It was incredible. The steak was seasoned perfectly. Just a little spicy, exactly how I liked it.
Hayes just stared at me while the others made their own plates.
Kota kept me in his lap instead of moving me to my own chair. I was glad, he was keeping my omega calm.
“So, Greer, I see things have improved since the dinner the other night and the aftermath,” Hayes said.
“Yeah, Coach,” he replied.
Coach Hayes let out half a laugh. “You guys can’t keep calling me Coach all the time if we’re pack. During practice, games, the locker room, places like that are different. But if we’re just at lunch or someday at our own house, it’s just Hayes.”
“That’s going to take some getting used to,” Greer admitted.
“Thanks for lunch, Hayes,” Kota said with a huge, mischievous grin on his face. Leave it to him to enjoy the moment.
Hayes side-eyed him but didn’t protest.
“Speaking of a pack house,” Rylan said, looking at me and then the others, “Roxie and I are roommates, but we’re obviously not going to be able to fit everyone there. And if we’re really going to try being a pack, then at some point we need to try living together, right? Isn’t that the next logical step?”
“Mine is too small,” Hayes added on. “Greer and I talked about this last night. I’m glad you brought it up. We may need to find something new.”
Everyone but Kota had said something. He looked uncertain, and I knew why. The reaction wasn’t because of moving in or the pack. It was the fact that he already had an estate that he wasn’t going to want to part with. It was the biggest and had sentimental value.
“Okay, serious time. This isn’t common knowledge and I need it to stay here with us.” He looked around at the others. They looked startled, but nodded along. “I come from a family that has… significant inheritance to leave behind. When my grandparents died, they left me a house on the edge of North Crossing.”
“Wait, don’t you have an apartment in town?” Greer asked. “Evans was talking about living with you after he left the house at the end of last season.”
“Yep.” Kota shrugged. “Like I said, I try not to advertise it.”
“But why?” Hayes questioned. “What’s wrong with the estate? Is it a fixer-upper? Do you need help figuring out how to handle it?”
“No. It’s in pristine condition,” Kota hedged.
“What he’s trying to say,” I interrupted, unable to watch him struggle any longer. “Is that he’s fucking loaded and it’s probablya mansion, and he didn’t want anybody to know he’s that well off because they’ll treat him differently.”
“Thanks, little bat. Eloquently put,” Kota snorted. “But she’s right.”
“I don’t know,” Hayes admitted. “Something feels wrong about having our youngest pack member providing the house for our pack.”
He frowned as he thought it over, but I wasn’t having that.
“Who the fuck cares?” I blurted out. All four men looked at me. “We’re a pack. We all equally provide things.”
“Yeah, but—” Hayes started but I cut him off and pointed at Kota.
“If he doesn’t want to let go of his family’s estate and it has the most room for all of us, it makes sense that we’d give it a shot. It doesn’t matter if he’s young, the oldest, or any of that. It doesn’t make you any less of an alpha just because he has a place we can live.”
I threw up my hands, frustrated again until Kota gave me a hug from behind, letting his arms stay around me.
I shook my head. “Sorry, I just really fucking hate stereotypes.”
Hayes held up his hands in surrender. “You’re right, little bat.”
“Damn right, I am.”
“She’s right,” Rylan agreed. “How big are we talking, though? Are you going to be okay with Chorizo running the place?”
“Chorizo is more than welcome. We’ve got plenty of room to work with,” Kota said. “I’ve also got staff that runs the house and the cleaning, so they’ll love having him there. I’m sure they’ve been bored with it sitting empty.”
