Page 3 of Slick Handling

“You’re a great player and you need to listen to your body. A lot has happened to you lately and it’s okay to just let yourself feel whatever you have to feel. Maybe you need this rut to get over whatever is bothering you. Maybe you need to go through this to make your decision if you’re entering the draft or not.” He was using his dad voice on me. The voice that let me know I wasn’t coming back here for a few days.

A mandatory three days for ruts because the aggression could sometimes cause fights between teammates.

“Take the time, son.” He walked out just as Griffin walked in, rubbing his ass through his gray sweatpants.

“Honestly, who thought that a shot to the ass was going to make a rut better? If anything I feel way more aggressive now.” Griffin stopped as he saw me sitting in my locker, my things at my feet.

I could feel the aggression now. Pumping through my veins as my fingers pushed into my hair tugging at the roots. A growl of frustration rolled off my lips as he dropped down beside me, throwing his arm over my back.

He has no sense of self preservation.

“Hey, c’mon V. Let's get home and get you in bed. I bet if we bother him enough, Apollo will make those smoothies you like. I won’t even complain and let you pick the mango flavor even though strawberry is superior.” He nudges me gently, speaking to me softly because he knows I didn’t get a booster. That I can’t play the game with my team.

I need to play. I need to move my body and get some of the aggression out of me because now it’s bubbling up to the surface and I feel like I’m losing my mind.

Griffin gets us standing, making me hold my things as his arm stays slung around me, holding me close as we walk to our place. It’s only about a ten minute walk and it’s cool enough that I shouldn’t be running hot. Now that I know my rut is coming it’s like my body is giving itself permission to give in to its base desires.

I groan, tugging at my hoodie as we move into the old Victorian that Apollo is footing the bill for.

It’s our first pack house and he wanted us to be close to school so we didn’t slip with our studies. He doesn’t care that he has to drive a half hour to get to practice. No, he’s a good Alpha lead who thinks about his pack first.

“Let's get you to bed. Good job taking off your shoes, buddy.” Griffin is talking to me like I’m a child and it makes me snarl at him despite the fact I know he is just trying to keep me calm, “Why don’t you take a cool shower and get into bed. I’ll turn on the central AC so you can get comfortable.” His lips kiss my temple that’s probably slick with sweat.

He is trying to watch out for me. He’s my best friend. He just wants to make sure that I’m fine.

My vision is a little hazy as I stumble into my room and finally let myself lose a little bit of control. Finally giving myself permission to unmask and let my feelings ride out however they want to.

Finally, freedom.

CHAPTER 2

APOLLO

The music I’ve been playing to calm down is interrupted as my phone rings and my mothers’ name comes up on the screen. I’m driving home from practice. I stayed late to meet with the physical therapist to work on my hip flexors and some mobility issues I want to avoid in the future.

The goal, now that I made it to the show, is to be there for as long as possible. If that means doing yoga and whatever other frou-frou shit they suggest to keep me in shape so be it.

“Hey Mother.”

“Apollo, my darling.”

She wants something. I already know from the adorations that she adds to my name.

“How can I help?” I sigh out and she doesn’t even pussyfoot around the issue.

“One of Gracie’s friends is transferring midyear to the University. They had no housing left for her and I didn’t feel comfortable with her being in an apartment by herself. She needs to be watched after and you have such a big house for just you and your pack. I need you to pick her up at the airport in twenty minutes.”

Twenty minutes?

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.

Gracie is my sister, who is also an Alpha. She tends to hang out with douchebags, like the guys, who I’m sure she is going to end up in a pack with. If this girl is Gracie’s friend she’s another Alpha who is going to be a pain in my ass.

Gracie is two years younger than me and has been a constant thorn in my side since the moment she made her appearance in this world. It might be the fact that we’re both Alphas and just don’t get along or it could be that she is a stuck-up bitch.

It’s probably the latter.

“Mother-”

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