Chapter 80
THEO
Wren’s head lolls against my chest as I carry her to bed. She sighs with a cute little scrunch of her nose, burying her face into the front of my shirt.
She fell asleep on the drive back from the stadium, the exhaustion finally taking over after such a short, intense time spent with her sister here visiting.
I’m relieved that we were able to help make the trip happen, to give her the surprise was everything I could hope for and more. Wren’s smile didn’t stop beaming since yesterday, and having a house full of Omegas last night made for one extremely beautiful, contented Wren.
Our girl shines brightly at all times but being around her sister truly brought out a special kind of sparkle in her eyes.
Now she needs us, her pack, to hold her tight in what will almost certainly be a swing of emotion.
Saying goodbye to her sister after the match was mostly tears and hugs that didn’t end.
Lark flies out early in the morning—Nikita and Gabbie are taking her to the airport—and so their sibling reunion was short but sweet.
I help her change into one of my T-shirts, assist with removing her makeup, and make sure she drinks some water. The crash hits her hard, understandably so, and Wren murmurs a soft thank you as we climb into bed together.
I pull her against my chest, letting my Alpha purr work to soothe those frayed nerves.
“Do you need anything else, Bambi?” Connor yawns as he follows close behind us.
She sniffles and offers a watery smile, along with extending a hand. “Just all of you.”
Ace is immediately there, too, climbing into the bedsheets after Connor.
“I’m sorry, I’m such an emotional wreck.” Wren sighs, resting her ear against my chest.
As we all tangle together in bed, her emotions are haywire.
I know she’s doing her absolute best, trying to hide it, and be strong.
But feeling her emotions is the privilege that we get to experience as her Alphas.
Soothing her, being strong for her, that’s what this means, and I couldn’t be more sure that this is exactly where I was meant to be.
“You don’t have to hide, sweetheart.” I stroke her hair.
“Who made you feel like it was a weakness to need comfort, baby?” Connor curls around the other side of her.
That makes Wren sniff louder, her baby blues glistening with unshed tears. Her eyes are still a little red-rimmed, weary, as she lingers on the verge of falling asleep. The wave of emotion comes down our bond, telling us everything without words.
Everyone. Everything.
Connor and Ace both start purring, also, and the surround sound of rumbling acts like a cocoon. Her shoulders drop away from her ears, and that tight ball of tension shifts, eases, her energy down our bond calms almost immediately.
“I love you.” She hardly gets the words out in a quiet exhale, as her pulse slows, and breathing shallows.
Wren falls asleep in our arms.
The other two don’t take long to follow her as they drop off to sleep rapidly. They left it all out on the field again tonight. We took the win relatively easily, but they played like there was a championship on the line.
Ace and Connor knew they needed to win and win convincingly, to not only lock down their jersey coming into the playoffs, but to make sure any scouts watching would see them giving their all regardless of an easy win.
I lie awake, like I do so many nights, knowing that I need to come up with a plan.
There are no guarantees that another article won’t surface. It’s too risky to announce our relationship in the open. But whatever happens, no matter the eventuality, we need to be the ones to control the narrative.
I feel like I’m the biggest issue, considering the fact that my shit-for-brains son is involved. Ultimately, it is on me to set a clear course in motion for us. I want nothing more than to protect my pack, and if that means I have to think five chess moves ahead? So be it.
By setting the standard for packs, we might just change the face of professional rugby.
And I know that each of them is absolutely worth risking everything for.
I rest my arms on the edge of the Jacuzzi, warm water bubbling around my swim trunks, and a jet aimed at my lower back. Opposite me, Coach settles into his usual position spread across half the space.
At the other end of the pool complex, the team does their usual recovery day games and gets boisterous over the extremely competitive version of what is supposed to be friendly water polo.
I keep one eye on Ace and Connor. They’re doing a great job of spending time with Murphy and seem to be in good spirits. He’s not attempting to drown either of them in a fit of rage, so they must be playing their cards right while keeping him off the case.
Do I like having to lie to him every day? Absolutely not. But we don’t have any other options. I can only hope that he’ll forgive us when it all eventually comes to light.
I’d hate to see Wren forced to choose between her family and her pack.
Coach splashes water at me. “Okay, pretty boy. What’s got you giving murder-eyes to my players? They won last night, is that not good enough for the almighty Theo Brennan?”
I run both hands through my wet hair, scraping it back. My heart pounds with the prospect of having this conversation, but I know it’s the step I need to take. I trust Charlie. He’s been one of my rocks for the longest time. The guy is pretty much a brother to me.
“Shit. Why am I seeing that face? That is never a good thing,” he says while dragging a hand over his jaw.
I swallow hard. “Here’s the deal…”
“Am I getting fired?” he chuckles with that London accent. “Helluva moment to pick. Cozy up under the jets and tell me I’ve got the sack.”
“Tough luck, you’re stuck with me forever.” I shake my head. “That contract allows me to keep your balls in my purse.”
“Just keep letting me run my team the way I want, and my balls are all yours.” He grins.
I glance around to make sure we’re still alone and out of earshot of anyone. Between the bubbles and the commotion of forty men splashing around in the pool, there’s no risk of anyone overhearing something they shouldn’t.
“Alright, mate… then if it isn’t me, and it isn’t about the lads or their winning ways…”
“I met my scent match. We’ve already bonded. It’s the real thing. Lovestruck and all.”
Coach doesn’t flinch but narrows a sharpened look at me.
“I know, I know.” As I offer an apologetic look, I hold both hands up. “You’ll understand why I didn’t say anything before now in about ten seconds.”
