Page 22 of Puck & Her Blades

He has an ass so tight that it was made for spanking. Glittering silver piercings. And a vibe that screams golden retriever turned dark.

Then having every wild party — stumbling out of night clubs, skinny dipping at midnight, pole dancing in a thong — splashed across the press, along with viral videos on social media.

He’s a PR’s beautiful nightmare.

Yet he was the one who took the time to choose a bouquet of roses for me…?

Cygnus tightens his hold on my hand. “You don’t need to be afraid. My Alphas aren’t knotheads. We want to get to know you. I mean, the real you and not the costume or whatever act that brutal Institute has told you to put on. We’re going to be living together on the Blade Estate and we should be able to be ourselves. At least, while we’re not in front of Dad.”

I stare at him. “Fair warning, beauty, you have no idea what the real me is like. I’m not the same as you. I’m not all…”

How to explain?

He arches his brow.

I try again. “Soft, sweet, and…” So gorgeous I want to kiss that pretty frown off his lips?

“Don’t worry about me,” Cygnus says, dryly. “I’m mated to two of the most notorious hockey players in the Alpha NHL, who could snap me in half but don’t. I think that I’ll survive. In fact, there’s no need to put on this front. Don’t worry, I’m going to protect you.”

He puffs out his chest.

I have to admire his courage.

“You’re even smaller than I am,” I blurt. “What are you going to do, defend against attackers with the power of a Top Ten List of Book Boyfriends who Make You Wet with Slick?”

That’s a real list in the Knotty and Knot so Nice romance magazine.

I admit to reading it, while stuck in the back of the car for days journeying between competitions.

I slap my hand over my mouth. I didn’t mean to say that.

Cygnus chuckles, however, tapping his head. “Brains over brawn. I may be a scholar but I can still keep you safe. Our Beta, Asher, will as well. He’s the pack’s unofficial bodyguard, as well as the new top scorer in the team. He spends most nights checking the estate, and I know that he’ll be guarding you as well, even if you don’t see him do it. He’s sneaky in the way that he’s loyal and is driven to protect us. Just know that he’ll always be looking out for you.”

My eyes light up. “There’s a Beta playing in the Blades now…? Since when did they allow Betas to play in the Alpha NHL?”

“Since our Ash,” Cygnus replies, proudly.

There’s clearly a story there.

Excitement thrums through me at the thought that another dynamic has achieved such an incredible feat.

This Ash wasn’t in the team, when I was sent to the Institute. He must be an amazing player to have beaten prejudice and discrimination to earn his place.

To have made history.

I can’t wait to see him play.

When Cygnus lets go of my hand and pushes himself up, I watch him warily.

He suddenly appears uneasy, shifting from foot to foot.

“I live at Blade House on Dad’s estate with my bonded Alphas and Asher.” Cygnus hugs his arms around his middle. “I’ve prepared the Omega cottage for you. I’m sorry about that, but Ash helped me to clean the cottage, and I’ve decorated it. I prefer it to my rooms anyway.”

“What’s the Omega Cottage?”

He avoids my gaze. “It’s a cottage at the bottom of the grounds beside a lake. It’s where Omegas on the grand estates of Traditional families who were in disgrace…or Rejects within the family…were traditionally sent to live. I’m sorry. I begged Dad to let you stay with us in the main house, but he didn’t think that it was appropriate. I’ve had to live in the cottage by myself a couple of times over the years, and that was before it’d been decorated. In fact, I wish that I could live with you away from Blade House. It’d be fun. Nobody would be monitoring what we said and did all the time because no one bothers to go down there.”

So, Roarke banishes his son, whenever he screws-up.

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