Chapter 16 #3
For a full minute my brother didn’t say anything or even react, merely crushing a few shells and popping the peanuts into his mouth.
When he laughed, slowly turning his head toward me, I could tell there was no animosity.
“You know, when my phone blew up that day, I was pissed. I figured it was your way of getting back at me for making the NHL before you did. I was ready to hunt you down and destroy your career. Hell, you wouldn’t believe the shit I had planned. ”
“Why didn’t you?” I bristled more than I should until he grinned like he did every time he pulled a prank on me.
“Well, the truth is that Lily doesn’t kick my ass just for my horrible choice in aftershave. She’s pretty clear about me keeping my family close. She did a little digging of her own. That’s when I realized someone was trying to pit us against each other.”
“Oh, yeah? Who would do that?”
“Someone who might profit if the two best players in the NHL were at odds with each other. And if they happen to be shifters, then imagine the headlines and ticket sales.” He popped another peanut then lifted his beer glass for a toast.
“That’s what my coach suggested. The upcoming game. I guess people are hoping for a brawl.”
“Well, they fucking won’t get one.”
“What the hell do we do?”
“No matter what happens, we don’t shift. I haven’t located the person responsible as of yet, but after spending a little time with the host from the program, he finally admitted the program had promised what couldn’t be delivered. You.”
“Well, shit. Who would do that kind of crap?” I could not believe my thoughts drifted back to the possibility Christine was part of this ridiculous plan. I rubbed my jaw, furious with myself and the bullshit we continued to be forced to go through.
He took a swallow before answering. “I can think of a long list. So can you. What we can’t do is allow the bastards to ruin our relationship or our careers. Deal?”
I lifted my glass, touching the side to his. “Deal. Unless you piss me off.”
A look of relief crossed his face. “So how’s Tampa Bay treating you? A little rough?”
“Let me guess. Dear old Dad mentioned I’m having a tough time.”
After rubbing his jaw, I still noticed the sheepish look on his face. “He might have mentioned a couple things. You’re going through the same shit I did, only you have more to lose and hell of a lot more to prove.”
“How’s that?”
He swiveled on the stool. “Think about it. While I’ve proven I can win a damn championship without using my wolf attributes, the critics now have a bar set they can compare everyone else to. There’s nothing quite like being a pioneer. Trust me. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be.”
“And being in your shadow isn’t all it’s cracked up to be either.”
I had a feeling he hadn’t realized how uncomfortable my position might be. “They hate you because I succeeded.”
“Something like that.”
“I only wanted the best for you, Steve. You know that.”
“Yeah, I get it. I just need to learn to live with being your brother.”
“You need to live up to being the Beast, the brother I know on the ice.”
Snorting, I took a gulp of beer. “Maybe the name is perfect for me. I lumber around like a wolf in skates.”
“You are, stupid.” At least we were both able to laugh. As kids we’d played a what-if game. What if we weren’t wolves, what would we be? Finally, one day, our father had sat us down and provided some awesome stories about ancestors.
There were no history or coffee table books glorifying shifter accomplishments, even though in our human form, many had earned various accolades over the years, including purple hearts in the military. But we hadn’t been able to be accepted as who we were. Wolves. Lions. Tigers. Bears.
We’d been humans and nothing special.
But in the world of our species, they’d been considered true heroes and why? Because they’d managed to be true to themselves. While we stopped playing the game where others could hear, I knew we’d both thought about what our lives would be like if we were nothing but humans over the years.
He’d broken the mold within our family, able to be human and a wolf with pride.
“You’re without a doubt the best player I’ve ever seen,” he said quietly, as if not wanting anyone else to hear his admittance.
“What? What did you say?” I was three times as loud.
He poked me with his elbow. “Just bring your A-game with you in two weeks, buddy. And be careful, I might decide to wipe the floor with you.”
“In your dreams, Savage man.”
We were able to laugh easily as we’d done long before shifters were outed and made into bloodthirsty monsters.
Long before we’d even made names for ourselves in hockey in college.
And long before my brother had become a national hero, the guy some kids looked up to even when their parents told them to fear us.
It was a laugh that meant we were still family and could continue relying on each other.
After that, we shot the shit about other decent players in the league, the shit we’d read on protestor signs, and our parents’ latest barbeque antics. My dad secretly wanted to be Bobby Flay.
But when our glasses were empty and Jim had refilled them, I could tell Savage was ready to open up about whatever was on his mind and he’d hunted me down to talk about it.
“Did Dad have the mating talk with you?” He continued popping peanuts as if the subject was no big deal. To me, the subject was akin to the one I’d had with Dad when I was maybe ten years old. All about the birds and the bees.
Wolf shifters matured in both species much faster than a typical human, which worried my mom and dad. My big brother had sat in on the conversation, my father insisting he needed a refresher course.
