A Curse of Fate (Shifter City Fated Mates #1)

Chapter 40

Chapter

Forty

I f you’d told me a week ago that I’d be sitting between two of my scent-matched alphas, watching the other two destroy the Red Pandas in ice hockey, I’d have called you crazy.

It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable afternoons I’d had in years.

Maybe ever.

The food and beer didn’t hurt either, and somehow Hunter ensured there was always a fresh, cold cup in my hand—despite him and Slade never leaving their seats.

Kellan and Finley were brilliant on the ice. Kellan scored a hat trick, and Finley spent half of his time crushing the other team into the glass. He ended up in the penalty box more than once, as the crowd screamed eliminator over and over.

During the game, Hunter explained that Kellan was an offensive player, faster and more inclined to score, while Finley was a defenseman, bulkier and more inclined to crush his opponents into the side of the rink.

Both were talented and skilled, and while Kellan’s main job might have been to score, he wasn’t shy about bashing players into the glass either.

“It’s a violent sport,” I said with a laugh, wincing as a blood-spattered panda hobbled off the ice. The fight wasn’t over though. Two players continued to punch each other in the faces, until the Celtic Wolf player lost his helmet.

Slade made a disparaging rumble, as if he watched toddlers wrestle in the yard. He rarely spoke, but his presence never let me truly forget he was nearby. Being surrounded by their scents had my wolf in an absolute frenzy, and no doubt, if I checked my underwear, I’d find them embarrassingly wet.

Hunter leaned forward, more interested than Slade in the fight. “Violence is in our nature, and at least alphas have regenerative powers. Kellan and Finley would be minus a few teeth otherwise.”

I shuddered at the thought of how hard they’d have to be hit in the face to lose teeth. Ouch. “Finley looks happy out there. Hockey is good for him.”

It was a stupid observation considering I’d seen the bear no more than a few times and knew the least about him of all the alphas. I had no idea what he was like when he wasn’t scowling at me.

This time Slade’s rumble was softer and introspective. “This game saved him. He’d die without it.”

The thought of Finley dying had my wolf whimpering, and I wanted to curl in on myself and cry. Refusing to lose control here, I shoved that devastating imagery out of my head as fast as I could. “I’m—” I cleared my throat. “I’m glad he has it, then.”

When there was only five minutes left in the game, our team was ahead by four, and the crowd was a cheering, drunk mass. I found myself less invested when Kellan and Finley were off the ice, but I had immensely enjoyed the game as a whole.

The sense of pride I felt watching their skills… They were a lot, and it was no surprise that I’d been squirming in my seat as they destroyed the other team.

This scent match superseded even the strongest bonds I’d ever witnessed, and I was starting to think Mom had lied about being scent matched to her pack. It wouldn’t surprise me, since lying was pretty much par for the course with her. There was no one I could ask for the truth, except for Mom’s pack, who I assumed were still out there somewhere. Beefed up on her stolen power.

Unfortunately, they were evil assholes who should not be reminded of my existence, so contacting them was not an option.

I side-glanced at Slade, who watched the last minutes of the game, and wondered if his hacking skills could be used to answer my questions. Not that we were at the stage of me asking him for a favor, especially when I couldn’t tell him why I asked.

Cheers broke through my thoughts, and I glanced around to see that the game was finished. The Celtic Wolves crashed into each other, hugging and shouting in their exuberance. “Great win,” Hunter called, and I waited for him to remove his arm from behind me, but he appeared to be in no rush.

Don’t snuggle into him. Don’t snuggle into him.

The crowds moved around us, and I was amazed when most of them gathered up their trash and took it with them. Humans weren’t generally that respectful; I knew that for a fact as the one who was usually left behind to clean up after them.

It felt weird to be proud of being a shifter, after so many years running from my true heritage.

When half the crowds were gone, Hunter stood and held out his tattooed hand for me. I didn’t hesitate, dropping my palm against his, and when he pulled me to my feet, he laced our fingers together in a twisting motion. My insides twisted too at the sensation of our interlocked fingers, and I was breathless as he led the way along the stadium seating.

Unlike the crowd, he headed toward the ice, and we ended up on a path inside a long hallway. Slade followed at my back, leaving a few feet between us.

It only occurred to me when the two alphas ducked their heads under a doorway, that Slade had been called in as part of my security for tonight. The alphas were taking turns in keeping me from being almost kidnapped again.

“Where are we going?” I asked, noticing a few groups of shifters near a closed door.

Hunter glanced down with an unreadable expression. “Thought you might want to see their victory walk. And that you’ve got nothing to worry about with the puck shifters.”

I paid closer attention to the crowd milling around the door, noticing many of them were scantily clad woman, excitedly chatting or touching up their makeup. Two security guards stood on either side of the closed door, and I had to turn away from the sight of their navy uniforms.

For a few hours, I’d completely forgotten about the shitshow of my life.

Slade, who was perched nearby with his usual personal space in tow, met my gaze, and I found myself asking, “Did you find out anything about the attack? Clues or leads?”

