Chapter 68
THEO
Sucking in a deep, more-nervous-than-I-want-to-admit breath, I push open the door to my VIP box.
Wren’s delicious scent washes over me like a gentle ripple, the faint taste of a midsummer’s day tickles my nose.
She’s wearing scent suppressants, but exactly like the first day we met, I can still detect her unique essence.
My scent match still sets my blood humming with a mixture of delight and relief.
Every second away from her is agony. I do my best to shove down the constant worry about my girl—to not come across like some sort of overbearing asshole—but it’s there and twists my gut when we’re apart, no matter what I try to do to alleviate the stress.
The suite is empty, except for three Omegas, who are all seated close to the glass overlooking the packed stadium stands and floodlights illuminating the pitch.
“Ah, the Alpha of the hour himself!” Nikita spots me over her shoulder then bounds to her feet, dragging Gabbie to do the same.
She might be young—ever so young when I dare to stop and think about the fact these three Omegas are all the same: college student age—but there’s a maturity to them that makes them seem older than their years.
It’s no wonder Wren has formed such a fast bond and solid friendship with her housemates.
These three could run the world without a blink given half the chance, I’m sure of it.
As selfish as I am being an Alpha who incessantly wants her attention and time, I’m certainly grateful she has a support network beyond solely our pack.
I would hate for her to feel like she can’t enjoy being young and carefree, even if society at large conspires against giving Omegas the freedoms other designations get to enjoy.
“Are you all comfortable enough? I made sure the heat would be turned on in advance, the cleaning team provided a deep odor cleanser to remove any scents, and there are extra blankets…”
Nikita and Gabbie sidle past me, barely making an attempt to disguise their matching cheeky expressions.
“Well… yes… it’s exceedingly comfortable.” Nikita nods.
“Five-Star hospitality, truly, Mr. Brennan,” Gabbie says earnestly.
They inch their way closer to the door.
“But you see, we can’t quite appreciate the eau-de-man sweat that comes with sitting on the sidelines.”
“Mmm. The sideline proximity really gives an extra special touch.”
“A je ne sais quois where the true spirit of rugby is concerned.” Nikita gestures with a hand to take in the room and the pane of glass.
“Oh, for god’s sake…” Wren giggles and flicks a wrist at her friends. “You can both get out of here already.”
“Thankyouloveyoubye.” Apparently, they don’t need a second invitation. The other two turn and race out gleefully, their voices intermingling into a jumble where it’s impossible to discern who says what as they call over their shoulders.
Laughter floats in from the corridor as the door swings shut behind them, and just as suddenly as I walked in, we’re left alone.
“Hey.” My girl tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and flutters long eyelashes at me.
“Hey, yourself, sweetheart.” A twitch tugs at the corner of my lips. “Enjoying the match?”
She wriggles in her seat, twisting to peer up at me as I lean both hands on the back of the chair next to hers.
“Much more so… now that the view has improved up close.” She nibbles on that plump bottom lip of hers. “Though I really didn’t expect you to have time to stop by. I know you’re busy.”
She’s not wrong. Technically, I’ve got people I’m supposed to be shaking hands with and places I’m supposed to be, but Wren doesn’t need to know that I’ve blown all of that off to seek her out.
While I don’t want to ruin her time with her friends, I also couldn’t physically stay away any longer, knowing she was sitting up here watching the game.
I clear my throat. “Did I scare the girls off?”
That draws a laugh and a big smile in response. “No way. They were counting down the minutes until you made an appearance, and they could ditch me to head down to our regular seats in the stands. I think I owe Nikita fifty bucks and a sushi boat, she called it that you’d be here before half time.”
God, I really am needy for my Omega. “If you want to head out there and join them, you’re welcome to.
You certainly don’t need to hang back on my account.
” I’m secretly hoping she stays. “I didn’t mean to interrupt your time with your friends.
” Although I have no regrets that they’ve decided to scamper down into the crowd.
“Don’t be silly.” Wren takes me by the hand and tugs until I step around the seat and fall into the plush cushions. “This is what I need.” She promptly climbs onto my lap and snuggles with her ear pressed against my chest.
Goddamn, does having her in my arms and holding her like this hit me like a shockwave.
It’s only when we’re finally able to touch—for my palms to skate lovingly over her hips and thighs, for my nose to press against her hair while taking a deep, peachy inhale—that I truly realize how on edge I was while not having her close by.
“Yep. So much better.” The smile I can hear in her voice means the world to me.
As I sit here, roaming my touch to lightly map her body, and enjoy the intimacy of cuddling together like this, Wren chatters about the game.
It’s clear she watches both Connor and Ace closely, as do I, focusing on their every move.
The Wolves are struggling tonight, which hasn’t helped my frayed nerves one bit, but the longer her soft voice washes over me, the more I feel my heart growing far too big for my chest.
The surge of emotion is almost blinding.
Love.
I’m in love with Wren.
I’m in love with this beautiful, caring, sweet soul cradled against my chest and it’s terrifying.
Not only did our connection start off on rocky ground—with the fact that she dated my prat of a son first—I’m concerned there are still complications that lie ahead of us once we can finally live openly as a pack, whenever that day might finally come.
Hell, this is so fast it makes my head spin, let alone what it might do to my girl if I go confessing how I’m feeling.
It would be idiotic of me to think she’s on the same page.
I don’t doubt that she feels our scent match deeply or doubt her sincerity in wanting to be together.
But love? That’s a big fucking confession.
I’ve only barely convinced her to feel comfortable with the concept of having a nest. And the word “comfortable” is probably a stretch at that.
Just because we’re scent-matched doesn’t mean her mind, or her heart, is in the same place yet.
God, it’s been barely a matter of weeks since our worlds collided, she’s still in college, and I’m out here prepared to get down on one knee like some sort of besotted fool.
Wren might not be ready for that level of honesty… or commitment.
Was it truly only this time last week that we were in the thick of her first heat?
When the primary concern was rutting and knotting and ensuring she kept her fluids up?
Tonight’s game marks not even seven days since being together in her nest, helping get her through such a monumental first as an Omega.
Yet, she’s taken everything in her stride.
Or so it seems, at least. Her constant reassurances are good and all, but I still can’t help this nagging sense of worry.
A gnawing at my ribs that I can’t seek out and fix.
I hate that I can’t find a solution for whatever is going on inside of me. I’m an Alpha—her Alpha. That means I’m the one who is supposed to know what to do.
Through it all, it feels as though Wren is the one who is most at ease.
She’s navigating all of this like a dream, and I’m damn well climbing the walls.
Not to mention that my fears of what might happen if our secret is spilled by someone like that asshole reporter, or an anonymous leak that I’m sure isn’t anonymous at all, play constantly on my mind.
My molars clench at the prospect of anything that might hurt our girl and ruin things for her scholarship.
All those mounting pressures, and this discomfort in my chest, keep needling, keep chafing the inside of my skull.
At least one positive is that if I’m sitting up here watching the match, I can see all my players.
And if I’ve got eyes on Finch Murphy, who is out there on the pitch putting in tackles and running hard with the ball in hand, then there’s no risk of us being caught spending time together.
That door is locked and requires security clearance, with only the passes in my possession able to be used to gain access.
Small mercies and privileges of being a team owner, I suppose.
“Does it feel weird for you?” Wren lets out a sigh of contentment when I stroke a thumb over her upper thigh. “Is it strange to have to sit back and see the game through the eyes of the guy in charge… not being a player anymore?”
I place a kiss against her soft hair, then brush a few strands away from her eyes as she twists to gaze up at me. Those hypnotic baby blues study me closely as I do my best to pull my thoughts together.