Page 85 of Ice King

“I’m not?—”

Samantha threw her hand out, stopping me. “None of that. Shut it. You are playing the ‘woe is me’ card and that ends today. If you honestly still believe that what Georgia did by talking to your coach is wrong, then I don’t want to be your sister any longer.”

“She shouldn’t have?—”

This time, she pressed her entire hand over my mouth, shaking her head. “Shut. Up. I know what you’re going to say. She had no right or my favorite bullshit excuse. She isn’t a doctor. Well, guess what, bonehead? She was in medical school but had to drop out because her mother got sick and her dad couldn’t afford to continue paying for her education. She shifted into physical therapy to help pay the bills. My guess is, she always thought she’d go back to medical school. Anyway, she had enough knowledge to see the signs. Or maybe for you, read the tea leaves.”

Okay, so I was shocked. Very slowly, she lowered her hand. “Then what happened? Why did she come here as…” Oh, my God. I was about to demean her job.

“Just a massage therapist. Is that what you were going to say? She fell in love with the wrong man, some asshole who mistreated her and she had to run away from her life. I don’t know all the specifics, but Roxanne’s father was good friends with Georgia’s father. All I know is that her ex was horrible to her. Even threatening her if she tried to leave. But she found the courage not only to leave him but to start a new life. Including dating. Then you had to go off like some insane wolf and beat up someone who used to be a friend. And punch a hole in a wall. Imagine what she’s likely thinking about you. That she dodged a damn bullet. Do you blame her?”

All the moments during the last three weeks I’d been incensed, allowing my fury to have a face, Georgia’s beautiful one, no longer mattered.

Now every muscle was tense as a rock, my blood boiling to the point beads of sweat were already trickling down both sides of my face. “What did you say?” The low rumble in my voice matched the vibrations beneath the ground provided by Mother Nature.

“Which part?”

“Who is this asshole who hurt her?” I no longer recognized my voice.

Samantha was pleasantly surprised. “I knew it. You’re such a bad liar. You’re definitely a hypocrite. You are her mate. Now I don’t feel so bad that…”

My sister was one of the most intentional people I’d ever met. She never did anything without a reason and rarely, if ever, made a mistake. Even though she tried to pass off whatever she’d almost allowed to slip, I knew better. “Now who’s the better liar? What did you do?”

At least we knew better than to try to play games with each other. However, she took a step back anyway. “I might have mentioned she’s your mate.”

Not once had I wanted to believe in the possibility throughout the years, nor had I believed in the hype as told by wolf elders. However, with our father and mother coming clean about their relationship, I’d done little else but mull over the possibilities. With only Georgia in mind. Yeah, I guess I was a hypocrite.

“You did not.”

“By accident. But she’s having the same type of dreams you are. In the forest. You know what Grandfather used to tell us.”

Mates shared the same dream.

“You don’t do anything by accident, sister of mine.” I returned my gaze toward the sky, forced to admit that I had been wallowing in self-indulgence. I’d been so furious with Georgia that I’d argued with every doctor, including one who’d been the family doctor for years. An old wolf with a heart of gold and the kind of man who refused to take shit from anyone.

Especially me.

“Someone had to pull on that huge stick stuck up your ass.”

Her answer smashed a portion of the anger I’d been using as a layer of armor, allowing me to laugh. “How did she take it when you said that?”

“Oh, you know. She broke into hysterical laughter and mentioned as soon as she left work, she was getting wasted. Other than that, I think she took the news very well.”

“Shit. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. Is she alright?”

“You know, it’s very funny, but she asked the same question. That means the two of you need to talk. You’re a live wire and she’s the only person you’ve been with where I’ve been able to see you smile.”

“Yeah, well. What good am I to her if I can’t play hockey.” I wasn’t expecting her to punch me in the arm. “Ouch.”

“Oh, please. I didn’t hurt you, but if I did, all the better. You’re such a crybaby. You have more talent in your little finger than any other player I’ve ever known.”

“Including Beck and Cole?”

“Yes, you big baby, and if you tell them that, I will kick you in the ass.” Samantha grumbled under her breath.

“I know what you’re saying.”

“I’m not sure you do. I was ten years old when Marianne was lost. I thought I’d lost my brother too. I know the past is painful. You’re put all of yourself into playing hockey and it’s paid off. But you also deserve personal happiness. Without having someone by your side, what does the success really look like? Ten thousand puck bunnies? I know that’s not what you want.”