Page 111 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

A large mattress lay in the center, covered in soft blankets and more pillows. Small lanterns rested in just about every corner, waiting to be lit, something I wasn’t going to do until the sun sank beyond the horizon.

Everything was perfect.

Not wanting to linger and psych myself out, I went back inside to focus on the food.

I hoped she’d be hungry after her evening shift. Lydia was willing to move her back to mornings next week, but for now they had help lined up. She wanted Dhara to start out slow now that she was recovering.

I just wanted to give our girl an evening where it was just the two of us, to show her that her alpha would always give her what she needed.

Dhara had loved when we’d ordered pizza, and we’d practiced it in class last week. I knew I couldn’t go wrong with fresh dough and melty cheese.

I cut up fresh vegetables and made a light salad for us to enjoy together once I had the dough rising. I’d even gone out and bought a wood-fired pizza oven.

That only left dessert.

I started assembling a tiramisu, the smell of freshly-brewed coffee filling the air.

It was funny. I started these alpha cooking classes as a way to cope with the stress of not being able to save Dhara from the situation she was in, but they’d turned into something that I found purpose in.

After a hectic practice today, it was nice to be able to focus on something like this. Not only was I able to provide for my pack the way my alpha needed me to, but I felt a little more in control.

“What do you need from us tonight?”

Lachlan’s voice startled me. He barked out a laugh when I jumped, shaking his head.

“I called your name,” he defended himself and held up two fingers. “Twice.”

I laughed it off. “Sorry. I was locked in, just trying to make the date tonight perfect.”

August and Lachlan had been understanding when I told them my plans. We were all trying to make time to be with our girl separately as well as together. August had claimed her last night and Lachlan wanted to have alone time with her after our next game.

“I just took a peek at the finished product out there,” he said, gesturing toward the backyard. “It looks incredible. I’m going to assume you guys are staying out there tonight.”

“That’s up to her. There’s no pressure either way.” The important part was that she was going at her pace, not ours.

“I get it,” he said, nodding before nabbing a hunk of cucumber and popping it into his mouth.

“August and I were thinking about taking Gavin out to that restaurant and arcade he loved. That way you guys could have some extra privacy. We won’t keep him out too late. It’s a school night, but I’m hoping to keep him out for most of the evening.”

“Thanks, that would be perfect,” I admitted. Not that we didn’t want Gavin around, but tonight I selfishly wanted her all to myself.

It was nice to have a pack that I could rely on.

Everyone wanted to talk shit about deltas, saying they were spontaneous and reactive, but I’d been around them enough to know they were no more reactive than alphas.

I’d fought alongside my sister and her pack to keep them in the league. I believed in the deltas. Their ruts were about the only thing that set them apart, and most of the league, like Lachlan and August, took rut blockers. The only thing that could override those was an omega in heat.

They likely would both struggle during Dhara’s heat, but I’d be there to make sure everything stayed as controlled as it needed to be.

She was safe with me.

I’d just slid the salad bowl into the fridge when the front door opened.

Gavin and Dhara’s voices drifted in, and I felt my alpha relax even further. Having the whole pack in the house always settled something inside of me.

Before Dhara could run into the kitchen and ruin her surprise, I rushed out to greet them.

“Hey, you two,” I said as I walked into the living room where Gavin was shrugging out of his backpack. “We’ve got some things planned tonight. Gavin, Lachlan and August wanted to take you out to the arcade for dinner, and Dhara, I’d like to have dinner here if you wouldn’t mind.”