Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
MCKINLEY
I ’m furious when Apollo meets us at the hotel after the game instead of waiting for us to finish up. I had wanted to see Clover right after and ask her if she had fun. I had looked up and saw her in the stands at one point eating a hot dog next to the Alpha.
Apollo tells us that Clover is already in bed and we’re not to bother her. I’m less furious when we are all in his room getting the rundown of what happened when he stopped to use the bathroom on their ride over here.
The idea of Clover upset like that and spiraling out of control scares me.
The real thing that puts fear into me is that Mama Joy is coming to town and she is not happy with any of us.
Apollo got her flight confirmation and found out that his Beta father and Alpha father are making the journey with them. Which means, we’re all getting a good talking to.
At least Mother Martha will be at home because I don’t put that woman past using physical violence against us.
“She wants to go back to the academy where she was almost forced into a bond instead of staying with us?” I ask like I hadn’t understood exactly what he said to me.
It doesn’t sit right with me and I can tell all the other guys are thinking the same thing.
Growing up for me was so different from Clover.
My family is all close by and I still see them multiple times a week. My dads are all Betas with my Omega mother. Growing up there had been some people who didn’t understand how my mother could be satisfied with her two Beta lovers. Omegas needed Alphas, but my mother needed my fathers more. They made her heat work with details that I don’t want to think about. All I know is that love was what mattered most in my household.
Had we shown no love to Clover?
“She’s not our Omega so I don’t get why we’re making a big deal out of this.”
Griffin and his surly attitude.
I’m going to kill him.
Pouncing I tackle him off the bed, my hands around his neck, because he’s finally done it. He’s finally made me snap and now I’m going to murder him.
She’s not our Omega because….because…
“Jesus! Help me get him off!” Vaughn is shouting as he tugs at me and Apollo hooks his arm around my waist, lifting me off the other Alpha.
Griffin coughs as Vaughn holds his arm, checking on his best friend who I am going to murder as soon as he falls asleep. A pillow over his pretty boy face.
Apollo has me on his lap, his legs wrapped around mine as he tries to hold me in place because he thinks I’m going to kill our pack mate.
I am going to kill him.
“You’re not taking this fucking seriously.” I snap because I’m losing my mind.
She was upset.
So upset that Apollo had to call his parents to help.
It’s our fault.
It’s their fault.
I want her.
“You need to calm down, Mick. If you’re going to act like this you can’t be here for this conversation.” Apollo is trying to talk reason but it doesn’t sit with me. I snap and snarl as I try to bite at whatever I can.
My teeth gnashing together as I try to buck my hips to fight off Apollo but he doubles down on his hold of me so that I’m fully trapped against him.
“You care about Clover.” Vaughn’s voice has the red rage starting to calm down as I hear her name, “If you care about her then you can help us come up with a plan to make her stay with us easier.”
Griffin is rubbing his throat as he and Vaughn stay seated beside each other on the floor.
My anger spikes again because they’re not getting it.
“Clover is my Omega. If she’s leaving in three months, so am I.” Apollo stiffens under me at the declaration and I should have probably talked to him about this more.
I made it clear how I felt about the Omega. They just didn’t listen to what I was saying about her.
Griffin is looking at Apollo instead of me and they’re all acting like this is some bomb that I’m dropping on them.
It’s not.
How many times have I told them that she is our Omega? That she is meant for us? If they didn’t grasp what I was setting up, that is their problem.
It’s obvious we’re scent compatible with her, but beyond that she is so sweet and kind. She doesn’t swear, instead using silly sayings that are adorable. She loves to create things and has shown me some of the outfits she's made. She’s talented. I like the way she nurtures without even thinking about it. How she is the sort of person who gives without thinking twice about it.
While the others have avoided her like the plague I’ve been walking her to school and getting to know her. When they skip dinner she cooks with me and we bond. I’ve put the time into getting to know the Omega so I can see how perfect she is for our pack.
“I don’t think I’m ready to date again. I need to focus on hockey.” Vaughn speaks first because if anyone has a reason to not want to date it’s him.
His father is having his sibling with his ex-girlfriend. It’s as messy as a situation with an ex and family can be.
It shattered the relationship between his parents, who had been monogamous before that. I think it also shattered Griffin a little bit more than he’ll admit too.
Griffin acts like a hard ass, but his mother passed away when he was a kid. The pack that had surrounded her had gotten lost without their Omega. All of them grieving differently when it came to her loss. Their Beta mother ended up trying to stay with Griffin while his fathers had been in and out of the picture. The only family he had that was stable had been Vaughn’s.
“It’s bullshit to say that you need to focus on hockey and take it seriously, when just a few months ago you came to us and talked about how you wanted to have Terry be in the pack with us.” My words come out and I see him flinch at her name.
It’s true.
We all were happily going to welcome her into our lives and we didn’t even like her that much. But Vaughn did and we liked Vaughn so we were willing to do that for him.
An arm is slung around Vaughn as Griffin pulls him in for a side hug. He is trying to offer him support because he knows how much he hates talking about what happened.
Not talking about it isn’t going to change anything.
“My parents said she wasn’t for us, Mick.” Apollo is speaking softly to me. He’s trying to use kid gloves as if I need the buffer.
I don’t.
“Of course they did. She is a sweet little thing who has been through so much trauma. They didn’t think that you could handle having an Omega with that much baggage. They didn’t think any of us would step up to the plate. They think we’re dumb college kids who just care about hockey. Remember when we told them we were going to register as a pack?”
His hold is loosening on me and I take the opportunity to stand up. Griffin gives me a dirty look.
As if I’m going to waste time trying to kill him right now.
