Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

I sit at the table, feeling more anxious than I have in a long time. I rub my temples and remind myself that this is what I signed up for.

It was Sloane’s suggestion that we all meet outside of town, and I wonder if she specifically chose a public place so I wouldn’t cause a scene.

A few deep breaths help curb my frustration over the situation as the reality sets it.

I want Sloane. Even with the small time we’ve had with each other, I know that Sloane is the Omega for me. I guess I had just hoped or imagined that this wouldn’t happen.

She flat out told me she was looking for a pack. It wasn’t ever going to just be me. But I can’t deny it hurt all the same when she called me the third night I was away to let me know she had feelings for the fucking mascot .

I’ve tried to recall what he looks like, but I can’t. I remember that his name is Ethan and that he’s a Beta. Because Sloane all but bit my head off when I called him mascot. Which is what he fucking is.

Him being a Beta is probably the only reason I’m semi-holding on to my shit right now. If she wanted me to be introduced to another Alpha, I’m not sure how I would stomach it. I suppose this is a scenario I’m going to have to come to terms with sooner than later.

There’s still a part of me that wants to court and do things right when it comes to Sloane. It’s important that our foundation is strong. Then there’s this feral, possessive side of me that wants my mark on Sloane immediately so every motherfucker knows that she’s mine .

But she won’t ever truly just be mine.

Even though I’ve known this from the moment Sloane told me to ask her on a date, it’s still not an easy pill to swallow.

“Sir, would you like a drink?” the server asks me while I wait for the two to arrive.

“Water is fine, thank you.”

He nods his head and leaves. As soon as he does, I see Sloane in a deep green dress walk in. The Beta holding her hand is tall with dark, shaggy hair. The longer I look at him, I realize I’ve seen him before but must have never paid close enough attention to who was beyond the mask of Finnegan the Fox.

I stand from the table as Sloane drops Ethan’s hand and gives me a hug. Her body feels perfect against mine as I wrap her in my arms and get a hit of her sweet, peachy scent.

Even though we talked every night while I was gone, I still missed her. It didn’t help that this has been hanging over my head this whole time.

“I know you two mostly know each other. Bram, this is Ethan. Ethan, this is Bram.”

The Beta holds out his hand, and I shake it. His jacket rises up his arm, showing me the faintest peak of tattoos. His grip is firm, and he doesn’t shy away from my stare, so I give him points for that at least.

Ethan looks around at the restaurant, almost like he’s uncomfortable with the opulence.

“Thank you for having me,” Ethan says kindly as we take our seats.

I’m not sure what to say, so the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a stupid, “of course.”

Sloane takes a sip of her water and glances at both of us from the top of her glass.

“I made this really awkward, huh? Maybe we should have just met at your place, Bram. I just… I don’t know. I didn’t want either of you to feel you’re being lied to or that there wasn’t complete transparency. Building a pack from the ground up is no easy feat, but I really like the both of you, and I was just hoping that maybe you’d hit it off or at least become friends. I’m rambling,” she says with a sigh.

“Dinner was a good choice. You’ve been clear with me from the beginning about your looking for a pack. So it’s something we can all work through,” I say, even if I’m faking being laid back.

Part of me wants to strangle the Beta sitting at the table. The other part of me is slightly intrigued and wonders what exactly Sloane sees in him.

“Well, you two already know each other from the team,” Sloane says awkwardly.

“Not really,” the Beta whispers.

I’m back to wanting to punch him.

It’s been nearly a week, and I haven’t had a moment alone with Sloane. Meeting this asshole is cutting into my time.

“Right, I’m the mascot, and I work at a diner on my time off. When I’m not at my one-bedroom apartment I’m usually at my foster dad’s place,” Ethan says, and I nod my head.

He’s the mascot and works at a diner. What the fuck, Sloane?

“I play hockey, and then I go home,” I say, and Sloane rubs her forehead.

Her phone vibrates on the table, and she mutes it, forcing a smile between us.

“So we all like hockey, that’s something,” she says, and I let out a sigh.

Maybe it doesn’t matter how deep my connection with Sloane is, maybe I’m just not cut out for pack life. A feeling of loss and rejection fills me until Sloane grabs my hand and squeezes.

“Hey. You’re here, you’re trying. That’s all I can ask,” she says, and I search her face.

Her phone goes off again, and her brows furrow, but she mutes it again.

“Man, I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing either,” Ethan says, and my perception of him shifts ever so slightly.

Sloane’s phone goes off again, and she turns the screen.

“I’m sorry, guys, I’m going to take this really quick,” she says, and we both nod.

Ethan breaks the silence first.

“Listen, if you’re wondering what the fuck Sloane is doing with me, I’ve already asked myself the same question a million times. The fact is, she’s the girl of my dreams, and if you think you’re going to go all macho Alpha on my ass, you can try. But I’m not going any-fucking-where, so bring it, motherfucker.”

His speech makes a smile take over my face against my will. But the Beta has balls, and I like that.

I rest my chin on my palm.

“Do you think you could kick my ass, mascot?”

