Chapter 67
WREN
“Wren, I swear to god, this is going to break the internet.”
My smile is too broad and beaming for my own good when I look up at the Wolves’ social media manager, Sarah Daniels.
“What do you say, Caramel?” With a little chuckle, I glance at the wriggling ball of toffee-colored fur in my arms. “Do you think you can put on a star performance and go viral?”
She gives an overexcited yip and writhes even harder, her long doxie ears flopping and flipping back, soft fur tickling my neck as she lets me know in no uncertain terms that she’s ready for her moment in front of the camera.
The tiny thing had only just arrived at the shelter yesterday, and was initially a little overwhelmed.
But once I picked her up and started carrying her around, she quickly adapted to the moment.
Turns out she was born to be held aloft and admired by one and all.
Now that she’s had some time to warm up to the comings and goings, it’s like she’s transformed into the Princess of Wagging Tails, surveying the kingdom beneath her paws.
ready to star in every single shot taken regardless of whether it’s her turn or not.
“They don’t even have to take their clothes off for this, and I swear it’s somehow… hotter…” Sarah shakes her head while filming some B-Roll on her phone. “Objectively, of course. Totally assessed in a professional capacity and from a 100 percent community engagement opinion.”
With a guilty smile and a shimmy of her shoulders, she steps closer to the scene of three prop forwards, each posing with a dog.
They’re laughing and playing with a handful of the rescues from Wagging Tails, while a photographer’s camera whirs frame after frame.
We’ve set up their locker room as the perfect studio for indoor shots, and out on the stadium pitch the other social media manager has been doing a whole list of videos involving the players and the dogs.
There is so much joy and semi-organized chaos going on, I swear my stomach muscles and cheeks are going to ache from all the laughter.
Dog interview day is officially my new favorite thing in the world, and I couldn’t be giddier with happiness that it has gone so well.
All of the team have been the best sports about it, answering their questions for the camera while cuddling dogs available for adoption.
From the shyest to the most outgoing, every dog has had its moment in the spotlight as we’ve gone through an afternoon of media with the entire squad.
It’s ended up something of a blur, one long photoshoot and a steady stream of filming for socials, but Sarah is up to the task. She might be young, but the way she commands these rugby players who are easily three times her size is something to behold.
Truthfully, I think they’re all a little terrified of the Beta and her dreaded “shot list” to film.
Caramel whines as she watches her friends from the shelter start roughhousing, absolutely desperate to join in the fun. Gus ends up tackled to the floor among a flurry of wet noses, pink tongues, and paws. It’s perfect. Candid and overflowing with joy.
Oh, and it most definitely helps that all those muscles are on show, too.
“Alright, thanks, boys. Your work here is done,” Sarah calls out after a brief discussion with the photographer, and the players all indulge the dogs in more cuddles long after the threat of a microphone in their face has ended.
“That’s officially the first time I’ve ever seen them willingly loitering in front of the camera.” Theo’s voice sends a flurry of goosebumps racing down my arms. Sneaky. The sense of him managing to appear out of nowhere like this is unexpected, but a treat, nonetheless.
“I thought you were booked with meetings all day?” I tease. “Mr. Theo Brennan’s diary is far too busy for playing with puppies, is it not?” As I say the words, his scent of the ocean and fresh coffee thickens around us ever so slightly.
Thank god I wore extra scent suppressant today.
He clicks his tongue, strong arms folded, eyes fixed straight ahead on the place where his players roll around playing tug-of-war with rope toys and gleeful furry friends.
All of them seemingly oblivious to the fact that their duties are done.
It tempts me to steal a glance at him under the pretense of cuddling Caramel.
Damn him for looking so suave today, like he always does.
He’s wearing charcoal slacks and a matching dress shirt rolled up his forearms, top buttons undone to expose his throat.
The look of yeah, I own this place is topped off with that familiar lanyard around his neck that forever makes me want to reach over and grab hold of it to pull him close.
As if he can sense where my thoughts are headed, he clears his throat before shifting his weight. “This was a fantastic initiative.” His voice drops into a low, sexy tone. Barely a whisper, ensuring no one else can hear the words that are for my ears only. “I’m proud of you, sweetheart.”
My thighs squeeze together.
