Page 29 of Full Body Hit: Part 2
“What? Why?”
“I think they deemed it intent to injure—he ripped the helmet off the guy he was fighting and then went at him before he could defend himself,” Sammy explained.
“But Auston’s helmet was also off!”
“Uh, yeah…he did that too. He went fucking crazy after that guy hit you. Like…pretty sure he let out an Alpha growl?”
That was against regulations, which might also explain why he hadn’t simply gotten a five-minute fighting major.
Sammy regarded Chase carefully. “Is there something going on between you two?”
That knocked every other thought right out of Chase’s head. “What?”
“That was kind of nuts, Chase. That’s the kind of shit Alphas do for their mates.”
Mates?A laugh burst out of Chase. “No. No way, Sammy. No, okay?”
There was a pause. “Okay…” Sammy agreed slowly, sounding not at all convinced.
Chase managed to concentrate on the rest of the game, but it was a struggle. Had Auston already left? His skin itched all over with the need to see him. To check on him, know that he was okay.
What if Auston had hurt his hip again? Or gotten a concussion?
Not even their win managed to calm him. He gripped his stick hard as the team made its way back to the locker room. It’d be okay if he texted Auston, right? He had to—
Chase stumbled slightly as he spotted Auston sitting on the bench in his stall, hair wet, dressed in his game-day suit.
There was a cut beside his left eye, a couple of butterfly bandages keeping it shut.
“Auston,” Chase breathed, hurrying towards him despite still being on skates. “Hey. Are you okay?”
Auston stared up at him. He was so still. Shoulders hunched, hands dangling between his thighs, gaze steady and searing.
Chase’s pace stuttered, hair raising at the nape of his neck, goosebumps flourishing all over his arms.
“Chase,” Auston said, voice a rasp. “You’re okay?”
“Yeah,” Chase replied quickly. “No concussion. Little bruised up, that’s all.”
A muscle jumped in Auston’s jaw, a fleeting crack in his armour. “Good.”
“You? Your eye…” It was already bruising, blood spreading beneath the skin.
“I’m fine.” It was curt—not angry, but closing the conversation.
“Okay.”
The rest of the team streamed around him, but Chase was caught in the light beam of Auston’s eyes, unable to step away until Sammy jostled him.
Showering and changing were a haze. He thanked the PR gods he wasn’t asked to do press, gathering his things and waving Sammy’s concern off—he wanted to crawl into his own nest that night.
He almost didn’t see Auston standing right outside the locker room doors, stopping just in time to avoid slamming into him.
“Oh, sorry.” He stumbled to a stop, blinking up at the Alpha, who hadn’t moved a muscle. “Uhm…you sure you’re okay?”
Auston nodded. Stilled.
They stood there for a long moment, just staring at each other.
