Rhys

The silence that followed my words was the craziest thing that had happened in that room. I could feel the heat radiating off the stage lights, and I could feel Kayden’s hand trembling beneath mine. He had just laid his entire soul bare, and I could see the vulture-like reporters in the front row already planning what to post online.

I leaned into my microphone when none of them asked any questions. The tone I used was a steady one my grandfather had taught me to use when the Calders were drawing a line in the sand.

At least, there was something from him that had proven to be useful.

"You are all sitting here talking about betrayal and regulations," I said, my gaze sweeping across the room until every reporter who had been smirking looked down at their laps. "But let’s be honest. If Kayden had walked into a draft camp as an open omega, half of you wouldn’t even be here tonight because you wouldn’t have bothered to show up to watch him play. You would have looked at his biology and ignored the fact that he skates circles around every true alpha in this league."

I tightened my grip on Kayden’s hand, letting my own scent, my protective instinct, bleed out. I wanted them to know exactly where I stood.

"My family helped build this league," I continued. "The Calder name is etched into the history of this sport. And I am telling you right now, if the rules of this game say a player like Kayden Vale, a player who just led his team to a Stanley Cup with a hat trick, and his past are being used against him, then the rules are a disgrace. He didn’t defraud anyone. He outplayed everyone you threw at him. He earned that Cup, earned the MVP. And as his captain and as the man who loves him, I dare any of you to tell me he doesn’t belong here."

The reporters started shouting again, throwing loads of questions at us, but I was already done. I looked at Coach Reddick, who was already standing up.

"I believe you have gotten enough questions from them. There will be no further questions. This press conference is over, and all other inquiries will be handled by the Avalanche PR and legal team. These men have had crazy long months, and now it’s time for them to celebrate and enjoy winning the Cup," he told them and didn’t wait for the moderator to speak as he beckoned everyone to stand up.

Our security team moved in, forming a physical wall between us and the flashing cameras. I kept my arm locked around Kayden’s waist, shielding him from the light as we were ushered out the side door and back toward the tunnel.

The second the heavy, soundproof doors of the locker room slammed shut behind us, the noise of the reporters died.

I expected a shift in the air. I expected everyone on the team except Miller to look at Kayden differently or for there to be that awkward, heavy distance that usually follows a secret that big. But the moment we stepped into the room, Jaxson let out a loud scream.

"CHAMPIONS!" he roared, popping a bottle of champagne he probably took from his parents and aiming the spray directly at us.

"To the MVP!" Luca yelled, lunging forward to pull us both into a massive, bruising hug. "Kayden, I don’t care what you are! I will not judge you for your actions."

Theo joined in. "Me too. You have gone through a lot, and seeing how much you have been putting in ever since you joined this team, I have to say that you are the best damn teammate I’ve ever had!"

The room exploded, and one by one, everyone started hugging Kayden. It was not the reaction I had expected because I knew how people were always wary of omegas taking their spaces, but I was shocked when they accepted Kayden that fast.

Maybe it was due to the relationship Kayden had built with everyone over the past few months, or it was just pure likeness. I didn’t care because all that mattered was that they accepted him.

But then I saw Coach Reddick’s face. He wasn’t celebrating. He caught my eyes and jerked his head toward a quiet corner of the locker room, away from the celebration, and signaled for Kayden to follow.

The air cooled the second we were out of the locker room.

"So," Coach Reddick began, looking from me to Kayden. "The CEO watched a bit of the interview and demanded you two come see him. He is livid at the sudden confession from both of you."

My heart started racing fast, knowing what this meant. It could mean the end for Kayden. He had put his career on the line just to reveal his secret, and as much as there would be positive reactions, there would also be negative ones, especially from people who hated omegas.

"Is he calling us to talk about the contract?"

Coach Reddick sighed, looking at me with a heavy kind of empathy. "Thomas is seriously mad, Rhys. Not necessarily at what you are, but at the fact that he was blindsided on a global broadcast. He feels like the organization’s integrity is on the line," he paused, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But I told him I knew why you couldn’t speak up. I told him I understood the stakes."

I watched the way Coach Reddick spoke. It was like something he had experienced. Out of curiosity, I decided to ask him.

"Has anyone you know ever done this before?"

Coach Reddick sighed heavily and then nodded his head. "I had a brother who wanted to become a tennis player."

Had. That word only meant something. The brother was gone.

"What happened to your brother?"

"He died," Coach Reddick rubbed his forehead as he spoke as if he was trying so hard not to relive the memory. "He wanted to be the world’s top tennis player, but he was an omega, and he tried to do what Kayden did. But I found out, and I was stupid enough to tell his coach about my brother’s status. I was a stupid, naive teenager who..." he let out a frustrated groan and punched the wall. "At the end, my brother committed suicide, all because of me." He lowered his head and burst into tears.