“Oh, will I now?” He cocks an eyebrow at me.
I lean forward, resting my elbows on my knees and closing the distance so I can keep my voice low. “She’s Finch Murphy’s sister.”
This time, Coach doesn’t remain quite as impassive. He stares at me for a long second, then his lips twitch.
“Fuck off.” He tips his head back with a hearty laugh. “You had me for a second—”
“I’m serious, Charlie. It wasn’t expected. We met purely by fucking chance… and trust me when I say it’s more complicated than trying to figure out a fucking scrum penalty.”
He glances at the pool, eyes locking on his Vice-Captain.
“Murphy doesn’t know.” I shake my head. “We’re keeping it that way for now.”
Coach contemplates that for a moment, then hits me with a look I don’t think I want to figure out the meaning of. “Isn’t she at college?”
That makes me groan, hanging my head.
“Well, shit…” He whistles under his breath. “Old dog learned a new trick or two, huh? Here I thought you were just being a lonely, washed-up has-been…”
“Hey.” I flick some water at his face.
I sidestep mentioning the guys, it seems that the bombshell about Wren is enough to preoccupy Charlie for now, at any rate.
“So… Finch Murphy’s little sister?”
“Wren.” I nod.
“And you do realize you probably signed your own death warrant?”
“Probably,” I grumble.
“Because it’s not like our vice-captain and his entire fucking squad of teammates won’t be baying for your blood once this comes out.”
“Thank you for your vote of confidence.”
“I mean… did you imagine you’d have a regular burial ceremony? Or did you want to be cremated? Wanna let me know where I should scatter your ashes?”
“I’m really glad I told you,” I say flatly. “Zero regrets whatsoever.”
His grin is a mile wide while taking in the sight of my discomfort.
“So, you’ve been sneaking around playing hide the sausage? For how long?”
“For that, you officially lose any rights to further information. Need-to-know basis only for you from now on.” I card my fingers through my damp hair.
“Aw, aren’t you cute as a button when you’ve been caught being a naughty boy.”
“Look… I need to get ahead of the possibilities. So that’s why I’m telling you.”
“But presumably you have been… putting in the midnight workouts, if you’re scent-matched and bonded and shit.” He pumps his eyebrows.
“Can I drown you without anyone noticing?” I grit my teeth.
His lips curve into a ruthless grin. “Holy shit, who would’ve guessed it. Are you getting your regular physical? Making sure you can handle all that extra cardio? You’re no spring chicken anymore.”
“Speak for yourself.”
“Don’t you worry about me.” He leans back with arms stretched wide. “Besides, we haven’t finished torturing you, yet,”
“Okay, okay, you can have your fun at my expense another day. Right now, I need to bring up the very real possibility of players who are going to have packs.”
Charlie frowns. “And this is important right now, why?”
I’m still not prepared to talk about Connor or Ace, so I skim over his question. “Why can’t we be the first? Why can’t the Wolves pave the way for other rugby teams?”
“Fine. Let me humor you here… suppose we start to recognize packs as part of player contracts…”
We start to talk through the logistics—what happens with players being sidelined by a heat at the same time among the main points to discuss—and of course, Charlie Robinson is the solid guy that he is throughout. He doesn’t mince his words, but he doesn’t disregard me either.
He’s someone I know I can trust without question, and not only that, but I can depend on him to give it to me straight.
“We’d potentially need to carry more reserves. Bigger payroll. More resources are needed.” He ticks off a finger with each point. “You’d have players who might not be happy sitting on the bench waiting around for number one pick to need to go service his Omega for a multi-day fucking orgy.”
I give him an exasperated glare. “It’s not like that. You wouldn’t know.”
“Wouldn’t I?” He tips his head to one side. There’s something in his expression that is impossible to read.
“Wait—” I rub my brow, trying to figure out what he’s hinting at here, while also being strung out by my own complex circumstances.
“No. We’re not talking about me.” Charlie clicks his tongue. “We’re talking about you looking to reinvent the entire bloody league.”
“It’s the only way.” I let out a sigh. “I’ve thought through every scenario, and I really think starting with the players is what we have to work on.
How many are hiding already formed packs?
How many are too scared to admit their relationship with an Omega?
How many have refused to even acknowledge the possibility they might have a scent match out there because they’re too worried about their position on the team? ”
Charlie puffs out his cheeks. “You’re not wrong, but it’s been this way forever.”
“Well, fuck forever and all the ways those rules were written by men in stuffy boardrooms who will only ever live their cushy Beta lives.”
Charlie mulls the point as the jets bubble around us.
“We would need to get serious about the opportunities for younger players. Create pathways to enter the professional level of the game.”
“I agree. And wouldn’t it ultimately be better for the game all around? More depth. Development teams, feeder squad players. All of it.”
We sit quietly, digesting the ramifications of what this could mean for the future of the Wolves.
“I’m thinking of offering her a job once she graduates… once everything is able to be out in the open,” I add. “Not a stereotypical assistant thing, but fuck, we could use someone like her who knows the game inside and out.”
“Presumably she knows her rugby.” Coach eyes me.
“She knows the players. She can run rings around half the administrative team, and she doesn’t even work for the Wolves,” I say.
Wren would be phenomenal anywhere she chooses to go after her graduation, but I want to secure her talents. I don’t want her taking those smarts and savvy anywhere else.
Is it so wrong to want to keep her close and also let her shine?
I don’t think so.
Now, I’ve just got to hope like hell we can make it out the other side of this championship.