Page 55 of Puck & Her Blades

He’s a powerful Beta with a muscled chest and the broadest shoulders on the team. His skin is creamy, and he has a shaggy tumble of golden hair.

His gorgeous honey colored eyes meet mine, and I flush.

I’m glad for the safety of the mascot suit. He can’t see the way that my cheeks are flaming.

Cygnus waves, and Asher waves back.

The interaction is shown on the huge screen above the arena.

I can’t help the wave of disappointment and humiliation.

So, Asher wasn’t looking at me. He was only waving at his friend, Cygnus.

Of course he was.

Cygnus wanders to the bench to pick up a bottle of Gatorade, and I sadly study the ultimate jock that is Asher because if I’m only ever going to be able to look, then I may as well enjoy that.

Yet why was this Beta scrubbing my floors? Why doesn’t he bond with Cygnus and his teammates? Why doesn’t he possess any belongings?

“Hey, look at that.” The gravelly voice of the commentator booms out. “Now isn’t that the sweetest moment between our highest scorer this season, even if he is a Beta, and the legendary Roarke Blade’s son? And talking of sweet Omegas, there’s going to be an exclusive VIP Omega party on Saturday night hosted at Blade House, which will include a dozen specially chosen Blades fans, to help with the matching. Who’s excited about the selection to mate with the Blades?”

I place my hands over my head, deafened even through my costume by the crowd’s enthusiasm.

I’m glad that it hides the way that I’m shaking both with rage and distress.

My heart aches.

How the hell do I stop this party?

Cygnus blanches.

So, the party is news to him as well.

Roarke is a fucking asshole.

Sudden movement catches my eye, and I glance back at the rink again.

Asher is pointing deliberately at me.

This time, since Cygnus isn’t standing with me, there’s no missing it.

Asher’s honey eyes are fixed on me with a focused intensity. Then his lips quirk, before he makes the sign of a heart.

What the hell?

My flush deepens.

In horror, I freeze.

The big monitor repeats Asher’s gesture, slowed down on one side, while zooming in to me on reaction cam on the other.

I want to hide but I can’t.

The audience laugh like this is all a staged joke, part of the entertainment.

Was it?

Another PR stunt?

---