Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Spencer
My body is buzzing from the win and from knowing what's coming next. I bounce on my toes as I wait for Coach to give the okay for Zak and me to go after our omega.
Our omega.
I like the way that sounds.
Freddie made way more of a scene than I expected, so anyone who hadn't left the stadium the second the game ended probably saw him being chased by the reporters. Luckily, Freddie's identity as Simon the Sloth is a well-kept team secret.
I don't want the whole world to know our pack has found our omega until we've had a chance to actually meet her.
Coach sees Zak and me waiting impatiently on the outskirts of the rest of the team, who keep eyeing us curiously.
He heaves a sigh and waves us away. "Good game, fellas.
Just go before Deacon Kane finds out our mascot took two reporters on an unapproved behind-the-scenes tour.
" He shakes his head. This isn't the first time he's been exasperated by Freddie's antics, but he knows the three of us are a package deal.
He doesn't have to tell us twice.
Zak and I jog in unison toward the team's tunnel. Moving any faster would draw too much attention from the few lingering fans leaning over the wall to get some of our teammates' signatures.
Officer Jennings puts a hand up to get my attention outside the tunnel. He's a portly man who's semi-retired from the local police department, and he's always first in line to volunteer to work our games. I suspect he's the anonymous user in charge of our team's fan club on a popular sports forum.
"Great game, Mills!" His eyes dart around in a way that puts me instantly on guard. "Uh... Might be good for the team captain to check on the mascot. He seemed a little too excited about that win..."
I'm glad Zak and I have years left on our contracts because once Deacon inevitably finds out about all of this, he's going to wish he could trade us to the first team willing to make even the most lowball offer. Our team owner really doesn't share Freddie's flair for the dramatics.
"We'll get things handled, sir." Zak nods to the officer and nudges me to get moving again. There's an omega somewhere past this tunnel waiting for us.
"Thanks. And congrats on that last touchdown." Officer Jennings’ posture relaxes. We rarely have issues on the field, so he's not used to this much excitement on a normal game day. That makes two of us.
We pass the officers and hurry down the tunnel, stopping again where the building forks into two hallways. One hallway leads to our locker room and the hall to Freddie's dressing room, the other leads to the coaching staff's offices and a bunch of storage closets.
Why do I have a feeling that Freddie chose the latter?
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Zak asks, frowning in dread as he stares down the hall to the right.
I nod gravely. "Unfortunately, yes. Let's go."
We make it halfway down the first hall before we hear shouting coming from a side hallway.
I'm only partially relieved to hear the sound coming from the direction of storage as opposed to a coach's office.
I'm too distracted to fully appreciate Freddie's choice because there's a lingering hint of my omega's distress in the air.
My nose wrinkles unhappily. Zak makes a bothered grumble from the back of his throat.
All of the exhaustion I usually feel after a game dissipates, bringing a fresh wave of adrenaline in its place. I sprint toward the unfamiliar male shouts and my omega's distressed scent. Zak isn't quite as fast as I am, but he's not far behind.
The shouting stops abruptly, but we still have the scent of our omega to follow. Strangely, the distressed tinge to her scent seems to fade the further we go.
We navigate down several hallways until we reach the dead-end hall where Simon stands awkwardly pressed against a closet door, desperately trying to juggle a camera between his mascot claws as he points it at the red-faced reporter standing a few feet in front of him.
"For those of you just joining us, my camera has been hijacked by the team's beloved mascot, Simon the Sloth.
So, this post-game update is coming to you live from inside the Kane he lacks the natural dominance, but he also doesn’t smell like another omega.
Does our omega already belong to this beta? Do they have a pack waiting for them at home?
She didn’t smell bonded, but maybe they haven’t gotten around to making things official.
My thoughts continue to spiral as I realize he’s still touching me.
Milo squeezes my hand a little tighter, and I force myself to return my gaze to him just as he says, "Can you please ask your mascot to stop holding my sister hostage now?"