Page 98 of Puck & Her Blades

I grasp for Jackson’s sleeve, but he nudges Cygnus and me into Zev’s arms.

Zev wraps both of us in his embrace, and his comforting scent still can’t slow my beating heart.

I can’t watch this.

Yet there’s something about the casual yet dangerous way that Jackson prowls to the desk and doesn’t make any effort to bend over it that tells me he has no intention of allowing himself to be paddled again.

One thing I’m coming to realize, is that Jackson is smart as well as strong.

What’s going on?

Sydney smirks. “Perhaps, this will help you remember your place in this pack, Jackson. You’re only adopted.”

Bitch.

I bare my teeth, but Zev tightens his hold on me.

He trusts his Chief Alpha, so I will too.

This is a new feeling for me, trusting someone else.

Skating is a lone sport. Hockey is a team one.

I’m needing to learn to play like the rest of my pack do.

“One more thing,” Jackson’s voice is frosty, “you took an Omega mascot on because you needed fresh fan support. You needed an injection both in stocks and on the merchandising side. Why don’t you go ahead and check the business side of things, Sydney?”

“More manipulations?” Roarke demands.

Sydney’s brow furrows. Then she pulls her phone out of her pocket, tapping away, before her eyebrows rise in shock.

“Shit, shit, well, shit.” She marches to Roarke and shows him the screen.

Then Roarke snatches the phone out of her hand. “Give me that.” He jabs at the screen. “Is this right?”

She nods. “It looks like that little scene yesterday has had quite the impact. You’ve already made the club millions. Sponsorship deals are pouring in. You’ve made global news: The Reject Omega mascot and the star players. You may not be wrong about the movie deal.”

My breathing is ragged, and my head is spinning.

One thing that Roarke and his daughter respect more than anything is money.

It could be what saves us, and this was part of Jackson’s plan.

I never thought that I could make a difference to Omegas’ lives like this but fuck, if I’d been growing up and seen that a Reject Omega could not only skate on the ice as a mascot but also be chosen over everybody else by the hockey stars, then it would have meant the world.

Perhaps, I didn’t lose everything when I broke my leg.

Perhaps, I was given a second chance to make a difference.

I definitely was granted a second chance with Jackson.

Roarke laughs, bitterly. “Clever.”

Sydney waves dismissively at me. “Between matches, she doesn’t need to actually do anything. Well, apart from be bred. I suppose she does have a good pedigree. She’s athletic; look at her legs. She’s far more of a jock than my tiny brother ever will be.”

When Cygnus shrinks even more into himself, fury surges through me.

Is this how Cygnus’ own family have spoken about him in front of his face all these years?

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