_Nathan’s POV_
The morning after the tie felt louder than the game itself.
By the time I got to the athletic building, half the team was already talking about the reschedule. No one liked unfinished business. Even less when it had happened under a VIP section full of pack observers and royals. The notice had gone out before midnight. Official date pending. Formal review attached. It made the whole thing feel less like a game and more like a public evaluation we had failed to close.
Theo was waiting near the entrance with a protein bar and a look that said he had already heard too much.
“You’re late,” he said.
“I’m on time.”
“For normal days, sure. For the day after we tied in front of half the royal seats? You’re late.” He fell into step beside me. “Locker room’s been going since sev
