Chapter 11
MILES
It’s hard to breathe with the amount of angry alpha pheromones Freedman is pumping out.
While there’s a light breeze where we’re standing, they still make the air around us feel thick, as if attempting to freeze us in place.
Swallowing hard, I try to string together words that will make him understand what’s happening without telling too much of Caelia’s business to the other alphas in attendance.
That’s her story, and even I haven’t heard it yet, only pieces.
“Caelia doesn’t want to see or speak to you,” he growls.
“She’s perfectly capable of speaking for herself,” I say mildly. “She was sitting with two other people, are you worried they’ll hurt her?”
“What? Of course not,” Freedman sputters. “I have to work tonight, and they’re keeping people from bothering her. Where there’s alcohol, there’s stupidity.”
“I won’t argue that,” Levon says quietly.
It’s like we’re all trying to diffuse a bomb.
Levon usually throws accelerants into the flames, and I spare a moment of pride for him.
The alpha wouldn’t have done the same four months ago.
“She seemed okay with talking to us. I also asked her for permission to speak to her.”
Freedman only appears slightly mollified, his face angry and mottled with red spots.
“We have a lot of history,” I tell him, sighing. “I realized something when I saw her in New Orleans.”
“What’s that?” Freedman practically growls.
“You’re going to really dislike this,” I add. “Caelia is my scent match.”
There’s a moment of silence before Levon says, “She’s mine too.”
“And mine,” Santos whispers. “Fate has a way of humbling you.”
“This is fucked,” Freedman says. “Caelia has panic attacks, true fear when she sees a hockey player come suddenly too close into her space. I don’t trust anyone with her, much less people I don’t know.”
“I’m not going to remind you that you know me,” I say. “Or that I’ve never specifically done anything to make you believe I’m a different person than I’ve always been. We were both fucked over by the past, Freedman.”
“Maybe so,” he sighs, raking his hand through his hair. “You’re too old for her, Miles. Leave her be. Caelia is trying to build her life.”
“Think about that when she goes into heat,” I say. “I refuse to be indelicate, but biology isn’t going to understand an age difference or the fact that you hate me.”
“I can’t do this right now,” Freedman says, shaking his head. “I’m not going to talk to you about fucking my daughter.”
Santo flinches as if he was struck, leaning around Levon to gape at me.
“I didn’t say it,” I shrug. “We’re leaving now. Please don’t freak out at Caelia about this. I don’t know if she even realizes that we’re scent matches.”
“That depends on a lot of things,” Freedman says cryptically. “Don’t fuck with her heart, boys. She’s had a rough few years.”
His eyes stray to where Santo’s fingers dig into Levon’s side.
“If there’s no place for her, leave her alone.”
Yanking the door open, he lumbers back inside, and the three of us sag as he leaves.
“Why did he look at me like that?” Santo asks, sounding strangled.
“Freedman can read a goddamned room like no one else,” I sigh, calling a ride share through the app. “You’re holding onto Levon for dear life. He’s not homophobic, he can tell you’re in a relationship and doesn’t know how Caelia will fit.”
“Oh,” Santo whispers.
“That was not how I saw any of this going,” Levon says, moving so we can lean against the wall while we wait.
I send off a text to Ares to let him know I’m headed back with Levon and Santo before giving my full attention to them.
“I did,” I mutter. “I just didn’t realize I’d be sharing my scent match with you two.”
“My brain is broken,” Levon complains. “Santo, are you okay?”
“I saw her on the television at the New Orleans game,” he says. “I felt…something then. I ignored it because I figured my plate was full, and Levon and I were trying to figure things out between us. I also thought it might be a fluke.”
“Sometimes, the timing is weird, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t right,” Levon shrugs. At Santo’s look, he rolls his eyes. “I don’t share well with others. I’ll figure it out, babe.”
“Now my brain is broken,” I admit. “I can’t tell you why Freedman doesn’t care for me, because it’s not my story, not really. It’s Caelia’s.”
“Do you think she knows what just happened?” Santo asks.
“I saw her face when she looked at the three of us,” Levon says. “She was fine until she realized something was different. I feel like everything has been turned upside down in the last few minutes. I really just figured I was going to say hello to a pretty girl to make Marilyn happy.”
“I have a confession,” I mutter.
“Wonderful, another one,” Santo groans. “Go on.”