Why yes, I am a veritable slut for hearing his compliments given in that roughened, bedroom voice.
“And lastly… where the hell are Renfro and Palamo?” Sarah calls loudly, snapping me out of the impending Theo-haze I was about to get sucked into all too easily.
“We’re here. No need to send out a search party.” Connor strolls in, and at the sight of all his muscles, those tight shorts, the shirt clinging to his toned abs, something buzzes inside me. My god. If I thought I was prepared for this moment, I was oh so very wrong.
I send up a quick prayer that I don’t spontaneously combust and end up back in heat so soon.
That would be just my luck.
While it’s fantastic for the cause we’re all here in support of today—rugby physiques primed and at the ready—it’s entirely unfair how perfect they look.
Both he and Atlas are sexier than ever in their match-day kit.
The perfect shade of forest green and silver might as well have been chosen to suit them and them alone.
Somehow, they make it look so damn good I can hardly breathe.
Not only that, but the reason for their delay becomes apparent.
They’ve got more dogs than any of the others, which I can only assume is thanks to Atlas, who strides in, exuding an air of total calm.
His obvious ease with the dogs he spends so much time taking care of has an immediate impact on me.
That sight ratchets up the way my body hums at a high-pitched, delighted frequency.
Seeing him so confident, when I know that usually the prospect of being on camera is his worst nightmare, initiates a riot of vibration and sparks in my bloodstream.
Between them, they’ve brought five dogs in for their moment in front of the cameras. Which promptly makes Caramel do her best to leap from my hold as soon as she catches sight of Atlas. She’s ready to tackle him to the ground and start licking him all over.
Same, girl. Same.
Sarah manages to wrangle the chaos to snap a few candid shots and take some footage, while I can’t help but stand and stare in awe. Theo stands quietly at my side, and to anyone looking on it would just seem as though the team owner had dropped by to watch a promotional shoot in progress.
Maybe it’s because we can’t openly be together, but something heats down low in my stomach.
It’s almost impossible to believe these handsome, swoony Alphas are mine.
They’ve got me starstruck without even trying.
Perhaps it’s more appealing than I realized to have our pack forming away from the spotlight.
To protect what we have and enjoy being together in secret feels less of a negative thing, now that I’m standing here surrounded by cameras and bright lights.
I mean, obviously hiding forever would lose its appeal. I’d want to be able to be free to live our lives as we choose. But this? There’s something a little special about it that I can’t quite put my finger on.
Certainly, there’s a little too much satisfaction in knowing these three gorgeous men, the rugby stars who are idolized by so many are the ones I get to go home with at the end of the day.
“Brennan… get over here.” Connor’s familiar brogue catches my attention, pulling me back to the moment. His eyes have got an all-too-familiar twinkle of trouble to them.
“Mr. Brennan!” Sarah whirls around, clocking Theo with youthful enthusiasm and the type of eagerness in her expression that can only come with thriving in her role with social media. “Great idea! Let’s get you in the frame.”
“Oh… I don’t… We really don’t need to…” He uncrosses his arms and waves her off apologetically, beginning to softly decline with the obvious aim of not wanting to hurt the feelings of one of the junior staff.
But clearly, Caramel has other ideas. She manages to flop her weight dramatically and practically hurls herself at him.
I squeak, thinking all ten pounds of tiny sausage dog is about to hit the ground without anything to brace her fall. Theo’s reflexes are a sight to behold as he catches the little furry menace midair.
“Oh my god,” I gasp.
She looks even more diminutive in his big hands, yet exceedingly pleased with herself.
“There we go, that’s perfect. That little darling just wants to be center stage, bring her with you.
” With a croon of approval and all the efficient confidence of a blockbuster movie director, Sarah guides him over to join Connor and Atlas.
Caramel peeks back at me over Theo’s shoulder, smugness in her eyes.
Well, shit.
Theo Brennan: dog dad, is quite the aphrodisiac for my Omega self.
Yeah. I’m extra grateful for scent-blocking innovations now.
As I bite down on my bottom lip, watching them get situated in front of the camera, it’s official. Heat pools between my thighs, and I can’t help getting more and more wound up by how good they look. All three of them are naturals at this whole dog daddies business.