When we had gone to register as a pack, Apollo’s mother had asked if we were really ready for that type of commitment. None of us had hesitated and had gone forward with it.
Why were we hesitating now?
“What do you want, McKinley?” Griffin’s voice is filled with annoyance, “Terry knew we were committed to going pro. She understood the time that went into it and what our lives looked like with the sport. Clover needs a lot more care than that. Even you can see that.”
“All I’m asking is that we take these three months and not waste this opportunity. We’re not always doing hockey shit. Apollo’s here now and he's a pro! We have time for Clover. You’re all just scared babies.”
I’m huffing like I just played a whole game. Technically, I did play a full game a few hours before and did a cool down workout after. Yet, here these fuckers have my heart racing again.
If this was another Omega I don’t think that I would be fighting them so fiercely, but there is something about Clover that feels right. The moment that I first got her scent I knew I wanted her.
It was her whispering to Vaughn during his rut that did it for me. Knowing she was uncomfortable and didn’t know any of us but trying to comfort the stranger Alpha. That’s the type of heart I want at the center of my pack.
“We’re not ready for an Omega, Mick. The house is small and set up for our bachelor pack. We’re not ready to grow yet. We can’t give an Omega what they need yet.”
“Careful, Apollo, your privilege is showing. Not everyone can afford to court an Omega with Egyptian cotton sheets and diamond earrings.” My head snaps as Griffin sits, looking at the pack leader.
Is he on my side?
I can never tell with the Alpha. He locks up his feelings like a vault. I’m unsure if he even understands them.
We’re the poster boy pack for men who need therapy.
“If you think she won’t get in the way of hockey and you feel like you and the Omega are a package deal I’ll try.” Griffin grumbles out and I think about how I could kiss him right now.
Never had I thought out of everyone he would be the first one on board.
He had kissed her though. He had also been overprotective of her when anyone in the locker room even tried to talk about her. Didn’t matter if it was a good or a bad thing. Griffin was not letting anyone talk about Clover.
“Also, we’re all sitting down and talking with Clover before Apollo’s parents show up. We’re not going into this blind. She doesn’t know what it looks like to be courted and it’s our job to set a good example. Even if this doesn’t work out, our Beta is right. She deserves a good experience so people don’t take advantage of her.” Vaughn is looking at Griffin like he doesn’t know his best friend.
To be fair, I’m not sure I’ve ever heard him come up with a plan to be with a girl.
I didn’t expect him to agree. I figured Apollo would, out of his love for me, but Griffin? That is a wildcard win that I am grasping with both hands.
“I’m sorry I strangled you when you’re the only one with half a brain cell. Glad I didn’t damage it. Actually, I should be thanked since I knocked sense into you.”
The rude gesture he flips me has me smiling as I bounce on my toes looking between Vaughn and Apollo to see which one is going to break down next.
Apollo looks…pissed?
Why does he look so angry?
Vaughn looks like a kicked puppy. All broken and upset.
This is not looking good for me.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to-”
“You’re ready. You have all of us here with you. All you have to do is be nice to the Omega. You already shared your sandwich with her and Mick found you sleeping on the couch with her. Just be honest with her. Start as her friend and you can see if anything happens.” Griffin says as he rubs the back of Vaughn’s neck.I see the moment where he breaks down.
Two Alphas down.
One to go.
Vaughn nods his head, just to confirm that he is in and now my attention is all on Apollo.
The anger has turned to something like fury. His fists gripping the sheets of the bed as he looks at all of us like we’re the enemy here.
This is not what I expected.
Apollo is calm.
Always.
Right now his pheromones have turned to something bitter and makes my nose wrinkle as I watch him trying to contain his rage.
It’s not working.
“You want to strong arm me into this? You want to threaten to leave the pack? To leave me ? Just because you’re feeling something for a girl you know nothing about? Do you know what you’re feeling for her, McKinley? You’re feeling pity. She’s a pitiful little creature who hasn’t had any love. It’s like a drug for you. Fix the broken little thing with all your Beta sweetness.”
He’s never spoken to me like this and I can’t say I particularly enjoy it. My ears burn red in embarrassment as he talks to me like I don’t know what I want. It feels like I’m a child being scolded by an adult.
I’ve always been treated like an equal. Right now, it’s as if I’m not as good as him.
“You like her too.” I try to defend myself but my voice feels tired from all the fight that I’ve already expelled.
Apollo licks his lips and his hands loosen the sheet as he nods his head in agreement to that.
“I do like her.” His eyes flash to Griffin, “And it’s not my privilege that is telling me we’re not ready to court an Omega. It’s common sense. She’s in a guest room. Our house doesn’t have a space where she can nest. We don’t know her well enough to know what sort of gifts we can give her to court her. And if we fuck this up how far back will it set her?”
He’s not angry. He’s upset that I had threatened to leave him after what we built. He’s worried about keeping his pack together. He’s even worried about Clover and what us courting her will do to her.
Vaughn stands up, tugging Griffin with him. Everyone is back on the bed again. I sit in Apollo’s lap, nuzzling into his neck as Griffin curls up beside him with Vaughn on his other side.
“What if the mouthy Beta is right and she is our Omega?” Griffin offers. Apollo’s shoulder slump as he squeezes me tighter.
“So we’re doing this?” Everyone nods at our pack lead, “Okay. Let’s talk about what we think courting looks like for us and tomorrow at breakfast we talk to Clover.”
My lips find his. I’m too excited to not show him how much this means to me.
“Thank you Alpha.” I whisper against his lips.
“Don’t threaten to leave again. You’re just as much the heart of this pack as any Omega will be. All of us matter here, McKinley.” His words are soft and serious.
I would leave for her, though.
Even if it did break me, I can’t help but keep Clover safe.