Page 31 of Take All of Me

My breathing is a bit shallow as I try to stuff that memory down, glad that Nox hasn’t tried to contact me since then. I’m not sure how I would handle it. Neither of them say anything, the dean shooting Holly a glance as she leans forward, placing a soft hand on the desk beside me but not touching me.

“Ethan brought his concerns to Mason and Mason brought the tapes from the ice rink from that incident.” My eyes widen, panic spiking, because what tapes? My mind races to that night, my bare feet slapping the floor, my body exposed, terror in my expression. To know that it had been recorded both pisses me off and makes me want to curl into myself.

“What was the story?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper, dread curling tight in my chest.

“They were saying you were waltzing through the halls naked, feeding into Ethan’s comments about you…” She hesitates and even though I know what’s coming, but it still hurts. “I’m sorry, there’s no easier way to say this—about you being passed around on the team.”

A sob breaks free as I clamp a hand over my mouth, tears stinging my eyes. It’s not just the lie—it’s the betrayal, Ethan twisting my terror into something vile, Mason buying it, spreading it.

Holly softly taps the table, bringing me out of my head. “Well, the dean here called me in because of the sensitivity of the video.I watched the clip and whoever was chasing you is out of frame. I’m not sure if it was strategic or a stroke of luck on his part. I did get access to the entire tape for that day, though because the campus police got involved. Maya, he didn’t just slip into the rink.”

“What are you saying?”

Holly glances at the dean, then back to me. “Ethan and Mason had been discussing something at the front and Ethan walked that man all the way to the office before heading to the locker room.”

“Ethan brought him to me?” I whisper, disbelief choking me, because—no, that can’t be right. There’s no reason why Ethan would lead a stranger to the office while he knew I was taking a shower.

The dean nods, affirming Holly’s statement. “There are several consequences lined up for this incident, one of which means Ethan will sit out for the upcoming game. It also means Mason is being forced to step down as coach.”

“But…” I start, realizing that without a head coach, the Hawks can’t play.

“We spoke to Holt just before you and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him that livid, but he’s agreed to step into the head coach position for the time being, until we find someone permanent.”

This is a lot of information to handle on top of that whole, awkward pack meeting we just had. And it’s on the edge oftoomuch, the pause in the conversation telling me that the dean is giving me the opportunity to pull back, to step away but hockey has been the one constant in my life that has never failed me. “I’m not going anywhere”

The dean gestures to the door, nodding slowly. “That makes this a lot easier then.” The door opens and Holt steps inside, sitting beside me. “There’s going to be a lot of changes in a very short amount of time and I apologize for that. Holt camein earlier, as I mentioned, and he also informed me of the changes within his pack, as well as filing that you’re now in a relationship?”

My eyes widen, heat flooding my face as I stammer, “He said it was okay!” The words tumble out, panicked, because—fuck, did I screw this up? Was I not supposed to tell anyone?

The dean laughs, a warm sound that cuts through my spiral. “You’re not in trouble, Maya. But, we do require these things to be recorded, just in case of any issues. I wanted to confer with you before I did that.”

“Yeah, um, yes, this is a thing.”

“I think that’s all I have, then. Ethan has been informed he’s not sitting on the bench for tomorrow night’s game. He’ll be at the next practice, on academic probation, and Mason will be cleaning out his office tonight. Security is really important on this campus, and they both disregarded it. We’re still getting to the bottom of why, but you don’t have to worry about that.”

He stands as do I and Holt, the dean extending his hand to shake mine. I’m still a little worried about everything that’s now up in the air as he clasps his other hand over mine as well. “Despite the situation, I’m very excited to see the Hawks play and maybe bring home a win. We could use one of those right about now.”

I manage a nod, a tight smile on my lips as Holt shakes the dean’s hand as well, both of us saying goodbye to Holly before I make a beeline toward my dorm. I’m not even sure why I need the comfort of my own space at this moment or why I keep checking to see if Holt is behind me. When I finally reach my door, I whirl around to confront him. “Why would you do that? Why would you take the coaching position when you didn’t even want it?”

Holt

Standing outside of Maya’s dorm feels so much more daunting than it did the night Dakota had a heat spike. The way she’s looking at me, like I can hold the world for her, tears glazing those fierce eyes makes my heart beat just a little faster. It takes me a moment to realize I didn’t answer her question—why I would take the head coach position when I didn’t want it.

“Maya, you told me you weren’t ready, that being pack, leading with us, was a step you’d want eventually but not yet. And I wasn’t gonna force you to lead a team that makes me ashamed.”

Her brow furrows, confusion flickering across her face. “What are you talking about?”

I exhale, rubbing a hand over my jaw, regret consuming my scent—not that she can catch it. “Ethan wasn’t the only one spouting bullshit, but he was the loudest. Had to correct a few ofthem early on, thinking this was a pity hire. They were fine after your first practice—hell, you showed ‘em up—but Mason caught a few stragglers after that, fed into it. Only Ethan really latched on and I’m so fucking sorry.”

I should have seen it, should have stopped it before it got this far. It didn’t matter that I had no idea it was still going on because itfeelslike my fault.

“It’s not your fault. We’re all grown adults here and they’re responsible for what comes out of their mouths. And to be honest, I did get this opportunity because of my father. I have to prove I belong here and I get that. A few bad words won’t hurt me. Ethan took it too damn far and I resent that. I don’t hate him, but it makes me wary, because he seems to hate more than just me—he’s got it out for Brogan too. But that’s not your fault either, Holt.”

Her words ease the guilt but doesn’t erase it. “Will you be okay here tonight? Dakota will probably end up over here at some point once I tell him you’re not coming.”

She chuckles, a soft sound that lights up her face, chasing away the tears. “Yeah, I’m fine,” The last word lingers, her bottom lip between her teeth as she chews on it, her gaze falling to the lower half of my face. I swallow nervously, wondering where her thoughts have drifted off to, something made much clearer by the sweet edge to her scent. “Holt, can I kiss you?”

Those are the last words I expected to hear from her, desire flaring up in my chest as she steps back into her room. I follow her, wrapping an arm around her back and pull her close to me into a kiss that starts out soft but soon deepens, heat building as I bend her back, one hand sliding into her curls, the other wrapping tight around her waist.

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