Page 125 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Is everything alright?” Dimitri joined us, looking fierce as usual.
“Gwen’s super-old brother is here,” Carlos replied.
Matty rubbed his forehead. “I’m not that old. Gwen, I just want to see how you are.” He turned to Clark. “I know she’s good at hockey. But it’s terrifying to watch her.”
“Why?” I held his gaze. When she was in the zone, it was poetic.
“Um, because giant alphas flinging pucks at her head is scary? The kids would love to see you. We’re staying in chalet three.” With that, he turned and left.
She looked like she was about to burst into tears. Clark squeezed her hand, then took off after him.
I’m not sure she even noticed. She was between Jean-Paul, Cooter, and Dean, with Dimitri and Carlos standing guard. They were all comforting her. I caught Dimitri’s eye, then jerked my head in the direction Clark went, then followed them.
“I’m not here to hurt her,” Matty said, standing in the hallway where Clark had cornered him. He was almost as tall as Clark and broad shouldered, but not nearly as big as most of our teammates.
There was something about him that would make most people think twice about messing with him.
No one messed with Gwen.
“So, your dads didn’t track her ID and send you to bring her to Vancouver?” Clark demanded.
“No. Though I can see how Gwen thinks that. We’re here for a mating party for my omega’s cousin. Our pack came early, since the kids like the animals,” he told us.
Clark’s expression clouded. “Gwen deserves to be supported. Your family tried to stop her from playing hockey after your mom died.”
“Gwen gotmassivelyinjured playing hockey right when we found out our mom’s cancer came back. While she made a full recovery, we weren’t sure she would, and I swear she did out of spite. After our mom died, the dads wanted her to stay in Vancouver. Not only because they were afraid she’d get hurt again, but because they’d lost their omega, and Gwen’s the baby of the family. They went about it all wrong, which they often did when it came to her.” He sighed.
“Oh.” I nodded. “I could see that.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, my baby sister is possibly the most stubborn person on the planet. More stubborn than even the dads. They did a lot of trying to out-stubborn each other.” Matty rubbed his head.
Clark looked at Matty’s expensive watch. “Still, you abandoned her. She lived in a closet at the ice rink after she broke up with Austin. She sold herMaria Barilla rookie cardto pay for her tuition last year.”
“When did she live in a closet?” I turned to him, angry at the thought of Gwen being abandoned.
“After she broke up with her ex, but before she moved in with me. No one knew, otherwise we would have done something. As soon as I found out, I fixed it,” Clark replied, then scowled at Matty.
“There’s a lot that’s not mine to tell,” Matty replied, frowning.
“Last time she was in Canada, you all tried to keep her from going back to New York,” Clark retorted, taking a menacing step toward him.
Clark’s desire to defend and protect Gwen was hot.
“Thedadsdid. Assholish, but well-meant. She’s been through some shit, and they were worried about her,” Matty told us.
“Worried?” Gwen stood there with tear stains on her face, arms wrapped around herself. “They demanded I drop out, leave New York, and stay in Vancouver, like I was a little kid.”
“That was shitty. However, I understand why they thought it was a good idea, just not how they did it.” Matty got closer to her.
She shrank and nestled into Clark’s arms. I stood between Gwen and her brother to create a shield.
“I have no idea who you two are. Like I knowwhoyou are, and it’s obvious that you two care about her, butwho are you?” Matty asked.
“They’remine. I’m old enough to date. Most of my sisters were getting mated at my age.” She made a face at her brother, while she stayed in Clark’s arms.
“We are?” Clark beamed at her. “I’m so happy.”
Hers?I’d take it. We belonged to her.
