― Keep the damn focus!
The ball had been drawn to the other side and another rally had begun. The boys in the net raised their arms creating the block trying to read the opponent's movements. Milles stretched his arm to the side preventing his opening from being used by the attacker. The blockage was successful and the second point was guaranteed.
The second set had brought luck to the team of Nicolas, who had managed to ensure a high score without giving gaps to the opponent. And just as they had imagined in the first set, they started playing harder because Nicolas was on the court.
Nicolas sweated with his hair glued to his face, completely focused on the moves. When the rotation finally put him on the net, used and abused his quick attack having to work together with Gabriel. The positive point was that the alpha had left his fight outside the court, cooperating with his captain patiently.
Using so much energy on the court to jump beyond his height, Nicolas was already panting tired in the middle of the match. He wiped the sweat with the back of his hand, feeling his skin being pinched by the patches that injected pheromones into his body. Was it sold out ahead of time because of the adhesive?
The players performed their best to maintain the victory of the second set. However, only Milles noticed in time when the opponents aimed at Nicolas. His quick attacks began to slow as the set reached its end.
Unnoticed by the captain, Milles covered for him by casting eyes on the other players instructing them on the field. The entire team functioned as a gear that protected their captain and prevented him from running around the court with his quick attacks. The few seconds he had to rest was enough for Nicolas to take a deep breath and ensure the energy needed to score points.
The opposing team could not read the players as they did in the first set.
There was only one point left to close.
It was Thunder who made the victory point, celebrating with the others with the referee's whistle. Nicolas was the only one left standing on his knees. His body was slow asking for rest, and all he could do was direct a glance at his best friend.
The exchange of glances between them had been significant, Theodore had gone to his meeting to drag him to the benches forcing him to sit down. He gave the towel and water, taking the opportunity to massage his calves.
― What's going on? Why did it get slower?
― The adhesives, should be effect. ― Gasped Nicolas after drinking a big sip of water. ― It will not be good if they realize it.
― They didn't see, Milles covered for you.
― What?
Theodore aimed the blue pearls at his friend and smiled at him. A smile that forced the captain to remember his conversation at lunch, making him frown in a grimace. The last thing he like to remember is admitting that.
― Anyway, if the stickers are taking effect now, then it will harm your game. This has never happened before.
Of course it had never happened before, because his body was not the same since the moment he kissed Milles. Now not even the patches would be able to contain your omega instincts. If he was tired like that, soon his smell would escape and his consciousness would be lost.
― Blame that bastard! ― Grumbled Nicolas throwing the bottle on the floor, messing up his angry hair.
Gabriel sat next to Nicolas panting with fatigue. Realizing that the captain did not look happy like the other team-mates, he had cast an inquisitive glance at Theodore, who in turn only denied with his head. It would not be the ideal time to discuss any matter other than the departure.
― Are your legs still numb?
― I'm all right.
― You know the coach can replace you.
― It is the third set that will decide who will go to the next round. If we lose we will be disqualified.
― Look, I may not be of your trust, just as I hate it when you're around Theodore ― Gabriel confessed softly, staring at his captain without trembling with his tired, furious eyes ― But on the court you have my support.
― Are you trying to motivate me?
― You are the captain. If you want to give me a moral lesson about something, you'll have to win this match by counting every player on your team.
Gabriel had left a few taps on Nicolas's shoulder and had risen up to his colleagues, not failing to pass by Theodore stroking his blonde hair. Realizing that his friend had become completely reddish, and the silly smile was born on his face, Nicolas had let out a laugh.
― Look how happy you are about a piece of shit like that.
― Look your mouth, Nico. ― Laugh Theodore continuing with his friend's calf massage. ― Now you knows he's a good person.
For the last decisive set, Nicolas returned to the court breathing deeply. He closed his eyes for a moment feeling each muscle in his body. None hurt, they were in good condition. He could move his legs and arms, but his head seemed too heavy.
There was a desire to lie down and sleep for long hours. His eyes weighed tons wanting to remain closed. The weight of his head was so much that he fell back, propping himself on something hard.
Weren't him on the court? So where was that wall from? Would your legs have walked to some corner without he noticing? No, impossible.
The strangeness was gone when a strong smell had enveloped him. A tasty and addictive aroma that Nicolas used to feel when entering the school locker room.
The smell of an alpha.
More precisely, from Milles.
About to raise his head and open his eyes, he felt a warm hand covering his eyes preventing his withdrawal.
― What do you think you're doing, big guy?
― How do you know it's me if you had yours eyes closed?
Milles' voice was playful and low, as if whispering only to himself. Nicolas's body had reacted by making his blood pulsate faster and faster, having his lungs pull the air to feel that smell deeply.
― Your smell. ― Admitted quietly without realizing.
Milles widened his eyes to the captain, swallowing hard trying to keep his own sanity. His body warmed just having the captain's head resting on his chest, and his hand touching his face. It was the closest he could get to a moment like that.
― Can you play in this state? Just answer yes or no.
Nicolas pondered and did not answer. He would say yes if he had not involved him with the smell, being a certainty that had vanished in seconds. But who wanted to deceive? Theodore had said that Milles had covered for him in the previous set, this means that he realized his slowness.
It would only be a matter of time before the other team noticed.
― No.
― That's what I needed to know.
Taking his hand off Nicolas's face, he turns his captain to adjust his posture and look at him suspicious.
― Why would you want to know that?
― To win, of course.
The players were positioned on the court once again, and the whistle for the third set had started. Nicolas kept calmly on the court breathing deeply waiting for his time to act. When he finally ran around the court, his legs responded beyond expectations.
His muscles seemed lighter and more agile. He had managed to jump even higher when making his cut and securing the first point. The lightness mixed with the speed, and even his team-mates seemed stunned.
And the same feat seemed to be repeated throughout the set, which was still tied. Nicolas noticed that his body reacted differently from the moment he smelled Milles before departure.
Oops...
Sniffing the air Nicolas realized.
Milles was always around Nicolas, making his smell surround only the omega. The influence of that alpha was intense at times when the captain attacked to score points, as if opening space for his moment to shine.
What surprised Nicolas most was that his body had accepted it naturally. He reacted exactly as that alpha wanted.
If Milles had bitten Nicolas and generated the connection between them, the effect would be quite similar. One would influence the other with his connection. But they didn't have that kind of relationship, so how was that alpha able to mess with him so much?
Although it was somewhat confusing and nauseating for Nicolas, he had not complained. He continued to make his game on the court abusing the lightness in his legs to increase his usual speed to score points and secure two points in front of the overall score.
Gabriel had received the ball from the libero and had raised for Nicolas. The captain faced the blockade that followed him rhythmically without untying. Changing the way his feet leaned on the ground, the captain managed to jump as high as he could and take advantage of the high point of the ball to cut.
His leap had been so splendid that once again he gained attention.
After long minutes of a close match, Nicolas had secured the victory and rank of his school.