Chapter 4
Damien
I try to tune them out, but the cheer of the crowd is deafening. Any other day, the sound would fuel me, have my blood pumping with adrenaline, determination, and the will to please every Royal Alpha fan in the crowd.
Not today. I’m too fucking distracted. And that's the last thing I need when my whole job is to keep my eye on my players and the damn puck. It’s not letting my mind drift off somewhere else so the other team can shoot a shot in the net.
I’ve already fucked up and let two in, I can’t afford to let anymore get past. We’re tied two to two with only three minutes left. I can do this, I can stop thinking about the short, bubblegum pink haired Omega who smells like sugary sweet cupcakes long enough to finish this game.
If only it were that easy.
I’ve been a mess since she came back, unable to focus or think straight. It’s been affecting my game. She’s all I’ve been able to think about, and no matter what I do, I can’t get her off my mind.
I’m both enraged and thrilled she’s back. Six years. Six fucking years she’s been gone. Six years I’ve had to force myself to move forward, to forget the life changing facts.
I thought letting her go was the hardest thing I’d ever done, but I was wrong. It’s having her back that’s the real fucking test.
A test of my will power, and resistance. I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to hold back.
Shaking my head, I narrow my eyes, following the puck. The other team snatches it from our forward. The puck gets passed around, closer and closer to me.
Fuck. Come on, guys!
I’m alert, ready to block. Thankfully, the puck doesn’t get too close. Our team snatches it back, and my blood pumps as they make their way back over to the other team’s net.
There’s a bit of a struggle when the other team tries to get it back, but they have no luck.
Tyson, our forward, has the puck, and takes the shot.
The buzzer goes off for the score, and my face splits into a grin. “Fuck yeah!”
My eyes flick up to the timer, the seconds tick down and the game is over. We fucking won!
The crowd goes wild.
A shit eating grin takes over my face as I pull off my mask and gloves. Skating over to my team, we huddle together, celebrating our win.
When we’re done, we make our way off the ice.
“Way to go, team.” My dad is beaming from ear to ear. The way he looks at me with pure pride in his eyes, has my chest puffing out. I know he can tell that I’ve been distracted lately because he’s asked me about it. I’ve brushed it off, told him I’ve been going too hard at the gym.
Not like I’d tell him the truth. “What’s wrong? Well, dad, I’ve been jacking off to the thought of my stepsister every night for the last eight years. And now that she’s back, I feel like I’m slowly losing my mind.”
Yeah, not happening.
“Alright, guys, let’s hit the locker room. Rest up, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow!”
I stay behind as the rest of the team heads off. “You okay?” Dad asks, raising a brow. He turns around and I follow him.
Am I okay? No, I'm not okay. He has no idea how hard it’s been to bite my tongue while Eloise has been trying to pimp her daughter out to the highest bidder like some prized pony.
I’ve never liked the woman, but I tolerated her because she stayed out of my business. But the way she treats Addie has always pissed me off.
Eloise looks down on her because she’s not the daughter Eloise wants her to be. God forbid someone be their own person.
That's one thing I love about my dad. He’s never forced me to do anything I didn’t want to do. I’m not playing hockey because it’s his dream, I do it because it’s mine.
Luckily we have the same passion. He played in the Knotty Puckers league for years before taking on a professional coaching job in the league. I just so happen to be the offspring of one of the greats.
It doesn’t mean I used nepotism to get me where I am. I worked just as hard as everyone else in this league. I earned my place. Maybe I did have a bit of an advantage when it came to training because my father would work with me whenever he was home. But that just helped me improve as a player.
“I’m fine,” I lie, keeping my eyes forward. “Just tired.”
He nods. “Make sure you get a good night's rest then.”
“I’ll try.”
We get to the locker room, and I’m about to head in when I pause. “Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Why do you put up with her shit?”
He doesn’t have to ask who I’m talking about. He knows.
I’ve been trying to spend as little time at home as I can, staying away from temptation and all that bullshit. But today I forgot my good luck charm at home and knew I couldn’t play without it.
I caught the tail end of Eloise’s fucked up words to her daughter as I was walking in the door.
Addie didn’t see me as she ran past, tears in her eyes. It took everything in me not to burst into that kitchen and go off on her. How fucking dare she call Addie a whore!?