“Marilyn didn’t set up this meeting, I used our team’s account to message Caelia,” I confess. “Being scent matched to someone you can’t see will fuck with your head. She’s all I can think about, and it hurts. The only time I’m capable of functioning is when we’re at practice or at a game.”
“You’re a sly bastard,” Levon says, but not as if he’s mad. His head drops onto the brick wall as he yawns. “So what are we going to do?”
“We…” I drawl, and Santo snorts.
“I’m a gay man who just realized that I’m both attracted to a female and scent matched to her,” he says. “I need to have an existential crisis before I plan anything else, thanks.”
“You’re so dramatic,” I groan. “He’s always like this, isn’t he?”
Levon ignores me as his head rolls into Santo’s direction. “I don’t think a label really fits this situation. I also doubt you’re the first alpha to have his world rocked due to a scent match outside of his sexual orientation, Santo. Does it truly bother you that you’re attracted to her?”
“It is more surprising than anything,” Santo says. “I can admit when women are pretty, but I’m not typically attracted to them.”
“If anyone was going to be your exception, it would be Caelia,” I butt in.
Levon gives me a mock glare before nodding. “I can’t even be jealous, Santo, because I’m in the same boat. To answer your question, Miles, yes. Santo is always this dramatic.”
“How the fuck does this work,” Santo groans, proving our points.
The universe would hitch my future to them. It’s kind of funny.
“It doesn’t, not until we can figure out how to get Caelia to give us a chance,” I mutter. “I have a bone to pick with a few of my ex-teammates too.”
“I hate mysteries. Tell us or stop hinting,” Levon groans.
“Someone hurt her, right?” Santo asks.
The car rolls up as I nod.
“Then that’s all we need to know for now,” he says, glaring at Levon.
“Fine,” he grumbles, getting into the vehicle.
“Thanks,” I mutter to Santo.
“Don’t thank me yet. I doubt this will be easy.”
CAELIA
“Did I see Miles Wallace talking to you earlier?” Dad asks as he drives us back to the hotel.
The experience was loud, but a lot better than I expected it to be. I had my bubble of safety at the booth, and Rían and Roger were fun to be around. I’m having better days as the medication leaves my system.
I’m distracted now because I can’t stop thinking about how good those three alphas smelled and what that means.
Do not get aroused while talking to your dad. Nope, absolutely not. Crossing my legs, I’m thankful for how thick these leggings under my jeans are. I need a really cold shower tonight before bed.
“You did,” I reply to my dad. “It was fine. He came over with a hockey player for his team and someone else. Santo is his name. I think they’re in a relationship. They were nice.”
My mind is reeling with that fact, because I have no idea what it means.
“Just nice?” Dad asks innocently.
“Ah, I don’t know what you’re fishing for, old man,” I tease him.
“Caelia, we don’t keep secrets from each other,” he says sternly. “I know they’re your scent matches because they told me.”
Blinking, I realize he’s right. “I hadn’t quite come to that realization,” I mutter. “I just thought they smelled really… nevermind.”
“I get it,” he grunts as my cheeks flame.
“When did you have time to talk to them?” I ask.
“I caught them on their way out. I chase everyone away from you,” he says. “I want you to have time to figure out what you want before people come in to complicate things. It doesn’t appear as if either of us have a choice in that.”
“There’s always a choice,” I say unthinkingly.
“I mean, you could reject them,” Dad agrees.
My body shudders, and I whine at the thought. God, now I’m even more embarrassed.
“I didn’t say you should,” he adds. “I don’t think we have any games with them until the end of January so you have some time to figure things out. You’re an adult, I can’t tell you what to do—”
“Where is this going?” I ask, confused. “I haven’t had any interactions with them to speak of, other than a very intense panic attack when I saw Miles. I still don’t know how I feel about him.”
“I don’t either,” he says. “He reminded me that he hasn’t changed since he played for me. Miles was always a good man, but what happened really fucked with me. It never should have happened.”
“You’re right,” I whisper, forcing myself to take a breath.
I curl my toes in my boots until they cramp, forcing myself to stay in the present.
I’ve started doing this whenever I think about something unpleasant.
“I honestly thought I’d never date a hockey player.
If I had the option to be a lesbian, I would be. ”
Dad snorts at my words, and I hide my face. “Trust me, women can be just as bad,” he says.
I nod because I know he’s right. Everyone has the ability to be a terrible person, regardless of gender. I suppose the same is true of being a good person, but my anxiety isn’t rational.
“My job is to keep you safe, not run your life,” he says. “It’s just really hard not to want to do both.”