Chapter 5– The Medic's First Day

Lori's POV 

"You will be starting immediately as the team's medic. I will give you our training schedules." He paused and met my eyes from across the breakfast table. "I'm sure you're already well aware of it, but for formality sake." His cutlery barely made any noise on his plate. "Don't be late. Don't show any weakness, and don't expect us to walk in there as a couple." 

I stared at Dante across the breakfast table, and the food in my mouth tasted like I was eating paper. Two weeks had passed since the wedding and I had been rotting away in this mansion with him, recuperating too and having the doctors brought her for my antenatal. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was now married to a billionaire weeks after I got humiliated by my mate.

"I'm not expecting you to hold my hand," I said quietly, poking at my eggs. "I just want to know why you want to put me in the same building with Silas and the team members after what he did to me. After the world has gotten the wrong impression of me."

"I thought you said you wanted revenge." A wry smile came over his serene face. "How will you be able to do that if you continue hiding yourself away in this mansion," he stabbed another egg with his fork and brought it to his mouth, chewing slowly. "How will you take revenge on anyone when you can't stand in front of them for even a second." He held my gaze fleetingly. "You need to learn to face them without breaking. Consider this training."

"Training." I laughed bitterly. "You're throwing me at the wolves and calling it training."

"If I'm throwing you there, it means I'm expecting and trusting you to bite back." Finally, he looked at me. "You're a healer, Lori, and the team needs a medic, and you're qualified. More qualified than the last three I've hired. So... Do the job and earn their respect."

"And if I can't handle it?" My hands trembled slightly. "What if..."

"Then you'll tell me, and I'll handle it for you." His voice dropped. "But I don't think you'll need me to. I've seen what you have survived, Lori." He managed to give me a smile. "A few hostile hockey players aren't going to be what takes you down."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to tell him that seeing Silas and Janie together would reopen wounds that hadn't even begun to heal. But Dante had already stood up, grabbing his keys.

"The car leaves at seven, don't be late."

*

The arena looked different during the day, and the only familiar thing was the sound of the pucks hitting boards on the rink.

I walked through the players' tunnel with my medical bag clutched to my chest, my heart hammering so hard I was sure everyone could hear it.

I found the medical office easily enough. It was a small room that wasn't so far from the locker room, and was stocked with everything a healer could need. I was organizing supplies when I heard their voices.

"Is that her?" 

They didn't try to keep their voice down, but made sure I heard every single thing.

"That's definitely her. The Omega who cheated on Cap."

"What the hell is she doing here?"

I turned to find three players standing in the doorway. I recognized them from the championship game. They were Silas' linemates and one of them was his closest friend.

"I'm the new team medic," I said, I tried to force a smile but it didn't reach my eyes. I wouldn't break in front of these players. "If you have any injuries or concerns, I'll be handling them from now on."

"You've got to be kidding me." The tallest one stepped forward with disbelief written all over his face. "Our coach hired you? After what you did to Silas?"

"Silas is the one who publicly rejected me and claimed my best friend on the same night," I said quietly. "But I'm not here to discuss my personal life. I'm here to do my job."

"Your job." The defenseman laughed. "Your job is spreading your legs, isn't it? That's what the whole world saw on that screen. You're pretty talented at that job, from what I could tell..." He was leering as he made his way towards me.

"That's enough."

The voice came from behind us, and I watched as all their spines went rigid. 

Dante. 

He stepped into the doorway, and the temperature in the room dropped ten degrees. All their ego seemed to disappear with the presence of their new coach.

"Coach, we were just..." The first player who had gotten close was stammering and trying to explain himself.

"I heard exactly what you were doing." Dante's voice was cold. "Let me make something perfectly clear to all of you. Lori is a certified healer with more medical training than anyone who's held this position before. She's here to keep you healthy on the ice. Anyone who brings their personal feelings into this facility and uses them to harass a staff member will be benched for the rest of the season. If it happens again, you're off the team permanently. And you should know I don't give second chances."

The players stared at him, and I could see them shaking under his cold stare, and I knew this was beyond the fact that he was their captain. Dante seemed to be someone who was more than just that.

"Does anyone have questions about this policy?" Dante asked, but they all shook their heads immediately. "Then, get dressed because practice starts in ten." He waited until they scattered before turning to me. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." That was a lie because my hands were shaking. But I wasn't going to admit that. "You didn't have to do that."

"Yes, I did. This is my facility. My team, and I don't tolerate harassment." He paused. "But I won't always be around to fight your battles. The sooner you make your voice the loudest here, the better."

"I..." I swallowed. "I will try."

He wasn't looking at me anymore, but something behind me, and I wished I hadn't followed his gaze to look beyond the window where the ice rink was visible from here.

"And you should know how to handle that too..." He said slowly before turning to leave, and I was rooted to the spot, my chest caving in as I watched Silas locking lips fiercely with Janie.