His smile widens, and for a moment it's just the two of us, picking up where we left off the other night. Then he steps back, gesturing to his teammate.
"This is Aidan McKinney, our rookie goalie and one of my packmates."
Aidan steps forward, offering his hand. "Nice to meet you." His smile doesn't quite reach his eyes, which are busy assessing me with an intensity that makes me want to check if I have lipstick on my teeth.
"You too." I shake his hand, noting the firm grip. He smells like vanilla, subtle but distinctive. An alpha scent that should be comforting but somehow isn't in this context. Hell, I shouldn't be noticing it at all. Alphas have a stronger scent than betas, but it's not usually something I notice more than I would notice someone's cologne. It's just there, and it's either pleasant, neutral or off-putting, but gone and forgotten in a matter of seconds.
His scent, though, is… different. It leaves me wanting to lean in and get a better whiff, but the way he's looking at me immediately pours a cold bucket of water over that unusual fire.
All of a sudden, I'm left wondering if the Lawson pack is a little more than just unsure about bringing someone else into their dynamic like Darren implied.
And this right here is exactly why I don't do packs. Literally or figuratively.
Chapter
Sixteen
AIDAN
Earlier
The steering wheel feels slick under my palms as I navigate through evening traffic. I adjust my grip, trying to look casual despite the hurricane of nerves in my chest. Next to me, Darren stares out the passenger window, his profile sharp against the city lights. He's been quiet since we left the house, lost in thought or maybe just nervous about tonight.
I'm nervous too, but for completely different reasons.
"You sure the others are coming?" I ask, breaking the silence.
Darren glances at his phone, typing out a quick message. "Jax says they're on their way. Whether Zayn actually shows is another question."
"Yeah, well, when has Zayn ever done what he's told?" I try for light-hearted, but my voice comes out strained.
Darren snorts. "True. But Jax promised to drag him there by his perfectly styled hair if necessary."
I chuckle, the sound hollow even to my own ears. The truth is, Zayn isn't the only one I'm worried about behaving tonight. I'm not sure I trust myself either.
These past few weeks have been a special kind of hell. Ever since Darren presented as an omega, everything's shifted. The way the team looks at him. The way he holds himself, like he's constantly braced for judgment. The way I can't stop noticing things I've always tried to ignore. The breadth of his shoulders, the stubble darkening his jaw, the woodsmoke scent that leaks through even the strongest blockers by the end of the day.
It's not like I didn't know I was attracted to him before. I just buried it deep, filed it under "inappropriate rookie crush" and focused on hockey. But now? Now it's like someone's taken that carefully buried feeling and set it on fire.
"You okay over there?" Darren's voice cuts through my thoughts. "You look like you're plotting world domination."
"Just thinking about what I'm going to order," I lie, flipping on my turn signal. "I hear they have amazing steaks."
"Hmm." He doesn't sound convinced, but he doesn't push. That's one of the things I've always liked about Darren. He doesn't pry. Unlike some people. Cough,Jax.
"So," I say, desperate to fill the silence with anything other than my thoughts, "tell me about her. Lexie."
Darren's expression softens immediately, and my chest twists. "She's... different. Crazy smart. Runs her own clothing business. Makes these amazing sweaters."
"Sweaters, huh?" I try to picture the kind of woman who would capture Darren's interest. Someone soft, probably. But also strong-willed. "She sounds nice."
"She is." He shifts in his seat, looking almost shy. It's a strange look on him. Darren "The Brick" Malloy, notorious for making opposing players think twice about crossing our blue line, suddenly uncertain. "But she's also wary. Had some bad experiences with packs before."
"Great, so we're already starting at a disadvantage."
"Pretty much." He shoots me a sidelong glance. "Which is why I need you guys to not be weird tonight."
I swallow hard. "Define 'weird.'"
