Page 42 of Knot Your Pucking Mate
“Wait here,” she says, jumping off the stool and heading back down the hall. A minute later she appears with an old journal, flipping through the pages.
“Aha, here it is. Read this.”
She hands me the journal, and I take it from her, my eyes landing first on the date scribbled in the top right corner. It’s dated the day before our high school prom.
“Go on,” she says when I glance up at her questioningly. “I can feel your guilt, and I don’t want your apologies. I want you to understand this was always where I wanted to be.”
Swallowing against the lump in my throat, I nod and read the diary entry. She starts the entry by expressing how excited she is for prom, then moves into some ruminations about our designations. One line at the very end catches my eye, and the moment I read it, all the uneasiness inside me settles, and an overwhelming feeling of relief and unrestrained happiness washes over me.
It doesn’t matter whether I’m an omega, alpha, or beta. I know it won’t matter to him. One day I’ll wear Austin’s bite on my neck, I have no doubt about that. And that day will be one of the happiest of my life.
“The road we took wasn’t as direct as I thought it would be back then, but this is always where we were going. I wanted you to mark me. I begged you to. And I’m beyond happy that you did. I love you, Chase. Always have, always will. There’s only one thing that could make me feel happier and more complete than I do right now.”
She turns to face Axel and moves toward him, stopping only when she’s standing between his thighs, face to face with him.
“I’ve fallen in love with you too, Axel. Faster and stronger than I thought I could ever possibly fall for someone. We’re scent-matched, fated, but you’re so much more than that to me, and I want to be with the both of you. Will you give me your mark, Axel? Make the three of us a pack and let me flaunt it to the world?”
Axel doesn’t hesitate. His hand grips the back of her neck, tilting her head to the side, exposing the side of her throat unmarked by me.
Mandy sucks in a breath, her perfume thickening the air as Axel leans in and bites down, giving her exactly what she asked for, bonding her and completing the pack bond between the three of us.
Epilogue
Mandy
“Mandy Paige. Mandy.”
“Over here, Mandy.”
“Mandy, can we have a quick word?”
“How’s the book release going?”
“How’s it feel to be bonded to two of the Scented Scorpion players?”
“Will you be writing any more sports romances?”
The press bombards me as I make my way through the stadium entry on my way inside to watch Axel and Chase play again.
It’s been a few months since my heat, and though I’ve spent time with the guys here learning the ropes and the ins and outs of their game, I haven’t publicly attended a game. I’ve been so busy writing and editing my manuscript that it’s been hard to find any spare time.
Today is release day, and after a wild morning spent at Lust & Lore signing more copies of my book than I ever thought I’d sign in one sitting, there seemed like no better place to be. Supporting the team and my mates, who helped me bring this story to life and make it such a success, feels like the right thing to do.
Pausing just before I reach the doors, I take a moment to address the press—mutual promotion was a part of my deal with Marilyn after all, though I got much more out of it than I bargained for.
A smile plays across my lips at the thought of what I’ve gained. My life has completely changed. For the better, of course.
“This has been the best release of my career. I cannot thank the Scented Scorpions enough for being so open and willing to take time out of their busy schedules to educate me on all things professional hockey. Finding my pack was a bonus I did not expect and has made me happier than I’ve ever been. I will release another hockey romance in due time. The romance world loves their hockey butts.”
I don’t wait for questions, opting instead to make my way inside and weave through the crowd until I take my seat in front of the boards, ready to see my guys doing what they love and excel at. The season started rough for the Scented Scorpions but slowly, week by week, they’ve been improving. They’re more disciplined, more controlled than they were a few months ago. The dick-measuring contests have reduced, and they’re working together more like a team should.
I think it has something to do with the omegas Marilyn has been not so subtly introducing team members to. Many of them are packing up and settling down, and it’s having a positive effect on their games.
The crowd cheers as our guys come out, and I join them, cheering for my mates and soaking up the atmosphere.
There’s nowhere I’d prefer to be than where they are.
“Axel,” I squeal as I stumble on some gravel beneath my feet as he leads me down what feels like a never-ending pathway. “I’m going to trip.”
