Miller

Rhys pulled me to a quiet corner away from the bustling activity around the arena and began explaining everything that had happened in careful detail, laying out exactly why Kayden had decided to pretend to be an alpha just so he could keep playing hockey at the highest level.

The league had not been fair to omegas for years, ever since the controversial news had broken and sent ripples of change through every professional sport. Rules tightened, opportunities narrowed, and unspoken biases grew stronger with each passing season. So I understood deeply why Kayden had made that difficult choice.

And he had done a truly great job of it, because I had never once suspected—even for a single moment—that he was anything other than a confident, dominant alpha.

The way he carried himself on the ice, the way his presence filled the locker room, it had all felt so natural and unquestionable.

"So he is coming out today if we win the Cup?" I asked, even though Rhys had already said it multiple times during our hushed conversation.

I was still in complete awe that he was willing to take such an enormous risk after everything he had sacrificed and endured to reach this exact point in his career.

Coming out could send him to jail or ruin his career.

Rhys nodded slowly, his expression steady but full of quiet understanding.

"Amazing," I told him, my voice soft with genuine admiration. "That is something that takes real bravery to do. But what happens if we don’t win?" The question slipped out before I could stop it, laced with the sudden wave of worry that washed over me.

Rhys lowered his head for a moment, as if he was carefully thinking of what to say next, searching for the right words to ease my concern.

When he finally spoke, he slowly raised his head and offered me a warm, reassuring smile. "I am sure—positive—that we will win the Stanley Cup today.

Kayden is looking forward to this moment more than anything, and that is exactly why he is doing everything he can to play through it all. He has been preparing for this day for so long."

"Is he going to be fine, though? He looked like he was in a lot of pain when I saw him earlier—the way he was holding himself, the tension in his shoulders. It worries me more than I want to admit."

"He will be fine," Rhys replied with quiet confidence. "After today, he won’t have to hide what he is anymore. No more masks, no more pretending. That freedom alone will be worth every ache and every secret he’s carried."

I nodded in understanding, letting his words sink in, and then clamped my hands firmly on his shoulders, grounding myself in the solid presence of my friend. "I totally understand, and I hate that I had to find out like this, but I completely get why you never told me and why Kayden kept it hidden all this time. Something as big as this is best kept as a secret until the moment is right. The risks are just too high otherwise."

I heaved a deep sigh, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. "It’s just like when I found out about Leo..." I paused for a moment, my eyes darting around instinctively to see if anyone was walking past us in the narrow hallway.

Even though we were tucked away in a secluded corner that wouldn’t be easily discovered by prying eyes or curious ears, I had to make sure I didn’t say his identity carelessly. Omegas could sometimes be pardoned for certain things in this world, but for enigmas, I had no idea what kind of consequences would follow.

The system was harsh and unforgiving when it came to those rare and powerful designations.

What everyone knew—what had been drilled into us through hushed warnings and old news stories—was that the enigmas who had been taken years ago never returned home. They simply vanished, leaving behind only silence and fear.

"When I found out about Leo, I wasn’t mad that he was an enigma. Not at all. I just didn’t like how he had kept the secret from me for so long. I don’t like being kept in the dark about the people I care about, and that’s exactly why I got so mad about what happened with Kayden. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. It wasn’t fair to him, especially after everything he’s been carrying alone." My voice softened as the regret settled in deeper.

Rhys pointed toward the direction of the waiting bus, his gesture calm and encouraging. "Well, there is still time to tell Kayden that, so let’s head over to the bus. You can clear the air before we hit the ice."

"Lead the way."

Rhys stepped out of the corner first, and I followed right behind him, my heart beating a little faster with every step.

We walked side by side toward the bus without saying anything else. When we reached the bus and he pushed the door open, I heaved another deep sigh, my mind racing as I thought carefully about what I wanted to say to Kayden—how to apologize properly, how to show him I was on his side now more than ever.

"Kayden, I..." I began as soon as I stepped inside, but I paused mid-sentence when I saw that Kayden was already on his feet, moving with more strength than before. Unlike when I had left him just a few minutes ago, he looked much better now—no longer pale and drained, his color returning and his posture straighter, as if the brief rest and whatever quiet support he had received had already started working its magic.

"You look like you’ve seen a ghost," Leo pointed out from his seat, his tone light but knowing.

I frowned at him, the familiar irritation mixing with the swirl of emotions inside me.

"Oh, don’t give me that look, Miller. I couldn’t tell you anything because Kayden didn’t want it. I had to keep his secret. That’s what friends do in situations like this."

Leo was right. I couldn’t argue with that, even if part of me still wished things had unfolded differently.

"How are you feeling now?" I threw the question directly toward Kayden, my eyes searching his face for any lingering signs of discomfort.

The bus no longer smelled of his raw, distressed pheromones. It had faded completely, replaced by the warm, steady, and carefully crafted scent of sandalwood—his usual facade scent that had fooled everyone for so long.

"Will you be able to play? Really play, without pushing yourself too far?"

Kayden nodded with clear enthusiasm, his eyes lighting up with determination. "Yes. I’m ready. This is what I’ve been fighting for."

"I’m sorry," we both said at the same time, the words overlapping perfectly, and then we burst into shared laughter that eased some of the tension hanging in the air.

"Please, go ahead," I said to him, gesturing for him to speak first.

Kayden moved closer to me without hesitation, grabbed my hand in his, and then pulled me into a sudden, warm hug that caught me completely off guard. His arms wrapped around me with surprising gentleness, yet there was undeniable strength behind them.

"I’m sorry for not telling you," he murmured against my shoulder. "It was something I never thought of letting out, let alone telling the world. It felt safer to keep it locked away." He pulled away slowly but kept holding my hands, his gaze steady and sincere.

"Meeting Rhys made me change that perspective completely, and also seeing how omegas are being treated day after day in this league... I knew I had to do this for them. That’s why I’m coming out—win or lose, but especially if we win."

"That is so brave of you," I told him, my voice thick with emotion, and this time I pulled him into my arms, holding him tightly for a long moment. "I am truly proud of you for doing this. It is something I wouldn’t have the courage to do, ever. And I’m sorry for lashing out at you earlier. It was my mistake—I had no idea what you had to go through, what you had to face and sacrifice to reach this point. The hiding, the pain, the constant performance... I see it now."

"It’s alright. We are all past that now." We both pulled away, but the connection between us felt stronger than before.

Kayden continued with a spark of excitement in his voice, "Now... we plan on winning the Cup against the Southbridge Falcons. We’re taking it home tonight."

"Yes, that is the goal," I responded, practically screaming with renewed excitement, my fists clenching at my sides as adrenaline surged through me.

Leo groaned dramatically from near the front and then headed toward the doors, shaking his head with a fond smirk. "If you all are done with the family reunion, I’d advise you to get to the rink because your teammates might be wondering why you haven’t joined them yet. The pre-game warm-ups won’t wait forever." He pushed the doors open wide, letting in the distant sounds of the arena.

"Leo is right. I’ll see you both on the ice—and good luck to us," I said, letting go of Kayden’s hand with one final squeeze.

I patted him firmly on the shoulder, feeling the solid muscle beneath my palm, and then rushed after Leo, my steps quickening with purpose.

"Wait up!" I shouted after him.