Chapter 13 Axel
AXEL
I was heading home to the team, and Stan was accompanying me and leaving tomorrow. I’d insisted we fly so my mate didn’t have to make the long drive home by himself.
The fight was short, only an hour, but Stan had been restless since we took off. Now that he was at the end of his first trimester, his nausea was subsiding, but his cheeks were devoid of color, and I squeezed his hand.
“You okay?” The pilot turned on the seat belt sign, and we began our descent.
“Fine but ready to be on solid ground.”
I’d find out later today if the work I’d done with Stan and Clarissa had been enough. Being cleared to practice was what I was hoping for rather than my career still being on hold. My belly cramped as I imagined for the hundredth time never playing hockey again.
Rather than going to my place first, we got a cab to the team’s facility located in an industrial area of town. The nondescript building was emblazoned with the team logo which was a stylized icicle. It was good to be home and with Stan at my side.
“It’s bigger than I expected.” He peered up at the cavernous ceiling as we walked in.
“Wait til you see the rink.”
We checked in at the front desk and were directed to the medical wing. I’d been there many times for minor injuries and routine physicals. But this was different, and my belly was churning again. Returning the favor from the plane, Stan grabbed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile.
Dr. McCarthy was waiting, and when I glanced at his computer screen, he’d already pulled up my file.
“Chartris, good to see you.” He shook my hand before extending it to my mate. “You must be Stan. I’ve heard great things about the work you did with our guy.”
Doc had been with the team for ten years, and like Coach, he was a shifter.
“How’s the wrist?”
“Much better. Stan’s been working me hard.”
Doc cleared his throat, and Stan went bright red.
“Well, you’re newly mated, so that’s not a surprise.”
“As in PT, Doc.” I stifled a giggle. “And I’ve also been working with a fox healer from Stan’s pack.”
Doc explained how he spent time with a pack healer during his internship, and Stan leaned forward, hanging on every word.
Next he had me go through a range of motion tests and strength assessments.
He had me rotate my wrist and tested my grip strength before asking me to handle a stick to check my control.
Occasionally he asked me to repeat an action or to push harder, and he made notes after each test. I wished I could see what he was typing, but as he was a shifter and understood how good my eyesight was, he’d angled the screen away from me.
Stan watched from a chair with his hand draped over his flat belly. He hadn’t begun to show, and we were both eager to see his bump.
I got dressed while Doc studied his notes, and rivers of sweat poured from my palms as I tried to think positive thoughts.
“You’re cleared for practice.” I exhaled, and Stan and I shared a look. “Light drills to start, nothing contact-heavy for the first week.” He swiveled his chair. “And I want to see you again in a week.”
Stan squeed, and we hugged. My wolf was overjoyed because he said it was his fault that I hadn’t recovered.
“And what about games?”
“Not yet.” Doc rolled his chair toward us which was intimidating, but I sat up straight, ready for whatever he had to say. I half expected him to waggle his finger at me. “Let’s see how this practice goes first.”
Doc peered at me over his glasses. I never understood why he wore them, because as a shifter, he didn’t need them. But perhaps they gave him an air of authority.
“I don’t want you to push yourself. I need to see consistent improvement before I clear you for game play.”
“How long?” My heart was thumping so loudly and echoing in my ears that my wolf complained.
“If the next checkup goes well, two weeks after that. But I can’t make any promises.”
A total of three weeks. It felt like an eternity, but I had an end date.
Stan and I hugged, but we didn’t speak until we left Doc’s office.
“You did it.” He wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Almost, and we all did. You, me, and Clarissa.” I patted his belly. “And baby makes four.”
We were heading toward the exit when someone called my name.
“Chartris. Are you back?” Angelo jogged over with an equipment bag slung over his shoulder and clapped me on the shoulder.
“Not back yet, but I’m cleared for practice.”
“That’s huge. I’m so happy for you and us. We missed you. Defense has been a mess without you.” He took note of Stan at my side. “Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
I introduced Stan to my teammate. Angelo was human, and my mate and I had agreed we’d called each other husband when around humans.
Coach appeared and said in his usual gruff tone that I was expected on the ice at nine a.m. I saluted, and he took Stan aside and thanked him.
Angelo whispered that Coach would probably work me hard tomorrow. I wouldn’t expect anything less.
Angelo’s loud voice had two more teammates appearing. There were more handshakes and questions about my recovery. There were comments about how the power play had fallen apart without my coverage and speculation if I’d be ready for the playoff push.
“We’ve got Riverton Rangers in a few weeks,” Angelo told me. “Their left wing has been on fire. We could use you shutting him down.”
I said I’d do my best to be ready.
The guys talked for another few minutes about line changes and penalty kill strategies. They also mentioned a new backup goalie who was still finding his rhythm.
But I needed to spend time with Stan because tonight was our last evening together. I made our excuses and guided my mate outside where we waited for the ride share.
“Sorry that took a while.” I kissed his brow.
“It’s fine. I forget how big your world is sometimes.”
When I unlocked the door to my place, Stan wandered in, saying how nice it was.
“It’d be even nicer if we lived in it together.” I put a finger to his lips and continued before he thought I was guilt-tripping him. “But I understand. Your career is as important as mine.” I just wished we wouldn’t be doing long distance while he was pregnant.
He rested his head on my chest. “We talked about this. This is what you’ve worked toward your entire life.” He tapped my chest. “I’m not going to be the reason you give up that dream.”
“Hey.” I tilted his head up. “You’re not a reason. You’re my mate, and you’re carrying our child.”
“We’ll talk every day, and we’ll see one another when you can.”
I worried that being apart wouldn’t work and I’d be forced into making a choice.
“This reminds me of the first time I left you when we were in college.”
“Don’t bring that up again, love. I thought something and you thought something else and both us were sort of trapped by our shifter instinct that believed it was impossible to be together.”
Don’t blame me. I said you shouldn’t leave.
He’s not.
Stan’s flight was early the next morning. My car hadn’t been driven in weeks, so we took a cab to the airport. Our farewell was teary with promises to text and call as soon as he landed and to let me know what the baby was doing.
My wolf was demanding I either tell Stan to stay or I get on the plane with him. But I reminded him of how he loved being on the ice as much as I did, and he quieted.
“My fox is agitated at us parting.” Stan blew me a kiss and tugged his hand out of mine.
“I love you and our little one, forever and always.”
“Love you too.”
I wiped away tears as my mate walked backward and disappeared from view. I couldn’t let us being apart be for naught. Today was about proving myself, and tonight I’d wallow in sadness and count down the days until I’d see my mate again.