Chapter 17
Damien
I can hear the fans all the way in the locker room.
“We’re going to crush the Scorpions tonight.” Grinning, I chuckle as Dean grabs my shoulder, giving me a shake. “God, I can just smell the win already.”
“Hey now, don’t get ahead of yourself,” I warn him.
“Okay, okay." He holds his hands up. “But come on, don’t you feel it in your bones?”
“Of course, we’re going to kick their asses. We always do.” I give him a sly grin.
It’s been nearly two weeks since I followed Addie to Vegas and found out who her Alphas really are.
It’s still crazy to think that the two guys I can’t stand the most in real life are actually the two guys I’ve been closest with for years online.
It really showed me just how much you can hide behind a computer, creating a sort of alternate reality.
But I’m choosing to live in the real world, and that means Addie is scent-matched to my two biggest rivals.
They’re freaking out because I know their dirty little secret and are worried I’m going to expose them. Well, they think Death is. They’re probably shitting themselves, wondering when I’m going to drop the bomb.
What they would never have guessed is that it’s not Death who’s about to drop the bomb, it’s me.
God, I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they find out that I’m Death.
To know I’m sleeping under the same roof as their Omega? The same Omega who wants me just as much as she wants them.
I know she does. I see it in the way she looks at me. The way her cheeks turn an adorable shade of pink when she’s embarrassed or flustered.
I can smell how much she wants me, and I deserve a fucking medal for the self-restraint I’ve had. Do you know how fucking hard it is to be around your scent match, your Omega, the person you’re obsessed with, head over fucking heels for, and not be able to touch them, to taste them?
My poor dick has been getting worked overtime. If I don’t slow down, the damn thing is going to fall off.
Tonight, everything will come to light. Addie will know all our secrets, and then she can decide what she wants to do.
Is this the best way to go about it? Probably not, but I’m not going to be cruel about it. I plan to do it in private, first telling her everything about me and my connections with her. The guys had enough time to come clean. They don’t have a good enough reason to keep this from her.
Maybe I don’t either, but at the time, I was convinced it was what needed to be done.
I’m older now, wiser. Well, maybe that's debatable. But I know I can’t keep going on like this. I need her more than I need air to breathe.
If it came down to being with Addie or hockey, I’d choose her. No hesitation. That's how I know this needs to be done now. Today.
Dad comes in and gives the team his pep talk, getting us all pumped up. Once he’s done, we make our way to the rink.
The crowd gets louder, and some hardcore fans get excited at the first sight of us.
Ignoring them, I search the crowd for my girl, a smile on my face. That need inside me yearns to see her, to know she’s here, and she’s safe.
When I find her, my smile drops, and rage fills me. She’s sitting in the stands with Nina. Nina is wearing a pink and teal jersey, supporting our team. Addie, however, isn’t. Not even the one I got her, nor the one she bought. No. She’s wearing their fucking jersey.
How could she sit in our home stands wearing the enemy’s fucking jersey?
Instead of skating over to the net for warm-ups, I head right over to where she’s sitting.
She’s smiling and laughing, chatting with Nina. When I bang my fist on the glass, her head snaps my way.
Her smile drops, a guilty expression taking over her pretty face. Yeah, she knows she messed up.
Eyes narrowed, I mouth. “Come. Here.”
She licks her lips, looking nervous. She tells Nina something that makes her look over and then frown, before nodding.
Addie gets up and makes her way to the stairs. I skate back to the tunnel exit we just came out of.
“Damien,” Dad says. “What are you doing? Get out there.”
“Just a second,” I mutter, pushing past him and over to Addie. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I growl.
“I know this might look bad...” she starts.
“Bad? You’re sitting on our side in the enemy's jersey. Yeah, I’d say it looks bad. What the hell, Addie?”
“It’s not that big of a deal. I like both teams, okay?” she rushes out.
“You can’t,” I grunt. “You can only pick one.”
