam asks, his voice cutting through my spiral.
“God, yes,” I breathe, grateful for something to do with my hands.
He nods and steps away toward the bar, leaving me momentarily alone. Without his bulk beside me, I feel exposed. An alpha nearby glances my way, his eyes traveling slowly down my body. I look away quickly, pretending to be fascinated by the ice rink below.
“Pierce!” a booming voice cuts across the room. A mountain of a man. He holds his arms wide, like he’s going to hug us all at once. “You don’t find your crusty old man, but find your omega. Much better.”
“She’s not mine.”
The man raises an eyebrow. He thinks Pierce is lying? I’m confused now too. I thought a scent match was a two-way thing. Maybe it is all my imagination.
“Ash, this is Alexei Volkov.” Liam is back and hands me a coke. “He retired from the Scorpions a few years back. Biggest supporter of the team.”
“Only when we are winning.” He winks at me. “When not winning?” He shrugs.
“They’re winning now. Two more games and they’ll be in the playoffs.” The most stunning omega I’ve ever seen in my life steps next to Alexei and wraps herself around his arm like she’s going to climb him right here. It’s an omega move to claim her territory.
“Sandra,” Alexei says, introducing his omega and then kissing her on top of her head.
“This is Ash. Friends with Beckett,” Liam says.
“Look, Pierce.” Sandra turns into Alexei, giving us all an eyeful of her ass. “All the deadlifts you make me do are paying off. I can just picture how I’m going to rock a bikini this summer.”
I feel itchy under my skin, like Sandra is about to climb Pierce too. And I’m not having that. I don’t move closer to Pierce, but I do thread my arm through his. I feel him stiffen, but he doesn’t scrape me off. I shoot out my other arm like I’m checking my non-existent wristwatch.
“You’ve got about five months or so. I’m sure the effort is going to pay off eventually.”
Alexei raises an eyebrow and stares at where my hand connects me to Pierce. A wide smile splits his face.
“Come.” He gestures for me, holding out his hand. “Take the table by the front. Best seat to watch game.”
I let go of Pierce and hesitantly reach out my hand. Liam claims it instead and pulls me toward the table. This only seems to make Alexei more excited. He holds out a high stool for me.
“Beckett is very good. Very fast. Best player on team.” Alexei’s pride is evident. “Liam is a good bo,y too. Maybe too smart. And Pierce?” He leans in close for just a second, his lips close to brushing my ear. “Pierce will take care of you. In all ways.”
Before I can shrug away, Alexei straightens and makes a wide gesture.
“You watch our boy win. Drink my drinks. Eat my food.” He reaches for Sandra and sweeps her away to circulate the room.
“Alexei’s such a dick.” Liam chuckles. “But half the sponsorships Beckett has are through his introductions.”
Someone shouts Liam’s name from across the room. Three alphas in suits are beckoning him over.
“The game will start soon. Will you be alright for a bit?” Liam asks me. I smile and nod, rather than clinging to his arm and begging him not to leave me alone.
He kisses my cheek and steps away.
Pierce doesn’t join me at the table. He backs away, leaning against the wall. He crosses his arms and rubs his nose as he stares out on the ice.