Page 52 of Knot Your Rebel

Me: Whether it worked or not shouldn’t concern you.

SS: I’ll take that as a yes. Haven’t seen you at the club in a while. Planning on visiting again any time soon?

Me: The time isn’t right yet.

SS: Tell me she at least knows about that part of you.

Me: Again, none of your concern.

Socrates and I have been acquaintances for years. He runs an underground safe house for omegas running from abusive alphas and has no problem coming to take care of problem alphas. The safe house is funded by La Peau, his underground playground. I’ve been patronizing that place for years, until now. I won’t go again until I know she’s ready.

Maybe I should visit sometime soon. It doesn’t mean I have to play. It’s more than acceptable to just come and watch others. Hell, some people enjoy it. I wonder if my Rebel will.

I’m getting hard just thinking about her tied up and at my mercy. Fuck.

SS: Come to the club soon. Bring your omega.

I don’t respond to his last text. She’s not ready yet.

Pulling into the arena lot, I realize that everyone else is here already. If I hadn't run home first, I probably would’ve been here sooner. Parking first, I hop out of my car and jog towards the entrance, through the doors, and down the hall to the locker room. A few guys are slowly finishing up.

I quickly, or what I think is quick, get dressed in my gear and head out to the rink. Bitter cold kisses my face as I step onto the ice, and I close my eyes and inhale, trying to slip into the zone. The sound of skates heading towards me catches my attention, and I open my eyes to find Drake standing in front of me.

“How’s your omega?” He asks, eyeing me weirdly.

“She’s good…” I leave it open-ended.

“Saw some weird shit going down outside your house last night.”

My eyes narrow. “You saw.. Wait, how did you see my house?”

He gives me a tilted grin. “I’m your new neighbor. Moved in yesterday.”

Well, damn. I wasn’t expecting that at all. Seeing as he’s one of my friends, I feel like I should’ve known this information.

“So… is that some sort of kinky shit you do with the omega?”

“None of your business what I do with or to my omega, got it?” I growl. Anger spikes through me, but I shouldn't be mad. He’s a friend just asking about his friend's omega. He doesn't mean any harm by it.

His nostrils flare, but he puts his hands up. “You’re right, my bad.”

I go to speak again, to apologize, but the piercing sound of Coach's whistle cuts me off.

“Let’s go, ladies, gather ‘round,” Coach bellows over the laughing and chatter of the guys. I watch as he skates out to the neutral line, and the guys make their way to him slowly. He’s looking weathered today. His salt and pepper hair seems louder with gray than normal. The lines of his face etched with years of dedication and determination in the world of hockey seem more pronounced. His shoulders are still broad from his years in the sport, and he commands all attention. He’s all too aware of what it takes to make it at the professional level, and he rides us hard each practice, but it’s because he cares. He wants us to succeed, even if that comes in the form of gruff feedback on how we’re playing.

His astute gaze flows over each of us as he looks around the rink. It commands respect, but I can’t seem to give it today.

Coach starts to speak, but he’s quickly drowned out by the thoughts coursing through my mind. Rebel. What is she doing right now? Will she start coming to my games? Is she going to turn into a brat? My palm twitches at the mere thought.

I simply can’t and don’t want to shake the obsession with this omega. What is it about her? It’s the same question I’ve been asking for weeks. The fact that my alpha marked her the night of the party doesn’t surprise me. He’d been riding my ass to claim her every time we snuck into her room to watch her sleep or spied on her.

The glittery pink box still proudly displayed on my kitchen counter has me coughing to cover up the chuckle that threatens to slip loose.

“Geekies.”

“Geekies!”

“Jesus, son, pull your head out of your ass.” It’s the word Jesus that brings me back to the current moment. The guys are all standing around chuckling at me. Coach’s face looks like he’s about to blow a gasket. “Welcome back to Earth. Now, as I was saying….”

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