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2026-03-29 02:23:36
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MIDWINTER MATE 34
DIEGO“You know I do,” Diego replied, his voice dropping into that familiar, quiet intensity. He locked eyes with Ethan, stripping away the defensive layers so his friend could witness the unvarnished truth. “Isn’t it glaringly obvious? My soul hasn't been on the ice since Kol and I became an item—not in any way that counts.” He shook his head, a look of genuine disbelief crossing his face. “There was a time when the Austin Ice Arena was the boundary of my entire universe. But he pulled back the curtain; he proved to me that the world is infinitely larger than a rink.”“I mean…” Ethan cast a wary glance around the locker room, ensuring the rest of the Wolves were occupied with their own gear. In this sanctuary of testosterone and grit, confessing that anything held more weight than the game was akin to high treason. “This was the ultimate objective, Diego! Dominating the state championships, hoisting the trophy as the captain… You’re telling me that fire has just burned out?”“It’s no
MIDWINTER MATE 33
DIEGOIt had been an agonizing ten days since the last time Diego had heard Kol’s voice—not that he was meticulously tracking the hours. Except, in reality, he was doing exactly that, and the rest of the team was starting to pick up on his fraying edges. Even Isabella had transitioned from her usual mockery to a strange, unsettling brand of pity, which only served to sharpen the blade of his guilt."Snap out of it, Diego," she said, leaning against the doorframe of the Alvarez Residence as he packed his gear for the afternoon skate. "Statistically, you were bound to father an heir eventually. Honestly, I couldn't have scripted a more dramatic twist if I’d tried." Diego shot her a look of pure exhaustion, but she simply tossed her hair and continued. "There is no more efficient way to sabotage a man’s trajectory than with a surprise pup," she added with a careless shrug.Diego shook his head, a heavy sigh escaping him as he rubbed his palms over his face, trying to clear the mental fog
MIDWINTER MATE 32
“You are going to have to find a new spot, though,” Valeria added, her pragmatic side returning.Kol felt the weight of reality settle back onto his shoulders. “I know,” he said with a touch of sadness. “I’m going to miss the hell out of our place, but I wouldn't dream of inflicting a newborn on you. I’ll figure out a path. I’ll likely have to move back to the Reyes family home and stay with my mom.”“I’ll be over every week!” Valeria promised, trying to maintain the high energy. “Don’t expect me to handle any biological hazards or diaper changes, but I’m definitely going to be the one to spoil them and squish those tiny cheeks.”“How are you so certain it’s a girl?” Kol asked with a grin, rubbing a slow circle over his stomach.Valeria shrugged casually. “Call it a wolf’s intuition.”“I have a feeling you might be right,” Kol agreed, looking down at the subtle change in his profile between his hipbones. He couldn't believe he’d dismissed the signs for so long, failing to recognize th
MIDWINTER MATE 31
KOLValeria Cruz allowed Kol to nearly pulverize her knuckles while the medical professional applied the translucent, chilled conductive gel across his lower abdomen. “Wow, that’s actually warmer than I anticipated,” Kol murmured, a nervous tremor in his voice.“We strive to keep the experience as pleasant as possible,” the nurse replied with a practiced, gentle bedside manner. “Alright, you’re going to feel a bit of firm pressure now.” She positioned the ultrasound transducer against his skin, sliding the device with rhythmic, sweeping motions as she searched for a clear image on the dark monitor.Valeria was visibly wincing, and Kol realized he had her hand trapped in a desperate, white-knuckled vice. He relaxed his grip an inch, and she mouthed a silent ‘Thank you’ toward him. He offered a small, apologetic smile in return. He felt a profound surge of gratitude that she had agreed to accompany him to the Austin Memorial Hospital for this. The thought of facing the cold reality of t
MIDWINTER MATE 30
He bankrolled a round of shots for the group and grabbed a heavy stout to nurse while he dominated the pool table. Lucas and Ethan challenged him, but even as his coordination began to fray at the edges, Diego’s predatory focus remained sharp; he cleared the table twice without breaking a sweat. Eventually, Lucas tapped out and retreated to the booths with the others. Ethan remained a silent shadow at his side.Javier was a constant revolving door of tequila shots, which Diego accepted with grim gratitude. As grating as the man was, he was an expert at facilitating a downward spiral, and that was the exact frequency Diego wanted to vibrate on. Eventually, the pool cues were put away, and he joined Javier, Ethan, and Daniel Torres at a corner table. They were embroiled in a heated debate about a series Daniel was obsessed with.“You’re missing the point,” Daniel was arguing. “Just because it’s a graphic novel adaptation doesn't mean it’s for toddlers. The kill count alone makes it an R
MIDWINTER MATE 29
DIEGO“Down it! Down it! Down it!” the circle of teammates surrounding him roared. Diego tipped his head back, draining the final amber drops of the brew before crushing the aluminum in his grip. The Austin Wolves let out a collective howl of approval. He offered a jagged grin, suppressing the bile rising in his throat.This was the anesthetic he required. After fleeing the Riverside Duplex, his internal monologue had been a chaotic cacophony. He had messaged Ethan Brooks to scout for any diversions, and since it was Saturday in Austin, the options were limitless. Ethan was a brother in every sense; he hadn't pried when Diego confessed a desperate need to black out. He simply rounded up the pack and the supplies.“Who’s down for the Lone Star Bar?” Javier Morales yelled over the rhythmic thumping of the bass. “This house is becoming a total wall-to-wall bromance.”Scanning the room, Diego saw the truth in Javier’s assessment. The space was packed with hockey players—wolves in human sk
MIDWINTER MATE XX10
The next morning, Diego awoke to the weight of Kol’s head resting against his shoulder. In the soft light of the Riverside Duplex, the younger man looked entirely different—the sharp, defensive edge of his personality had smoothed out in sleep. There were no tension lines on his brow, and his lips
MIDWINTER MATE XX9
DIEGO“Wait, you’re taking him where?”Isabella was leaning against my doorframe, judging my outfit while I finished getting ready for my night with Kol. “Dinner and a movie,” I grunted, focused on the mirror as I tamed my hair.“How original.” Isabella snorted, checking her manicure.I turned, nar
MIDWINTER MATE XX8
Diego let out a huff. “Valeria hasn’t seen what I have on the ice. You think this is bad? I’ve seen teammates lose their breakfast mid-game. Vomit actually bounces off the rink if it's cold enough.”The mental image sent Kol back over the toilet. Diego sat there patiently, silent and steady until t
MIDWINTER MATE XX7
KOLIt was becoming impossible to ignore: Diego Alvarez was the primary reason Kol was actually surviving Physics.Nearly three weeks had passed since that blurred night at the Duplex, and in that time, the star captain of the Austin Wolves had become a permanent fixture at Kol's table in the Austi
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