He looks me up and down and clicks his cheek. “No, but I’m pretty fast. I could tire your big ass out and then use my wiles to take you down. Some David and Goliath shit.”

My smile widens.

“You aren’t so bad,” I reply, and his eyes widen.

“Is this some reverse psychology bullshit where you make me feel comfortable and then slit my throat in my sleep?”

I look him up and down and sigh.

“No, Sloane likes you, and I’m trying.”

Ethan looks like he’s seen a ghost as I say that. “You know, you have a bit of a reputation for not liking people.”

“Well, I like Sloane the most. And what did you say? She’s your dream girl? Same. Being a dick to you doesn’t fit my agenda.”

“Your agenda?”

“Making Sloane mine.”

Ethan shrugs like he gets it. “Have you figured out the whole bit where her dad is terrifying and also the coach of the team we work for?”

“I have a five-year contract. I’m not going anywhere. What about you? How long do cute little mascot contracts last for?”

“Cute I’ll accept. I’m not little,” he says.

“Smaller than me,” I reply.

“Isn’t most of the population?” he says, and the smallest laugh escapes me.

Okay, Sloane. I get it.

“Sloane is helping me gain more popularity so that I can become irreplaceable.”

“How does one even become a mascot? Is this one of those furry or My Little Pony things?”

Ethan laughs out loud and shakes his head.

“I was a cheerleader before. Didn’t go to college and was looking for something outside of my foster dad’s diner. There was an open casting after the first mascot threw up in his mask after a night of hard partying, and I got the job.”

“Americans do love their cheerleaders. I’m assuming you were quite popular?” I ask.

He smirks. He’s a bit of a cocky little shit, this one.

“Mmm. Very popular. With most of the cheerleading squad and the football team,” he says confidentially. “What about you, Bram? You seem more like the scary kid who never spoke and everyone wondered if they were a psychopath.”

“Never hurt my chances with the cheerleading or football team. The real football team, not this soccer shit you all have here.”

Ethan tilts his head at this new piece of information.

“Does Sloane know that?”

“Know what?”

“That you play for both teams.”

“Right now, I’m only on team Sloane,” I reply to him. “So I don’t see why that matters.”

He takes a sip of his water. “I didn’t think you’d surprise me, but here you are,” he says, waving his hand at me.

I’m about to come up with a comeback when Sloane is clutching her phone against her chest with wide, vacant eyes.

“Sloane?” I ask.

She sits in her seat and grabs her water and takes a heavy sip. Ethan seems worried but lost on what to do.

I scoot my chair closer to Sloane’s.

“Can I get you started with some appetizers this evening?” the server says. My focus is completely on Sloane.

“If you can come back in a little while,” Ethan tells them.

I grab Sloane’s chin and force her to look at me. Her eyes are unfocused.

“She’s dead,” she whispers.

“Who?”

“My Mormor. She was staying at a hotel. My dad went to check in on her now that you’re back from your away games. She had a stroke,” she says almost robotically.

“What do you need?”

“My last words to her were ‘It’s hard to have you here,’” she says as her eyes fill with tears as she tries to tug away.

I grip her face with both hands, not being delicate with her at all.

“You are a good person, Sloane. I’m so sorry this happened. But you are not to blame. This is not your fault. Tell me what you need, and I will take care of it all. We can leave now, I can take you home, we can go to my house. Whatever you need, let me take care of you.”

She takes a deep breath, not crying but on the cusp.

“Can we go to your house? I’ll tell my dad I’m staying with Piper,” she says, and I nod my head.

I look over at Ethan. “Did you drive here?”

“We got a ride share,” he says, looking at Sloane like he’s trying to figure out what he can do.

I tug out my keys and hand them to Ethan.

“You drive. I’ll sit with Sloane in the back. I live in East Rock,” I tell him as he grabs the keys.

I take out forty dollars and leave it on the table for the server’s time as I wrap my arm around Sloane and shield her through the restaurant before sliding into the backseat of my SUV.

I buckle her in and rub her thigh as she leans against my shoulder. She doesn’t cry, but she doesn’t speak either. Ethan doesn’t turn on music, and we make the drive back to New Haven in relative silence.

I kiss the top of Sloane’s head, and she melts a little more into me.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her, and she nods. “Grilled cheese back at my place okay?” And she nods again.

I give Ethan directions to my place, and he pulls into the driveway. I unbuckle Sloane and open my door, getting out and grabbing her hand to bring her inside.

She almost seems like she’s completely disassociated as I set her up on my couch and wrap her up in a blanket. She sniffs the material and melts into the sectional as I head into the kitchen with Ethan.

I’m busy getting the frying pan, bread, cheese, and mayo out.

“You’re good with her,” he says, resting his hip against the counter. “Have you been around other Omegas before?” he asks.

“No. I don’t know how to explain it. Everything with her is so instinctual.”

“You know what, Nilsen? I think this might just work after all,” the Beta says, slapping my ass where I stand at the oven, shocking me before walking back to the couch to look after Sloane.

Tonight is one hundred percent not how I expected things to go.