Page 19 of Fresh Ice
“But…what about your—I mean, I’m guessing you’re taking suppressants? Sorry if that’s rude to ask,” Levy was quick to say.
“My dad gets them for me.”
Levy stared at him dumbly for way too long. “I thought your dad was in construction or something.”
Alonso frowned. “Yeah…?”
“Okay? So he’s not a doctor,” Levy said as if that were relevant.
“So?”
“So you need a doctor to monitor that shit.”
“Didn’t know you were an expert on suppressants,” Alonso bit out even though he knew he shouldn’t.
Levy winced, obviously embarrassed. “I googled some things this morning—I know that’s really rude. I should have asked you, but I just wanted to know what the fuck was going on last night.”
“Levy…this is mylife. Do you honestly think you know more because you googled it?”
Levy pursed his lips together. “Okay. Fair enough. But, uhm, has that ever happened before?”
“Has what happened?”
“You going into heat unexpectedly. I read that it can happen if an Omega on suppressants is around a compatible Alpha constantly.” Levy looked almost shy as he said it.
Alonso’s heart started racing again. “A compatible Alpha? I’ve been around Alphas all my life, and it’s always been fine.”
If anything, Levy seemed even more awkward. “So, you haven’t been getting any weird symptoms? Like cramps or night sweats or migraines?”
Alonso was so thrown by the question he didn’t have an opportunity to hide his surprise.
Levy didn’t miss it. “You have.”
“I…what is this? Why are you asking me that?”
“Dude, I…look, the websites said that if an Alpha whose pheromones are compatible with you is around a lot, some suppressants can be affected. And if the Alpha goes into rut…”
Alonso felt dizzy. “So my suppressants aren’t gonna work anymore?” A wave of terror swept through him.
“No, they’ll still work unless I’m in rut, but they’ll hurt you, Olive.”
Relief washed through Alonso. As long as he could still play hockey… “That’s okay.”
Levy shook his head incredulously. “How is that okay? They’llhurtyou,” he repeated.
“We get hurt because of hockey all the time,” Alonso reasoned. “It’s not that bad. You just—you can’t tell anybody. Please.”
Levy’s jaw clenched. “The team medics should know.”
Alonso fought not to reach out and grab him. “If the team medics knows, they’re obligated to tell the training staff, who is obligated to tell the GM, and then everybody is gonna know, and I’ll be kicked out of the team. Levy,please. I’ll do what you want. I—”
“Please stop saying that.” Levy ran his fingers through his hair. He looked as exhausted as Alonso felt. “I don’t even want to know what you’re offering, I really don’t.”
“Levy, the reality is that you have two options. You don’t tell anybody, and I can stay, or you tell even one person, and I never play in the NHL again.”
Levy shook his head, but Alonso could see the truth settling on him. “Fuck.”
There was a long, long silence, Levy staring into space. Alonso moved his fingers to his mouth, chewing on his nails, but the movement snapped Levy out of it.