My dad didn’t agree with it either. In the twelve years they’ve been together, I can only name a handful of times that I've heard them fighting, but my dad wasn’t going to let it go.
He likes Addie, respects her. They have always had a cute relationship, and I didn’t mind sharing my dad with her when the only parent she had was a raging cunt.
Still, he doesn’t leave her, and I don’t know why.
“It’s not that easy, Damien. You know that.”
“Actually, I don’t. Addie is her kid. She should be there for her, not putting her down.
She’s only twenty-five. Not everyone knows how their life is going to turn out at that age.
She deserves the chance to find herself, not have packs shoved down her throat.
She should be allowed to choose Alphas who respect her, and love her for who she is.
Addie isn’t like her mother; she’s different, in a good way.
She shouldn’t have to change for that witch,” I hiss, “And she sure as hell shouldn’t have to be forced into a pack with whatever yahoos Eloise has been setting her up with.
Addie made mistakes, but we all do, so why does she have to be punished for it? Can’t you help her out?”
“It’s not my place,” Dad sighs. “I’m doing the best I can, but Addie is Eloise’s daughter, not mine.”
“Bullshit. We both know damn well that you see her as your own.” It’s the number one reason I’ve kept away from Addie all these years. Among other things.
“Addie is welcome to stay with us as long as she likes. I plan on giving her a credit card for my account. Addie is a smart girl. She’s doing this to please her mother, but we both know she’s not going to pick any of these packs.
Eloise leaves for Italy next week for a month. Addie just has to hold out until then.”
She shouldn’t have to fucking hold out. Part of me thinks he’s a coward for letting his wife act like this.
I have no idea if he loves her, or if he ever has. I know I wouldn’t. I’d never be able to love a woman like that. She thinks the world revolves around her with no consideration for anyone else's feelings.
Eloise looks at me like I’m some golden child, like a proud mom.
She’s not my mom. My real mom passed away when I was five.
I might not remember much of her, but I sure as fuck know she was a way better woman than Eloise.
If she knew what I really thought about her, she wouldn’t think the same of me. Maybe I should let her know.
I won’t, though. I don’t want to cause issues between my dad and her, and I don’t want my dad to be pissed off at me.
I’m quick to shower and change. The guys ask if I want to go out and celebrate. I decline, not feeling up for it.
I have other plans tonight.
Once I’m home, I head straight to my room, pushing down the temptation to go to Addie’s room instead.
With the door closed, I lock it and let my bag drop to the ground. I pad over to my desk, grab my laptop, and get comfortable on my bed.
The website I want is right there when I open my laptop. Streampunk.
Disappointment floods me when I see she’s not streaming.
I click on the Twisted Valley icon and the game loads. Just like always, my heart skips a beat when I see her gamer tag, bringing forth the memory of the first time I saw it.
How many times do I have to tell her to stop using my damn coffee cup? It’s my favorite, the only one I like to use.
With annoyance in my veins, I make my way up to her room. Addie is a nice girl, we’ve always gotten along. For the most part, I like hanging out with her.
But then she does things like this that reminds me of an annoying little sister. Don’t get me started with her always eating the last of the strawberries even though she knows I need them for my protein smoothies.
“Addie!” I bang on her door. “I know you have my coffee cup!”
I wait and listen, but no sound comes from the other side.
“Addie, open up!”
“She’s not in,” Alfred, our butler says, getting my attention. He stands at the end of the hall. “She ran out for a bit. Something about needing more strawberries?”
Of course.
I roll my eyes. “Thanks.”
He nods his head and leaves.
I want my coffee now. I’m not waiting until she gets back.
“Fuck it.” I open her door, not giving a shit that we have a rule that we don’t enter one another's private spaces without the other's permission. That rule was quickly put into place when she walked in on me jerking off to the thought of my best friend.
The look of pure horror in her eyes was both amusing and embarrassing. Fucked up part was, I finished while my eyes were locked on her wide blue ones.
As soon as I step in, I’m assaulted with a fuck-ton of pink. “God.” I wrinkle my nose. “So damn girlie in here.”
I look around for my cup, not finding it on her desk or bedside table.
My eyes flick over to her computer, brows furrowing. When the hell did she get a setup this good? I heard her mention she likes to game, but this is one serious system. Almost as good as mine.