Page 41 of Knot Your Rebel

“Um, no. I don’t think so.” It’s clear as day now. This is Nova trying to protect me. Unless I willingly admit that Tate Geekies is my mate, then he’ll need to stay away from me. The situation is priceless, and I couldn’t have come up with a better strategy myself. Let’s see how Tate acts when he doesn’t have access to his toy. The sick part of me cheers at the idea.

My masterful brain loves the idea of him being jealous over me or him having threatening thoughts about others over me. Jealousy and possessiveness never seemed to fit what I was looking for in an alpha, but with him, it’s just so very right. He’s so sexy when he brings out that disapproving scowl, and can you even imagine what would happen if I decided to wear someone else's jersey and he couldn’t do shit about it?

The smile on my face just keeps getting wider with each thought that passes through my mind. “Rebel, honey? You okay?” Oh, dear lord, they probably think I’m psychotic sitting here thinking about Tate. What can I say, he brings out the psycho in me…

“Yep, I’m perfect, and I do think this will be a great opportunity for me. Plus, I get to hang out with my bestie. Can’t really complain.”

“Now, you won’t be getting paid a ton of money. You’ll probably still want another job on the side, but it pays something, and I’d like to think our crew enjoys what they do at home games just as much as everyone else here does.”

The desire to ask what the going salary for an ice crew member is burns in my gut, but I don’t want to bother her with that useless question when I can just demand answers from Nova later.

“All right then, shall we start the audition?”

“Sure…” I bite my lip. “I don’t have my skates on me, though. Didn’t exactly plan on getting a job while I was here.”

Ms. Peppertree casually laughs as she gets up from her chair, pulls a file folder from her desk, and then guides us back to the hallway.

When we get down to rink level, Ms. Peppertree manages to get me hooked up with a pair of hockey skates to use for the audition. She turns to me as we’re walking out to the ice. “I just realized I never really answered your question as to why I’m looking for someone now instead of waiting until next season.”

I keep one eye on the path before me as I nod my head in agreement. “Yeah.”

“Well, one of our girls, Tracy, bless her sweet soul, is out for maternity leave and given the papa bear antics of her hubby on the team, they decided that this year maybe wasn’t the best idea. It’s a liability if she slips and falls on the ice and something happens to her or that sweet little baby.”

“Does it matter that I’m an omega? I’m sure Nova told you already.”

“No, we don’t discriminate here like some places. We strongly believe in the ‘hockey is for everyone’ vibe. We accept anyone who wants to join; alphas, betas, deltas, gammas, omegas.”

She pauses. “Now, obviously, there are certain stipulations; like we prefer you be on suppressants during the season. We don’t need an omega heat causing a rut in all of our alphas. We know heats can’t really be helped. Sometimes, they happen at the most inconvenient times during the season. The coaches do tend to work around that stuff. Most of them have family, too, and understand the anger issues and animalistic drive behind an alpha who has an omega in heat at home.”

I nod along. All too well, unfortunately. I can’t tell you how many times I almost lost a door during a heat when an alpha was in the same house. It’s why I started going to the heat club for help with my heats once I was of age to go by myself. Luckily, it was only a couple of times before I met Derrick, Brad’s alpha friend.

I wouldn’t say we were ever into each other in that way, but he had the parts to satisfy the wanton omega inside of me and make the pain go away.

She clears her throat, shifting on her feet as she grabs for my attention once more. “I’m not sure if you know this or not, but last year was the first time the team even allowed a beta to join. Leon’s good. He picks up things quickly, knows how to move his feet, is good with stick handling… And now I sound like a coach.” She huffs and we both laugh.

“All right. I’ll give you some time to practice and get comfortable, and then we’ll begin. I’m thinking about the basics - power skating, backward skating, flags, and ice scraping - because if you can’t do those, then we should stop right now.”

“Understandable.” As offered, she gives me time to collect my thoughts and get warmed up. I feel eyes upon me, but when I look around, I don’t see anyone other than Nova and Ms. Peppertree.

“Okay, Ms. Peppertree, I think I’m ready now.”

“Ohh, pshhhh… please, call me Penelope. That miss stuff is entirely too formal for my taste.” Thank God.

We take the next hour and a half going over everything she’s asked of me. Halfway through, I noticed a figure in my peripheral vision, watching. I can’t look over directly, but the hair standing on the back of my neck and the tingle of my mate marking tells me it may be Tate. It wouldn’t be anyone else, right? No, he wouldn’t be able to get in here. My heart speeds up with the threat of a new confrontation.

Why is he still here? Practice finished a while ago.

When we reach a stopping point, I turn to find the spot empty. Was it just my imagination? My subconscious just reminding me that I’m forever linked to him now?

I shake it off. I’m so fucked. He's already pulling me under the riptide with no regrets, and I may be the happiest drowner ever.

sixteen - tate

. . .

“Good luck, man,” Ellers tells me with a pat on the shoulder as he strolls past me on the way into the locker room. My brows lace together, confused by his comment, I shake it off and keep walking. Another few guys razz me as I make my way through to my locker cubby, and it has me on guard. What the fuck are they talking about? Drake is barely able to conceal his amusement as he sits next to my cubby like the cat who ate the fucking canary. My eyes trail down, and I find the source for the comments

A bright pink, glittery box pristinely sits upon my bench. I make my way towards it and chuckle when I see the tiny camera’s lining the box. “Mystery girl found out your secret, huh?” He gives me a cheeky grin as he nods to the top of the box. Indeed. “She left a note, too.”

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