Page 67 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

I barely slept, constantly waking up and drifting off. The mattress dipped a few times throughout the night as they switched places.

The early morning sun didn’t bring Gavin back. I was a zombie as I forced myself out of bed and into the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth.

The moment I stepped out of my bedroom, someone grabbed my shoulders and physically shook me.

“Enough of this, Firecracker.” August’s voice cracked sharply against the quiet. “Snap out of it.”

I blinked a few times to force my vision to clear.

“We called you out of work today. You’re in no condition to take care of customers. When we get Gavin back, you’re going to scare him. You have to stop.”

He sounded so desperate that it startled me enough to finally break through the fog. August’s face was blurry at first. After a few moments of blinking and taking even breaths, my vision cleared enough to make out his handsome features.

“There you are,” he breathed out, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. This time I could scent him. The familiar smell helped me fight my way out. “Lachlan’s been trying to tell you he heard back from his brother.”

My head snapped toward the other side of the room, searching frantically for my delta. The second I spotted him, I slipped free from August’s grip. Lachlan opened his arms and I didn’t hesitate to fall into his embrace.

My fingers tangled in the front of his shirt as I searched his green eyes.

“He’s safe,” Lachlan said as he stroked my hair. “My brother Nate is keeping surveillance on them. He’ll let us know if anything changes. In fact, he’s recording everything and backing it up for our custody battle. Just in case.”

“This could end up being exactly what we need for an emergency custody hearing,” Conrad agreed.

“Fuck,” I whispered. The word barely left me before my knees gave out.

Lachlan caught me before I hit the floor, guiding me onto the couch with him. My entire pack pressed in around me. Their scents blended together, calming my whining omega.

Sadly, it did nothing to fix my broken heart.

“I worked so fucking hard to keep him out of her grip.” My voice cracked. “And then I let him walk right back into it.”

“None of this is on you,” August said firmly. “She would’ve found another way to hurt you. People like her… no, abusers like her, know exactly how to hurt you. She’s thriving on this feeling you’re experiencing now.”

“Hurting me is all she knows how to do.” My voice was hollow again, but I didn’t let it drown me this time.

“We want to get you out of this, gorgeous,” Lachlan promised. “We’re working on it as fast as we can.”

“I know,” I whispered as fresh tears fell down my cheeks. Though, I wasn’t crying for only that reason. I knew these were probably the last moments I’d get to spend with my pack. Just like before, when she’d sent August away, they would be ripped away from me the moment she came home.

I’d stupidly let myself buy into this fantasy. Hope was dangerous. I already knew that, yet I’d let myself have this anyway. I spent days going on little dates and let August teach me how to connect with my omega and my sexuality. I’d found peace with Conrad and laughed with Lachlan.

Now it was about to be over before I truly had them.

The worst part of all of this was that I’d have to push them away myself.

She would force me to cut ties. I knew how my mother worked by now.

I also knew that I had no choice but to hurt my pack yet again. The right thing to do would be to tell them how this would go. Talk to them.

But selfishly, I wanted to spend today soaking in their presence. Breathing in their scents. Letting myself have one last moment of peace. Knowing someone was watching over Gavin was enough to let me allow myself this one single indulgence.

“Will you guys stay with me tonight?” I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “Maybe we could watch a movie.”

Lachlan slipped a finger beneath my chin, gently tipping my face up until I was looking into his eyes.

“Of course, we will, gorgeous.” His thumb brushed over my cheek. “But don’t start shutting us out now.”

“I won’t,” I lied. That was a promise I couldn’t keep. She’d proven her point but she’d be back soon to put me back in line. My mother did love to watch me suffer. In fact, she’d revel in my pain.