Page 72 of Puck & Her Blades

“Saved?” My brow furrows. “By letting you see your brother?”

“You’re an only kid, right?” He holds out his hand, and I pass back the puck. “If you’d had a brother or sister, you’d know that if someone gave them back to you, then they become your fucking hero. Jackson and Zev are the best Alphas because they don’t waste time with pretty words. They just do what’s needed to help you.”

“And half the time,” Cygnus adds, “you don’t even know it.”

Have they been doing that for me?

I haven’t even spoken to Zev yet, but has he been looking out for me in the same way?

Asher slips the puck back into his pocket like it’s a holy relic. “Jackson pretends that it’s him who needs the extra practice, in order to get me to see my bro. Zev pretends that he’s drunk from some wild party to distract coach, letting us sneak out. They’ve both been playing that game, since I was brought into the team. They use the same tactics to protect Cyg. They play their roles to cover for both of us. I bet they’re doing that for you as well.”

“So, they use their masks of the cold Captain and the playboy…?” I ask.

“The same as you use the freaky monster mascot,” Asher replies.

“Hey,” I protest, weakly.

“What? I thought people were into monster fucking nowadays?”

I laugh. “Fuck you.”

“It’s a date, but now…” He pushes me off his knee, before leaping up, full of energy. Then he snatches me by the elbow, before yanking me toward Cygnus and grabbing him as well. “…two cute Omegas are taking their asses out of here, before those asses are handed to them by…”

As Asher hauls us toward the closed door with twinkling eyes at Cygnus’ alarmed squeak like neither of us weigh anything, all of a sudden, the stench of burned coffee blasts from the corridor.

“Dad,” Cygnus gasps.

His eyes are wide with fear.

Asher becomes pale, and his smile dies.

Then his gaze becomes steely with determination. He throws me over one shoulder and Cygnus over the other.

I let out a startled oomph and then hold myself as quiet as I can.

I shouldn’t be shocked by Asher’s strength but I still am, as holding both of us, he leaps over the bench and runs the length of the locker room to the showers. Then he carefully pulls Cygnus off his shoulder and then me.

He clicks off the light, plunging us into shadow, before pressing another switch.

“Hide,” he hisses, urgently. “I’ve switched a pheromone dampener on to mask your scents, so you’re safe. Hopefully. I mean, fifty-fifty. And whatever you hear, don’t come out.”

“Ash,” Cygnus protests.

“Don’t.” Asher shakes his head. “Just promise. This is me begging you both to let me protect you. I may be a Companion. I may only be a Beta and not an Alpha. But at least I can protect you.” He directs his gaze at Cygnus. “I’m trusting you to look after our new pack member.”

“I promise,” Cygnus replies.

My throat is too tight to speak.

Asher turns and darts back across the changing room to kneel on the bench with his head bowed.

What the fuck?

Is that what Roarke meant by him waiting for him in here to be talked to about his performance?

Cygnus’ gaze is anguished, but he pulls me to the back of the shower room and crouches down, holding me in his arms.

He’s shaking.

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