Page 157 of Traded

The hands bang again. The player pulls his helmet off, yelling words I can’t hear. Faces turn toward me.

My lips form the word again.

He rakes a hand back through dark hair, turning to look at the ice and back at me.

He doesn’t understand. None of them do.

My hand creeps up to my neck.

“Rosie.” I flinch back from the sound. “Shit—is that blood?”

My fingers brush against the wetness on my jersey before they find the edges of the scarf.

I don’t take my eyes off the scarlet jersey. He’s watching me too, pushing away the people who grab at his arm, shouting at him. Others turn my way, but I keep my eyes on him as the buzzer sounds.

And I pull the scarf from my neck.

Chapter forty-four

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Boone’s eyes lower to my neck.

Around me, there’s only silence.

“Rosie. Oh my god.” Katie’s hand shakes as she lifts it, pulling back at my flinch. “We’ve got you. Fuck. We need help over here! Medics!”

Others are turning around. So many faces, all of them pointing at me. But I’m watching the alpha in front of me as his face crumples, his hand hitting the glass again.

I read his lips.

I’m coming.

A keen ripples from my throat.

“It’s going to be okay.” Lauren is trying to press the scarf against my neck, but I push her away as Boone pushes off the glass and disappears.

There is too much noise. Too many faces. I stagger to my feet, shaking my head. “I need—”

I don’t know. I don’tknow.

I need to not be here.

I look out over the rink, but it’s empty, and my stomach clenches.

He’s coming.

Bursting into movement, I shove past Lauren. She grabs for my arm, missing it as I pull away and dart along the seats, weaving unsteadily as more hands reach for me.

I fall down the steps, stumbling and swinging against the handrail, slamming into the wall.

Boone is coming.

Carter is coming.

And Liam. Liam is coming, too.

I choke on my own sobs as I race for the stairs. People stare at me, shouts echoing behind.