Chapter 14
Chapter
Fourteen
Roxie
The two men in front of me were both haunted. Everything they thought they both knew about the situation was twisted.
I stood off to the side now as their voices grew softer, walking Chorizo but not going too far.
Careful footsteps had me turning around to see Kota walking toward us. He was still dressed to the nines from dinner, his blazer and slacks made him look impossibly taller.
Chorizo greeted him quietly like he knew this moment was loaded.
“How are they doing? I feel so bad. I had no idea.”
Needing to reassure him, but also needing the support myself, I wrapped my fingers around his.
“None of us did. This conversation was a long time coming.”
“So, they’re really mates?”
“Yeah,” I breathed out. “I’m scent-matched to the coach, to you, and both of them. He’s scent-matched to you and Greer.”
“Wow,” he said, shaking his head. “What a small world.”
The fight had drained out of Greer and Rylan at this point. Now they were sitting on a bench, talking quietly.
All of the harsh words had been said, and now they were lingering in the aftermath, sitting with the pain and, hopefully, working it out.
I hoped that this was the first step in bringing our pack together. It might be a disjointed pack, one that probably shouldn’t work, but I had hope we’d work it out in the end.
The two men in front of me that were finally finding peace were proof of that.
Kota and I stood there, offering each other silent support as we watched our pack work through years of struggle, heartbreak, pain, hurt, and betrayal.
Finally, they both turned to us at the same time.
Chorizo had been wandering back and forth on his lead, yipping and eager to get moving.
For a moment, Rylan looked uncertain, as if he didn’t want to hurt my feelings.
“I think we’re going to keep talking. We’re going to walk around and try to work through some of this. Do you mind?”
“Of course not. We can catch up at breakfast,” I reassured him. Honestly, I was shocked they were this willing to talk everything out so quickly.
They weren’t going to erase all of this overnight, but I wasn’t going to get in the way of them finding out what they both needed.
“Go ahead. I’ll keep her company,” Kota promised them. It wasn’t his usual teasing, he was serious. It was a promise to protect me.
“Thanks,” Rylan and Greer both said at the same time, then let out startled chuckles. Greer looked different when he smiled, it was a startling contrast to the man we’d gotten to know.
Kota was just as stunned as I was. I’d never seen Greer be anything but stoic and grumpy.
Greer took Chorizo’s leash back and kissed me lightly on the cheek. “Thank you for being so understanding.”
“Come on. Let’s leave them to it,” Kota finally said.
He pulled me back inside with him.
“Well, my darling omega, what can I do to keep you company tonight?”
I raised my eyebrows and he winced.
“I did not mean like that,” he said quickly to reassure me.
“Pity,” I teased, giving him a smirk before turning and walking away. He hurried to catch back up to me.
“Now wait a second. If you want to, you know I’m game.”
“Oh really?” I teased. He nodded enthusiastically until I laughed.
Honestly, it was kind of nice to be taking a break from the intensity of today.
“I’m actually starving, and I could use a drink. How about we go check out the lounge?”
“Perfect,” he said, offering his arm again.
Kota’s sweet and zesty scent wrapped around me. The pecan, maple, and buttery pastries had my mouth watering. The jolt of electric lemon coated in that sweet warmth was exactly the kind of thing I needed to ground me.
When we made it to the lounge it was already full of people. I guess the fire outside was over.
They weren’t loud or crazy, just each enjoying the night and a drink. It was nice to see them have a chance to relax, too.
Kota led me to a table in the corner so we could have some privacy. The lights were low, and the music was soft enough to be considered background noise.
As soon as we were in our chairs, a hostess came up, her smile bright like everyone else here. The staff was honestly incredible.
“Do you want something more substantial or just appetizers? It looks like they’ve got pretty much a full menu down here.”
“I only picked at my dinner, and after that charcuterie at lunch, I’m starving.”
I quickly decided on a burger and fries, and Kota did the same. When she was gone the conversation flowed. We’d only known each other a short time, but here, surrounded by his scent, watching him smile easily and give me reassuring looks, was enough to melt any barriers I had.
I’d already decided last night that I was going to give this pack a shot.
We didn’t need any more hurdles. The odds were already stacked against us.
I also realized that I couldn’t hold everyone accountable for what my dad did. It wasn’t reasonable to hate all hockey players because he was awful.
