Page 3 of Knot Sharing the Ice

Especially not when Jake started to buy into those tabloid rumors that I was dating the Wolves' right wing. A guy I've never even said more than "hey" to when passing in the hallway.

"Of course you are." I realize I didn't say that under my breath as the words leave my mouth.

"So you've heard of us," the green-eyed alpha says, his grin widening.

I roll my eyes. "Sure I have. Your fans are the reason I have to park blocks away from the ice center whenever there's a game just so my car doesn't get sprayed with silly string. Now the obnoxious behavior makes sense."

To my surprise—and irritation—that earns a laugh from all of them. Even more frustrating is the tingle that runs up my spine in response to the sound.

I'm not in heat.

So what the hell is wrong with me?

"Whoever you are, it doesn't change the fact that there's been a mix-up," I insist, crossing my arms. "I spoke with the rink manager myself. He assured me I'd have exclusive use of the ice."

"Yeah, he told us the same thing," a third alpha chimes in, his voice deep and smooth. He's leaning against the barrier, dark eyes studying me with an intensity that makes my skin prickle. "Seems old Frank's double-booked us."

I huff in frustration. "Well, one of us needs to find somewhere else to practice. And since I booked this place first?—"

"How do you know that?" the fourth alpha interrupts. He's not quite as huge as the others, with a lithe build that speaks more of speed than brute strength, but he still towers over me by at least a foot. His hazel eyes dance with amusement. "Maybe we beat you to it and you just got here first."

"I—" I falter, realizing I have no way to prove my claim. "Look, this is the only decent-sized rink in town. The pond is fine for recreational skating, but I need a proper practice space."

The blond alpha's grin widens, too. "So do we. Lucky we don't mind sharing," he says with a twist to his lips that makes me doubt he's just talking about the ice.

Another prickle goes up my spine. Okay, I'm officially filing a complaint with my reproductive system.

I bristle at his tone. "That's not how this works. You can't just?—"

"He's right," The dark-eyed alpha suggests, his voice low and smooth. "The rink's big enough for all of us."

I laugh incredulously. "Share? With ahockey team? I can't practice my routines with you all barreling around and slamming into each other."

The green-eyed one smirks. "We could be gentle for you, little omega."

Heat floods my cheeks at his suggestive tone. "That's not—I don't?—"

"Relax," the blond one says, holding up his hands. "Jayce is just teasing. It's what he does. But seriously, we need this ice time as much as you do. There's got to be a way we can work this out."

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the mix of frustration and unexpected attraction swirling in my gut.

These alphas are infuriating, but I can't deny the effect they're having on me, and I can't even smell them through the chemicals and the mild suppressors that are always pumping through the vents. Kind of a necessity in any public space shared by alphas and omegas—especially one where people are getting their heart rates up.

It's been too long since I've felt this kind of spark, and it's throwing me off balance.

"Fine," I say through gritted teeth. "We can try to work something out. How about I take mornings, you four take afternoons or evenings?"

Most of the Christmas festivities the family will want me to participate in take place a little later on, anyway.

The alphas exchange glances, some unspoken communication passing between them. Finally, the blond one shakes his head. "No can do. We've got commitments every day this week after two."

I clench my jaw. "Look, I'm trying to be reasonable here?—"

"Reasonable would be sharing the ice," the one with the hazel eyes and shaggy brown hair says, giving me a mischievous grin.

This chiseled-jawed motherfu?—

"He's right," the blond—number thirteen, who seems to be the leader—chimes in. I decide I'm just going to call them all by the numbers on their jerseys because I'm certainly not going to bother learning their names. "There's no way around it. We're just going to have to learn to live with each other for the next week."

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