Page 73 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

Not for fucking long.

They expected us to play like we’d started the game. Instead, Lachlan and I were finally thinking on the same wavelength. Fairgrave was right there between us, yelling out his own commands and rallying beside us. He’d been at this level the entire game and was ready to throw our asses out himself until now.

I knew we’d get our omega back. We weren’t just going to lie down and take this. It just might take time. Waiting wasn’t exactly my favorite thing, but I’d wait forever for her.

Even as much as I fought it I couldn’t get her out of my head. The lessons we’d had on repeat in my head. Dhara had been so receptive and sweet.

She still had that fire I remembered. It was just buried deeper now.

That fierce loyalty to the people she loved burned bright even now. I was going to keep that same unwavering loyalty close to my chest and replicate it, fight for her even if she couldn’t see.

“Steele!” Evans shouted again. That was my only warning before the puck came flying my way. I settled it on the blade of my stick before exploding forward.

Lachlan was already streaking up the opposite side, our center in the middle, the three of us trading quick passes back and forth, forcing the defense to keep guessing our next moves.

“You’ve got this one!” our center shouted, sliding the puck back toward me.

I drew my stick back and unleashed everything I had with a feral roar that echoed in the arena. Every onlooker seemed to hold their breath as the puck rocketed past the goalie and buried itself in the back of the net.

All at once the sound came back as the arena erupted.

We barely had time to celebrate before Coach was changing lines. We still had more game to go before we could truly pat ourselves on the back.

“That’s what I’m talking about, Steele!” Coach clapped his hands together. “Stay locked in!”

Coach Rivers was that kind of guy. His mood changed as quickly as the scoreboard. Nothing could make up for the fact that our lives were falling apart. But winning still felt pretty damn good.

Somehow, we made it through the final few minutes without needing overtime. Thank fuck for that. I needed off the ice before I lost myself to my brooding again.

The locker was loud with celebration. Every Renegade in here was losing their minds over that comeback.

Everyone except my pack.

We were fucking falling apart without her. The worst part was I knew damn well she wasn’t doing well without us, either.

“I’ll meet you back at the house,” I said before grabbing my keys and heading for the door, ignoring our team’s protests behind me.

I didn’t bother explaining to the pack. They knew where I’d be.

Without her arena job, someone else had taken over cleaning the locker room. Which meant Dhara had to be home.

I parked a block away before climbing out. Pulling my hood over my head I burrowed deeper into the black hoodie I was wearing, hoping it would hide me from any nosy neighbors.

Dhara’s bedroom window was always cracked. She’d wedged something into it so it couldn’t open it any farther.

I’d tried. More than once.

Just like every night, I tucked a few folded bills into the screen where she’d see them the next time she closed the window, but where they wouldn’t blow away. Then I tucked in another note.

She might not want to accept my money but we both knew she needed it. If this was one small thing I could do now to keep her mom off her back, then I’d do it.

Not to mention she’d lost her second job.

We were her pack. Taking care of her was as natural as breathing.

I settled into the bushes beneath her window where I could hear her moving around inside. It was the only reassurance I had that she wasn’t hurt.

My chest ached at having her so close. My delta roared inside of me, demanding I go to her. Even with rut blockers, this separation had me balancing on the edge.