Page 101 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“What else did you accomplish today, firecracker?” August asked with a grin. “I know you like to stay busy so you don’t have to think too much.”

I rolled my eyes. “I scheduled therapy for both me and Gavin. Met with Coach and he said my job is still there. Lydia said I can come back, too. She’s dropping me down to part-time for the time being, though.”

“Good.” Conrad nodded immediately. “You don’t need to work yourself into the ground anymore.”

I let out a slow breath. “I’m trying to remember that.”

“It’s going to take time,” Conrad said gently. “For both of you. You’ve spent years surviving.”

His thumbs traced slow circles across the backs of my hands. My pack’s scent wrapped around me. It was warm and steady and safe.

Some of the tightness in my chest eased as they moved in around me, hands warm and steady on my skin.

“I’m sorry.” The words escaped before I could stop them. “I wish I was one of those omegas who finds her pack and immediately throws herself into their arms. I come with so much baggage and trauma. Sometimes, I don’t even know how I’m still standing.”

Lachlan’s expression softened. “We don’t want that omega.”

My head lifted to look at my red-haired delta. He waited to continue until I was looking at him.

“We want you, gorgeous. I adore how fiercely you protect Gavin. We like how independent you are. But strength and softness aren’t opposites. You can still be strong and let us take care of you.”

“I know.” I looked down at my lap. “I’m trying.”

My mind drifted to the nest upstairs. It was beautiful. Lachlan had made it dark and cozy. They’d poured so much love into creating it. Yet, I still couldn’t settle.

What if I never became the omega they deserved? Or figured out how to be soft?

Even as I fought internally about my shortcomings, Conrad never looked away.

The certainty in his eyes never wavered. My eyes drifted to Lachlan and he was the same steady force.

Then August. He smirked, daring me to get on board with them.

Slowly, as they gave me unwavering trust and determination, something shifted inside of me.

Maybe I wasn’t protecting myself anymore, I was only keeping myself isolated.

They’d never given me a reason to doubt them. They’d only ever asked for one thing.

To give them a real chance and let them be the pack I needed.

“I’ve never given myself the chance to even dream about that life.” It sounded so pathetic to admit out loud, but hope was dangerous with my mother. She’d sniff it out like a bloodhound and snuff it as quickly as possible.

Lachlan shrugged. “Then maybe it’s time you do.” He said it so simply. As though it really could be that easy.

“I want to take you and Gavin both shopping tonight,” Conrad said. “We’re not trying to buy your love. We just want you to feel at home.”

August tapped the table in front of me. “He’s right. Your rooms are beautiful, but they’re still missing something. They’re missing you.”

“Me?” I questioned with a snort of laughter.

“Yes,” he said, more serious than my delta usually was. “We filled Gavin’s room with hockey because we know he loves hockey. But there has to be more than that. We want to find out what those things are for both of you, and we want this place to feel like home.”

“Even if you don’t know what that looks like yet,” Lachlan added.

They were waiting for me to say something now. There was nothing left to do but agree.

“Okay.” The pride that spread across Conrad’s face warmed my chest. He wasn’t trying to solve everything for me, because he knew it would mean more if I chose it.