We were finally going to have the family that I’d always dreamt of.
I’d made one rule for myself growing up that I promised not to break. It was to never date a hockey player.
I was thankful every day that I broke it.
GREER
“Abbott, I have a question for you,” one of the press called out. I nodded for her to go on. I’d only agreed to this final press release because Hayes asked. It was a solid way to say goodbye to the fans.
So was that AHA cup we’d earned.
“We all heard that this was your final year. Can you confirm that rumor or deny it?”
A smile spread across my face, relief filling me that someone brought it up before I had to.
“Yes. This is my final season, and we brought home the Cup.” My team cheered in the front row and it took several minutes for the room to calm.
“But, Abbott, how does that make you feel? Ducking out now while you’re one of the biggest names in hockey?” He sounded affronted. Like I was hurting someone by making this choice for myself and my pack.
“I’m going out on my own terms,” I said, tapping my chest. “Things have changed for me. My body is not exactly what it used to be. As much as I tried to hide it, the truth is, years of hockey have taken a toll. It takes an entire team of doctors, nutritionists, and a physical therapist to keep me from losing my mind. I also found my pack. I have two omegas now who need me and babies on the way. My priorities have shifted. It’s time for a new chapter in my life.”
At the announcement, more journalists yelled out their questions, demanding answers that they weren’t getting from me.
Maybe it was the effect of having omegas, or that this was my last interview, but I didn’t let a single jab or comment get to me.
I answered a few more questions before Hayes redirected everyone to Lachlan Evans.
His career had exploded this season. He’d literally brought us straight to the AHA Cup.
As much as they wanted to act like my name was the biggest here, it wasn’t. Not anymore.
Kota was just as sharp. He’d played hard and had no plans of leaving. Evans had earned his place, and there were so many teams begging for him to join them.
When the press finally let me go, I rushed out to greet the pack waiting for me.
Roxie and Rylan were standing in the front, both of them smiling brightly.
“Well, how do you feel? You’re a free man now.”
“It feels nice. I’m excited. I’ll get to spend extra time with my omegas and our babies when they get here. Hell, maybe my body will finally recover a little bit.”
Mornings had been getting a little more rough as the season wore on. I hadn’t exactly treated my hockey career gently. I’d played hard, and I’d be paying for it for a while.
Good thing I was mates with my physical therapist.
Both of my omegas were both beaming at me, happy that I was choosing myself.
It would give me the time to support Roxie as her career exploded. She was writing more than ever now.
Rylan wanted to stay on with the team and loved working for the Narwhals. The guys trusted him and he was truly happy.
He’d worked miracles for me for the last six months, and I knew damn well he was going to keep doing it for all of them.
The Narwhals were finally out of hot water as well. The articles had done the trick and the cup we won certainly didn’t hurt.
Roxie had come here intending to give the Narwhals a chance to prove that they deserved to be part of the AHA, and here we were almost a year later, thriving.
Our reputation was not only fixed, but people saw us as humans, not just players. We’d even gained more of an omega fan base than we’d ever had before. Our numbers were rising.
