Page 54 of Knot Dead Yet

I walked faster, my heartbeat picking up. The few doors I passed were locked. The hall curved and felt unending. Had I chosen wrong? I was going to get lost in here, wasn’t I?

It was like one of those horror video games. The ones where you were wandering a maze of halls or offices and then soon things started to get weird. Flickering lights, claw marks on the walls, scribbled pleas for help. That’s when the monster would pop out.

I had to get out. I needed to be outside, to be free.

A door opened just ahead of me and I screamed. Casimir darted out and wrapped his arms around me.

“It’s okay. I have you.” His soft crooning and delicious scent had me snuggled in his embrace.

Safe. Here I was protected.

He was still dressed in his equipment and his uniform. He had on shoes instead of his skates. I wanted his pads and jersey off so I could press my cheek against his bare skin, but this would have to do for now.

“What’s wrong?” Casimir kissed the top of my head and caressed my cheek. He lifted a brow and smiled. “Or did you just want to see me?”

I whacked him on the arm. “I was lost and it was crowded. And…” I wasn’t going to tell him I was freaking out about my stalker. I didn’t want him missing the game thinking he had to protect me. My voice raised as I thumped him on the arm again. “And your parents introduced themselves to me.”

The door opened again and Alderic hurried out. He stopped, obviously feeling the tension of the situation.

“My parents?” Casimir gaped at me and then composed himself. “Ah. I see.”

Kane and Maddox pushed by Alderic, followed by Tiergan in his bulky goalie pads.

“What’s going on?” Kane had a rough growl in his tone. It was clear with all of them that their overprotective Alpha mode had been turned on.

“Casimir told his parents about me. They offered to let me fly to Chicago with them in their private plane.” My volume increased as I talked faster. “They’re really nice!”

Every one of them looked baffled.

Casimir hesitantly asked, “Will you fly with them?”

“I don’t know! I might!” I don’t know why it was such a dramatic moment, because saying it over to myself in my head didn’t sound that way.

“Okay.” Casimir always seemed so sure of himself, but he didn’t look like he knew how to handle this moment. To be honest, I didn’t either. My emotions were wonky, and it wasn’t helping at all to be surrounded by these guys.

“Do you need us to escort you back to the lounge?” Alderic motioned back the way I’d come.

“I’m not going back,” I blurted out, bracing myself for their argument. “There’s too many people.”

Kane nodded. “Alright then. If you want some quiet, we can get you a chair to sit by the maintenance door to our locker room. You’ll be close to us if you need anything, and no one should bother you there.”

They didn’t argue. I was a little disappointed they didn’t. I folded my arms and sighed. “That’s fine.”

I almost wished I’d gotten some snacks if I was going to sit alone in a hall, but I wasn’t about to go back out to the concessions. We marched through the door they’d come through and down the hall. Tiergan popped through a door which was noisy with the rest of their teammates and he came back in with a foldout chair.

“Not exactly the comfiest, but it’s better than sitting on the floor.” Tiergan flashed me a smile as he set the chair down.

“It’s good. Thank you.” I rose onto my toes and gave him a kiss. “Good luck out there.”

“With that,” he winked at me. “We’re going to win the game.”

The score had been tied one to one at the end of the first period. I’d heard they had lost last night, and I felt immensely guilty over it. Kane—their star player—had left to come for me, and that had rattled the entire team. Tonight they were playinghard and fast, but if I assured them I was fine and stayed here, they would be able to concentrate on the game.

Maddox came up to me next and laid a hand over his mark on my shoulder. He didn’t say anything, but everything was clear in his intense gaze. I kissed him too before he went through the door behind Tiergan and Alderic wrapped me in a tight hug.

“Everything will be alright. We’re here for you.” Alderic nuzzled my nose with his and softly kissed me. The feelings he gave me weren’t like the primal yanks from the Alphas, but they were just as amazing.

“Go kick Chicago’s ass.” I grinned and laughed as he hooted going back into the locker room.

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