16. Jenson
Chapter 16
T he crowd's roar hits me in my chest, but there's nothing like it knowing they're cheering for us, the Iron Wolves. For the first time in history we're on top, and we've made it to the Alpha Cup finals. And it's tied. Against the Vipers, too. Every muscle in my body aches, my lungs burn, and I can taste blood from a hit I took earlier. But none of that matters. We have to win.
This game has been rough. Asher's missing a tooth, thanks to a high stick that the refs didn't call. Rhys took a hard hit to the boards and might have a cracked rib. Everyone's on edge, tempers are short, and our inner alphas are barely controlled. Even I'm struggling to keep mine in check. It's been tough all game.
I glance at the bench. Anya's there, where she's been for every game this series, sitting on the edge of her seat, her eyes on the ice. She's become our good luck charm. Just seeing her there, her small form a calm point in the chaos, helps me focus, helps me push back the anger.
The whistle blows, and I refocus. We're entering the last stretch of the third period. Overtime is looming, and nobody wants that. Not against the Vipers. It'd be a tough, drawn-out fight.
Maverick's in the penalty box, for an illegal check. He's been playing rough all game, his inner alpha practically clawing its way out. I don't blame him. We all feel it. The Vipers are playing dirty, pushing the limits, trying to get to us.
It's up to Leo and me now. We have to win this. For the team. For the Cup. For her.
We line up for the face-off. I can feel Leo's intensity beside me. We're in sync, always have been.
The puck drops.
Leo wins the face-off, sending the puck back to me. I take it, skating hard, weaving through the Vipers' defense. They're all over us, trying to shut us down.
I pass to Leo, who's moving down the wing. He takes a shot, but their goalie makes the save. The rebound comes back to me. I take a shot, but it's blocked.
The puck bounces around, a scramble in front of the net. Players collide, sticks clash. I fight my way through.
Then, I see it. An opening. Leo's in position.
I backhand the puck to him, a good pass. He takes the shot.
Time seems to slow. The puck sails through the air. It hits the back of the net.
The buzzer sounds.
We're ahead!
The crowd erupts. Leo throws his hands in the air, yelling. I skate over, and we bump shoulders, both of us grinning.
But the game's not over.
Maverick's penalty is up, and he's back on the ice. We still have to hold the lead.
The last part of the period is tense. The Vipers are relentless, throwing everything they have at us. We're giving it right back, every hit, every block, every shot.
I take a hit, a hard check that sends me into the boards. My shoulder hurts, but I get back up. No time for pain. Not now.
We're a flurry of motion. The clock ticks down, each second feeling long.
Finally, the buzzer sounds.
It's over.
We won.
The noise is deafening, the crowd on their feet, cheering. We did it. We won the Alpha Cup.
My teammates are celebrating around me. But my eyes are searching for her.
I spot her near the bench, her face glowing, her eyes bright. She's clapping, a huge smile on her face. My heart feels full.
I skate over to the bench, ignoring the ache in my shoulder, the tiredness in my limbs. I just want to be near her.
"You did it!" she mouths, her eyes shining.
I grin. "We did it," I say, my voice hoarse.I pull her into a searing kiss, she stands on her toes and wraps her arms around me. Cameras flash off to the sides.
"Marks, get over here!" Coach yells, wanting us all gathered for the trophy presentation.
I break the kiss and steady her on her feet. "Wait here. We'll be right back."
She nods, her smile unwavering.
We line up, accepting the Cup; the cheers of the crowd wash over us. It's a moment I'll never forget.
As soon as we're able, I break away from the celebration, skating back to where Anya is waiting. Leo and Maverick are right behind me.
"Come on," I say. "Let's celebrate."
She looks at me, her eyes wide, then at the ice, then back at me.
"On the ice?" she signs, her fingers hesitant.
"On the ice," I confirm, grinning.
Leo opens the gate, and I reach down, scooping her into my arms. She's light as a feather, her body fitting perfectly against mine. My inner alpha purrs, a deep rumble of contentment.
*Ours.
I carry her onto the ice, the crowd roaring its approval. She wraps her arms around my neck, her eyes shining with delight, and I can feel her silent laughter in the way she hugs me tighter. It's a moment of pure joy, of shared happiness. I keep her cradled against me, not setting her down.
I spin us around, her silent laughter a beautiful melody in my ears. Leo and Maverick skate around us in wide circles, whooping and hollering with the crowd, their joy mirroring my own.
When I finally stop spinning, I keep her held close. She's a little breathless, her cheeks flushed. She looks up at me, her eyes full of emotion.
