He wasn’t a screamer, but we’d crossed a line.
“The Narwhals had it coming,” Lennon said, speaking for all of us. “We’re sorry for how it made you look, but we needed it.”
“So this was personal,” Coach said flatly. I told him as much out there on the bench.
We waited as he started to pace, his mouth moving as he muttered silently to himself. This was new territory for him.
Understanding dawned on his face a second later, followed quickly by frustration. “This is about Lana Flynn, isn’t it?”
We said nothing. There was no way we were going to out our reasons. The less he knew, the better.
“I like our new nutritionist,” he continued, rubbing his temples. “I understand loyalty. But I won’t have that shit on my team. You fight by winning. We play clean and we stay strong. Not like this.”
“Sorry, Coach,” we muttered in unison. We didn’t bother to lie and say it wouldn't happen again.
He went on for several minutes, laying out some hard truths. When he finally stopped, he shook his head. “The entire first-line is out next game, and banned from practice next week.”
“What?” Mason started, but Coach cut him off.
“You made your choice. If I don’t punish this, the league will. You fight your battles with skill and discipline. I won’t tolerate behavior like this on my team. Understood?”
“Yes, Coach,” we said.
When he left, the locker room fell silent. We looked every part the chastised players, as if we were thinking over our decisions.
All I could think about was the omega I definitely shouldn’t be this attached to. It wasn’t friendly, but I was respecting Conrad.
For now.
“That was brutal,” Wilder muttered. “But, I don’t fucking regret it.”
“Hell no,” I agreed.
“Did anyone notice her scent changing?” Kieran asked quietly, scrubbing a hand over his face.
Something about the way he said it sparked hope in my chest. It was dangerous, and I shoved it down immediately.
“What do you mean?” Wilder asked.
“Nothing yet,” Kieran said. “If it changes more, you tell me.”
On that vague note, he stood and left.
We all knew he had plans with Lana tonight, leaving us to go smooth things over with the rest of the team. Even if we did mean it, we weren’t trying to be assholes. This game was just personal.
I couldn’t wait for the moment the Narwhals first-line realized that they’d lost everything, so I could deliver the punishment they truly deserved.
One that required far more blood than we took tonight.
For now, I’d wait.
In the meantime, I’d take care of the omega they should’ve protected all along.
Chapter
Fourteen
Lana