Kota, Greer, and Hayes weren’t my dad.
Looking at Kota’s eager face, chatting with him about anything and everything, only reassured me that he would never walk away from me like that.
Or our future kids if we decided to have them.
“What’s your family like?” I asked, eager to learn more about him.
He shifted uncomfortably. The change was instantaneous.
“That bad?” I winced.. “I shouldn’t have brought it up. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for asking to know more about me, little bat.”
“Little bat?” I questioned with a grin. It was an adorable nickname and just as unique as he was.
“With all this black and your pale skin? You’re the quintessential goth baddie, and I’m just a humble delta ready to worship at your feet.” He flashed me a grin.
I’d always been a bit squeamish around some terms of endearment, but this was one I could definitely get behind.
“But to answer your question, no, my family isn’t exactly the best. I come from—God, there’s no humble way to say this—my family is rich as fuck.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. It was something he clearly was uncomfortable about.
“It’s always been something people have held against me or tried to use me for. I don’t think you’re the same, and so I’m telling you because you deserve to know what you’re up against.”
“Damn,” I breathed out. “That was not what I expected you to say.”
He let out a soft chuckle.
“I’ve always been a ‘blurt it out and get it out of the way’ kind of guy.”
“I see that,” I laughed before pushing further. “I take it your parents aren’t exactly the loving sort?”
He snorted. “No. Absolutely not. It was like being raised by your principal. They push you to do good and do your best, but they have really high standards that you can’t meet and when you don't you’re punished.”
“How do they feel about hockey?” I asked.
His eyes seemed to drain of the vibrancy they usually held until only something dull and hollow remained.
“They hate it. I was supposed to take over the family business and become a lawyer. I’m not the type to help rich men get away with things they shouldn’t. Money shouldn’t put you above the law.”
He shook his head. There was genuine disgust on his face. Kota had always seemed so humble and this conversation only proved he was a good man.
“Mom was the same. She expected so much of me and took it as a personal insult when I didn’t follow the path she chose for me. My heritage very much demands that we take care of family as they get older, but I haven’t talked to them in a long time. I don’t plan to, either.”
“Sounds like they’re at fault for that. When you treat the world like crap, you end up alone,” I said, thinking of my own father.
“The only family I was close to were my grandparents on my mom’s side. That’s where the money came from, too. Ironic, right? They were fantastic and so loving and caring. The opposite of my parents in every way possible.”
His voice caught and I scooted closer, squeezing his hand.
“And when they died...” He let out a breath before regaining his composure.
“It tore me apart. But Grandpa left me my own trust, my own legacy, so I don’t have to rely on them.
I think he knew what they were like and didn’t want me to have to endure that.
So, I cut them off before they could cut me off. ”
“Wow,” I breathed out, wishing I could take away the pain in his voice. “Are they still around North Crossing?”
“Not anymore. My parents moved out to Chicago. My grandparents had an estate here that I inherited when they both passed. This is where my roots are. Where I belong.”
“You live in an estate all alone?”
“No,” he admitted. “I didn’t want to be seen as some bratty rich guy. I just want to be known for my skills, so I have an apartment near the arena and keep my background to myself.”
“So, let me get this straight. You have an entire estate somewhere here in North Crossing, but you also have an apartment?”
“That I share with Lachlan,” he admitted, looking a bit sheepish.
“Does Lach know about it?”
He shook his head.
“I’ve tried to tell him a few times. He knows what my family is like, and he knows they cut me off, but he doesn’t know about what I have.”
“Thank you for sharing it with me. I would never hold it against you.”
He smiled softly as if he already knew that. This delta trusted me and I couldn’t help but feel the same.
“I come from a very different background. I was raised by a single mom. We had a lot of struggles growing up but things have changed lately. Once The Gathering Place took off, I tried to take care of her. Although, now that I’ve got this job, she’s living her best life, furthering her schooling and making something of herself. Is it weird to be proud of a parent?”
“No, I think it’s sweet,” he reassured me, his fingers trailing up and down my arm.
“I did my research on you. The Gathering Place is huge now. I love that you have something for everyone. It’s not just a gossip magazine like some people here have made it out to be, but a genuine place to share inspiration and advice.”
My chest warmed. I loved that he saw the reason why I created the magazine.