She's not hiding her neck anymore. The silver marks, our marks, are visible, a sign of our bond. And I can't help but feel a surge of pride. She's ours.
I lean down and kiss her, a soft, gentle kiss that says everything. She kisses me back, her lips warm.
When we break apart, she's smiling, a radiant, beautiful smile that lights up the entire arena.
At that moment, surrounded by my pack, by the woman I love, by the cheers of the crowd, I know that we've won more than just a game. We've won everything. We've got the cup, and most importantly, we have each other. I hold her tighter, never wanting to let go.
The sounds of movers grunting and furniture scraping against the floor fill the air. I'm perched in the kitchen nook, a cozy little alcove with a built-in bench seat, Anya snuggled up beside me. Leo's sprawled on the other side of the nook, his long legs stretched out, while Maverick leans against the counter, supervising the movers with a critical eye. We just bought this place, pooled our money together.
"That table goes over there, careful with that!" Maverick calls out, his voice echoing through the mostly empty house.
"Where to, boss?" a mover asks, holding up a box labeled books.
"Living room, against the far wall," Maverick directs as he walks away, and I can practically hear the mental gears turning as he plans the layout of each room. He has always had an eye for this kind of thing.
Anya's laptop is open in front of us, the screen filled with images of plush blankets, oversized pillows, and colorful tapestries. We're shopping for her nest. Our nest, really, but she's taking the lead, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She has it angled so we can all see the screen.
"What do you think of this one?" she signs, tilting the screen to show us a particularly fluffy, faux fur blanket in a soft shade of lavender.
"Perfect," Leo says, leaning in closer to examine the picture. "Get it in every color."
I grin. "Might be a bit much, even for you, Leo."
Anya smiles and signs, "It is very soft."
"Soft is good." I reach out to stroke her long dark hair. "We want you comfortable."
Our omega. It still feels surreal, sometimes, how much our lives have changed in under a year. We went from being the dead-last team in the league, the laughingstock of the hockey world, to winning the Alpha Cup. From being three alphas searching for their missing piece, to a complete pack, bound to the most incredible omega we could ever have imagined. From a cramped apartment to this amazing house.
Life is good. Better than good. It's amazing.
"Alright, couch is in," Maverick announces, walking back into the kitchen. "Dining table is next. Then we can start on the bedrooms."
"Did you order that easel you wanted?" I ask her, nudging her gently.
Anya nods, her eyes sparkling. She's excited about this house, about having a dedicated space for her work. The carriage house in the backyard is going to be her studio. It's a perfect little space, detached from the main house, with plenty of natural light. I can already picture her out there, surrounded by her canvases and paints, creating her masterpieces. She's already got plans to renovate it, and make it her own space.
She nods and signs. "Will ship next week."
I can't help but smile, seeing Anya happy, thriving, surrounded by a pack that loves and cherishes her, it's the best feeling in the world. It's everything I've ever wanted. Everything we've ever wanted.
My gaze drifts around the house. It's a large place, but not overly so. Plenty of room for all of us, for guests, for a family... The thought sends a jolt through me. A family. It's a future I hadn't dared to dream of before Anya.
The movers bring in another piece of furniture, a large sectional sofa that will anchor the living room. It's a comfortable-looking thing, perfect for movie nights and cuddling. I can already picture us all piled up on it, Anya nestled safely in the middle, surrounded by her alphas.
"This is going to be great," Maverick says, his voice full of satisfaction, as he surveys the living room. "A real home."
"Our home," Leo corrects, with a meaningful look at Anya.
She smiles, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She signs, "Our home."
And in that moment, surrounded by the chaos of moving, by the scent of new furniture and fresh paint, by the love and warmth of my pack, I know that we've found something truly special. Something rare and precious.
We have a home. We have each other. We have her.
I look at Anya, at the way she's excitedly browsing for more nest items, at the way her eyes light up when she finds something she likes, and my heart swells with a love so profound, so overwhelming, it takes my breath away.
My inner alpha purrs, a deep, resonant sound of contentment.
Ours. Forever.
"What do you think?" Anya asks, showing us a tapestry with a vibrant celestial design. "Too much?"
Leo shakes his head. "Never too much if you want it."
Maverick comes over and stands behind the booth, giving the top of her head a kiss. "It will go great with the galaxy light." He then glances over his shoulder. "Yo, that doesn't go there!" He's off, again, directing the movers.
"I like it," I say, nodding. "It's perfect."
I can't wait to see what the future holds. With Anya by our side, with our pack complete, I know it's going to be amazing. We'll fill this house with love, with laughter. We'll build a life here, a future. We're the luckiest men alive.