“Damien.” She sighs. “You’re being silly. It’s just hockey.”
I gape at her. “Just hockey? It’s not just hockey, Addie. You’re showing the world whose side you’re on. Your stepbrother and stepdad play for the Royal Alphas.”
“I know. And I was going to wear my jersey, but...”
“But what?” I growl. “But your Alphas wanted you to wear theirs?”
Her eyes widen, lips parting in surprise. “How do you know?”
“I know a lot, Addie. A lot more than you think.” I’m fuming, a little worked up. And I might be about to do and say something stupid. The jealous possessive Alpha in me doesn’t seem to care about the ramifications of my actions. “I followed you to Vegas.”
“You what?!” she gasps. “What the hell, Damien? Why would you do that?”
“Because,” I snarl. “I wanted to know who your Alphas were. I knew you were lying to me, Addie. I knew you weren’t going there to see Cae. I wanted to know why you wouldn’t tell me who bit you. Who decided to take you away from me?”
Okay, so we’re doing this now? Not sure if that's a good idea. Abort now. Bite your tongue. Shut the fuck up!
“Away from you?” Her brows pull together. “What does that even mean?”
I step closer to the stairs, closer to her.
“It means, I’m in love with you, Addie,” I hiss, grateful the sounds around us drown me out.
Yeah, fuck it. We’re doing this now. “I’ve been in love with you for years.
The only reason I didn’t say anything was because of our parents, because I’m your stepbrother.
Well, I’m fucking done. I know what I want, and I’m not going to stop until I get it.
You’re my Omega, Addie. And I’ll be fucking damned if I sit back and watch two of my biggest rivals steal you out from under me. ”
“Damien!” Dad barks. “Get your ass out on the ice, right now!”
I’m vibrating, blood pumping, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I feel fucking amazing getting that off my chest.
“Damien,” Addie whispers my name, tears welling in her eyes. “I–What?”
“We’ll talk after the game, okay? Don’t cry.
This is a good thing, isn’t it?” I grin.
“I know you want me too.” I chuckle, and fuck me, I love that her cheeks turn pink.
“Everything will be okay. I’m gonna win this one for you.
Make you regret wearing the wrong jersey.
” I wink before heading back out to the ice.
“What the fuck was that about?” Carson comes to a stop next to me.
Turning around, I grin. “What do you mean?”
Reid skates up next to his buddy. “What were you talking to Addie about?”
“None of your business. I can talk to my stepsister about whatever I want.” I chuckle, liking the way it pisses them off.
“Not when it comes to our Omega,” Carson growls.
“Your Omega, huh?” I grin wider. “Not sure if you got the memo, dude, but she’s not just your Omega.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Reid snarls.
“Don’t you worry, Mr. Grim, Mr. Waffle,” I emphasize both of their gamer nicknames. “If you’re nice enough, maybe I’ll share.”
Fuck me, the deer in the headlights looks on their faces has pure joy flowing through my veins.
“I meant what I said, boys. May the best Alpha win.” I wink. “Go on now, go warm up. Get ready for your dear old friend, Death, to kick your Scorpion asses.”
Turning around, I skate away, chuckling as the two of them start to shout at each other.
Getting to my net, I set my stick and helmet on top of it.
“What did you say that has their panties in a twist?" Dean chuckles, sliding up to me. “They look ready to kill you.”
“They might.” I grin, looking their way. “But not before we demolish them first.”
“Seriously, what did you do?” Dean’s eyes widen as the Scorpion’s coach shouts at Carson and Reid.
“Might have told them I was going to steal their Omega.” I grin like an idiot.
“No fucking way.” Dean cackles. “You’re savage.”
“Nah. What's savage is that I plan to do exactly that.”
“Damien Clark, my man, you really are full of surprises, aren't you?”
My eyes flick over to where Addie is sitting. She’s watching me, her brow furrowed together, chewing on her lower lip.
I grin, blowing her a kiss before turning to Dean. “You have no idea.”