Page 172 of Scrum Heat

He doesn’t even look at Frankie when he says it, and that’s how you know he means it.

Peter leans forward. “And what happens when this balance…tips?”

“It won’t,” I say simply.

Several heads turn. I rarely speak in these things, so when I do, they listen.

“You’re confident,” another board member says dryly.

I nod. “We’re bonded. This isn’t a PR stunt. It’s not unstable. It’spack.”

“And you believe that overrides concern?” the woman with glasses asks.

“No,” I say. “I believe it proves you don’t need to be concerned.”

A long silence follows. Then, the other woman on the board—the one who hadn’t said a word yet—leans forward.

“It’s not so much an issue of one omega being bonded to four alphas,” she says slowly. “It’s the fact that said omega is the club’s social media manager, and the four alphas in question are all members of the first team. Do you understand how that presents to the public? The way this...looks?”

Frankie leans forward, calm and unshaken. “You’re worried about appearances, and I understand that. Ido. But… I’m also worried about performance, stability, and safety. All of which are solid. And, if I’m quite honest, I don’t really care how itlooks—I care how itworks. And if the engagement data tells us anything, it’s that it’s working.”

There’s silence again—the kind that hums with judgment—then Theo clears his throat.

“Quick question,” he says brightly. “Is now a bad time to suggest we launch an official Alderbridge thirst-trap calendar?”

Evie closes her eyes. “Theo.”

“What? I’m brainstorming.”

“Save it for later.”

Thankfully, Rory’s still locked in full captain-mode. “Look, we know this isn’tideal,” he says. “We’re not pretending it is. I get that you would’ve rather Frankie didn’t work for the team, or live in one of the staff houses when all of this went down. But we’ve done everything you’ve asked, and then some. If this club is supposed to be about results, then the results speak for themselves.”

“And what of the omega?” Peter asks, before turning to Frankie. “Are you certain you’re safe with them?”

She doesn’t miss a beat. “I’m safer with them than I’ve ever been in my life.”

The room stills again.

And I feel it—through the bonds. That sharp pulse of pride from Theo. The deep hum from Finn. The slow rise of warmth from Rory.

Mine sits steady in my chest, slow and certain.

She’s ours.

Peter looks down at the papers again, frowns, then finally says, “We’ll file the report. Pending any further issues, we’ll consider this matter resolved—though I still can’t say we’re endorsing it.”

Frankie stands and straightens her shoulders before nodding, polite but firm.

“I understand. Thank you for your time.”

She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t gloat—just turns and walks for the door with quiet, measured confidence.

One by one, we follow, because that’s what you do for a leader.

And make no mistake—that’sexactlywhat she is.

*

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