“Yeah, he did. He said I was going to turn into a violent, bloodthirsty wolf who’d rip apart people, eating their flesh and bone.”
Cocking his head, the look he provided was hilarious. “He did not.”
“I already feel the need to chomp on some beef jerky. Does that count?” I couldn’t hold my laughter for long.
“You are an asshole. But you’re not that far off.”
Still laughing, I brought the glass to my lips. “Meaning what?”
“Meaning there’s an insane asylum hidden away in the mountains where our kind are taken who either refuse to find a mate or are spurned by all females.
They froth at the mouth and speak gibberish.
They’re confined to their bed twenty-four/seven until they die.
Which as you know could take two hundred years. ”
“What?”
He nodded, acting completely serious. I must have shifted into a horrified expression.
He burst into a dark chuckle. “All kidding aside, Pops did tell me that interventions had been needed in the past with some shifters. He didn’t go on to explain and I didn’t ask.
But whatever the case, if you’re experiencing the same shit I was, find your mate and enjoy the change.
Trust me, you’ll be a much better player. ”
“Great. I just need more sex.”
“You know it’s more than that.” He locked eyes with mine. “You’ve found someone. Haven’t you?”
Hiding behind the beer seemed like the easy thing to do. “Maybe. I don’t know for sure. There isn’t a book on finding your mate in our shifter library, you know.”
“But you feel something different with her?”
“Yeah, but my coach is worried she’s a plant.”
“She could be, but that doesn’t change the fact that she could very well be your mate,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.
“How the fuck do I know for sure?”
“Let’s see if I can help. Hey, guys. I think my brother has found his mate, but he’s not sure. Can you help out?”
As soon as he called over anyone in the bar who wanted to get in the middle of my business, I cringed.
“Just went through it,” one guy said. He reminded me of an accountant with wire-rim glasses and a button-down shirt. “Question for you. Are your hands clammy all the time even if all you’re doing is thinking about her?” he asked.
I lifted my hands and he made a face. “Yep.”
The crowd of men nodded among themselves. A scruffier looking one wearing a dirty tee shirt and a thick, long beard stared me directly in the eyes. “Are you having extremely vivid dreams, I mean the kind that should be on Porn Hub?”
I’d made the mistake of taking a gulp of beer, almost choking to death. “Yeah. Sometimes in the middle of the day.”
“He’s got it bad,” someone from the back offered.
“Fuck, yeah,” another interjected. “Is your control completely shot, enough that if you aren’t careful, you’ll fuck her in front of anyone including if it means being arrested for indecent exposure?”
A strange laugh left my throat as a hard reality hit me between the eyes. Christine was my mate. Mate. “Yeah, I tackled her on her lawn.”
Even my brother whistled.
“Have you had sex with her?” a fourth guy asked, one who reminded me of the team doctor I’d seen from afar. You just never knew where a shifter might show up.
“Do I really need to answer that?” As soon as I asked the question, every man nodded. Including the damn bartender.
“The best way to know for certain is by and after having carnal relations.” Jim shrugged when I glared at him.
“Fine. Yes. We have. Several times.”
“And?” Saint asked by elongating the word when I wasn’t forthcoming in providing any details.
“The best sex of my life.”
My fucking God. Not only were they cheering, they were also whistling and clapping their hands. “Hey, boys. We’ve got another Stanley Cup hockey player on the way.”
I tried to interject as the group of men decided it was worth taking a few shots, but I couldn’t get in a word edgewise.
“Well, there you go,” Saint told me. “You have your answer. And your mate.”
“She’s not the kind of girl to accept me telling her that we’re getting married.
She doesn’t even know me very well.” At all.
I was sweating bullets by now, my one leg shaking so badly my foot was pounding against the metal bar on the bottom of the stool.
This was ridiculous. I couldn’t have a mate.
I wasn’t supposed to date let alone get married.
“Does she hate wolves?” he tossed out.
“I don’t know, but she definitely hates hockey players.”
Saint chuckled. “Lily wasn’t a fan either and she warmed up pretty quickly.”
“Because that was her job. Christine doesn’t know I exist.”
“Well, for fuck’s sake, I’ve never known you to be shy around women.”
My laugh sounded bitter even to me. “That’s not it. She doesn’t know who I am.”
“That’s what we’re working on, bro. Your stellar reputation. Then she’ll love you.”
“No, she didn’t meet the hockey player. She met the Zamboni driver.”
Saint narrowed his eyes, woofing like some… wolf while smacking his fist on the bar’s surface. “And I thought I was a bad boy.”
“Hey, man. I need some solid advice. You found the woman of your dreams and convinced her you were the only man for her. I don’t think that’ll work for me.”
“Whether you want me to or not, I’m going to offer you some brotherly advice. Given you found the woman meant to be your mate, don’t allow your human side to take control.”
“So what am I supposed to do if she pushes me aside?”
“You don’t give her a choice.” His grin was sly. “You claim her as your own.”