He looked completely relaxed against the red brick wall, but I felt his coiled icy energy as he spoke. “We’ve got a couple of shifters in the holding cells near the squad training grounds. I’ll be heading out to question them as soon as I can hand off guard duty.”

“Can I come too?”

That got his attention, as his shrewd gaze snapped toward me. “Why? What skills in questioning or torture do you possess?”

Glossing over his casual usage of the word torture , I shrugged. “I don’t have any particular skills, but as the one who was attacked, I want to listen in.”

I’d either confused or intrigued him—his expressions were impossible to read—but he definitely felt something. “I don’t see what the use would be, but if you want to be there, I have no objections.”

Hunter’s hand tightened briefly around mine, but he didn’t voice any objections either. Silence descended between us, but for once it wasn’t uncomfortable. At least not for me. I was too busy watching the puck ladies titter around, most of them in heels so high they were in real danger of breaking their necks if they fell over.

Did they want to reach the heights of the hockey players? An impossible task, really, since they were all massive brutes. Most of the team appeared to be alphas, with just a few genetically blessed betas.

When the door opened, it was almost as loud in here as during the game. The first players out stopped and signed autographs, brushing off the women as they tried to hand them their numbers and business cards. The team all high-fived Hunter as they passed, and nodded respectfully to Slade, while eyeing me curiously.

Kellan and Christian hurried over to us, hair still wet from their showers. They had a similar look, but I preferred my golden boy over Christian’s longer brown hair and deep brown eyes.

“Great to see you again, Emme,” Christian said, bestowing the hugest smile on me.

I braced myself as he went in for a hug, only to have Kellan yank him back by his hair before he touched me. “No fucking touchy. I told you, asshole.”

Christian’s smile never faltered, even as he rubbed a hand over the back of his head. “Ouch, you fuck. I’m too young to be bald because you tore out my hair.”

Hunter released an annoyed huff and stepped closer to my side, and I barely contained my shock when Slade also closed in ranks. He never touched me, but he was close enough for his scent to mingle with mine. As a warning to the other shifters.

Christian, no longer joking, held both hands up as he backed to a respectful distance. “Kel’s my best friend, so anyone important to him is important to me.” Multiple alpha rumbles filled the hall, and he hurried to add, “In a purely platonic, brotherly kind of way.”

Kellan stood in front of me now, so I had to lean around him to reply. “Ignore the alphas, Christian. They’re a little cranky today. I think they all need a nap.”

Kellan turned and leaned down to bury his head against my neck, breathing deeply. “Are you the one putting me to bed, pretty girl?” His voice was muffled against my skin. “If so, I could absolutely get behind a nap.”

Hunter didn’t mind when Kellan wrapped us both up, and I cuddled into our Golden Boy because I’d missed him. “You guys did so well out there,” I said against his chest. “I’ve never seen anyone skate like you do. It’s beautiful poetry.”

Kellan’s huge body stilled, and when he pulled away, his expression was filled with unbridled joy. “Having you watch us play… I can’t describe how that made me feel. You make me better, Em. Please tell me you’ll be at every game.”

“Every game I can.” It was the only promise I could make.

His eyes were nearing that violet color I loved so much as he dropped a kiss on my lips. “That’ll do for now, pretty girl.”

When he stepped back, I noticed the two other players who’d joined our group: Finley and Kenzo.

The bear glared at me, and I got the feeling I was intruding on his usual aftergame ritual. Whatever peace he’d shown on the ice was long gone, and I didn’t miss the worried stare Kenzo volleyed between me and his brother.

“I’m Kenzo,” he said with a nod, making no move to touch me. “Fin’s brother.”

Other than a furrowed brow, Finley showed no real emotion to that statement.

I tried not to let it bother me as I smiled in return. “Emme, and it’s nice to meet you. You guys played amazing. It was a really exciting game.”

Christian whooped, and half the shifters in the room turned to stare. A lot of the ladies glared at me, the sole female in the group of alphas, but it wasn’t like I’d deliberately stole all of their hockey players.

“We need to get out of here and party,” Christian shouted, pumping his fist. “Though as the last single alpha in our core group, the rest of you have left me with an awfully large responsibility.”

Kellan shuddered. “The puck shifters are all yours. They were too much even before I met my omega.”

Finley snorted a cruel laugh. “You’re not the last single alpha, bro.”

If there hadn’t been a wall behind me, I’d have staggered back at that blow. As it was, I barely managed to keep the hurt from showing on my face. He’d gone for maximum impact, while staring right at me to catch my reaction. Not that I’d ever give him the satisfaction.

Setting my face in what I hoped looked like boredom, I shrugged. “Should we get out of here and leave them to it?”

Kellan, who’d been glaring at Finley, returned his full focus to me. “Absolutely, Shortcake. We can party up at Luxuria tonight during your shift.”

“Perfect,” I chirped, ignoring the pang in my chest as I turned my back on Finley. “I’m ready to go.”

I didn’t wait for a reply, tugging Hunter’s hand until he took the lead near the exit. Kellan stepped in and grabbed my other hand, sandwiching me between the alphas, and with Slade at our backs I could almost forget about Finley.

Even if I did spend most of the drive home trying to convince myself it was all for the best.