“I’m glad you invited me to come,” she says around a bite of pineapple. “The pack house can be a little loud sometimes—not that I’m complaining, and most of that noise does come from me—but being with you makes me feelcalm.”
“Someone needs to balance out Orin and Adler’s egos.” I swallow down a juicy strawberry. “I’ve always been the voice of reason between them. Orin can be too serious, and Adler is a total wildcard. I probably could negotiate a peace treaty aftermediating some of their fights when they were younger. Young alphas can be more volatile. Adler would clash with Orin over decisions, even though he’s always respected that he has the final say.”
“It was similar in my house growing up. I was breaking up fights between my brothers all the time. Beckett, my oldest brother, is a lot like Orin—very focused on his goals and gets tunnel vision. He can also be a total drama queen. Forest is much more laid back, but he’s also super passionate about things he cares about. Last break, he didn’t speak to Beckett for two whole days because he found out the company Beckett works for is responsible for putting vast amounts of waste into the ocean. He’s a diver, so he’s seen the damage first-hand.”
I listen intently, relishing the opportunity to get to know her more. “And how did Laz fit in with them?”
“We’re the two youngest.” She grabs another chunk of pineapple. “We’re thick as thieves but also way too alike. We feed off each other’s energy. Mom used to say that we bounced off the walls as kids, driving her and everyone else mad. What about your family?”
“I’m an only child.” I crumple my empty sandwich wrapper, reclining back on my palms. “Just me, my mom, and two dads. They’ll love you. They moved back to the coast when I started college, so I don’t see them often, but I always like making the trip. They gave me a great childhood. I always wanted siblings, but my packmates are now my brothers, and Izzie is basically my little sister.”
“I love her already.” Sabs nods.
“She seems to love you too, and she has very high standards.” I hope she takes this as the compliment I intended it to be. I sit up straight again. “Have you thought any more about when you’re going to tell your parents that you bonded?”
Her laid-back expression vanishes as her lips purse. “I know I need to tell them soon, and now that I’ve gotten to know you guys, I feel ready to do it, but I don’t even know how to broach the conversation.” She forms a ‘phone’ with her thumb and pinky, pretending to talk into her palm. “Hey guys! Just letting you know that I accidentally bonded with a hockey player while having amazing sex. I’ve been living with his pack ever since and haven’t told you about it?” She blows out a long sigh. “I don’t know how they’ll react. I know it’s not what they’d have chosen for me.”
“We’ll be here for you whatever happens. All of us.” I squeeze her hand. “I know what it’s like to feel like you’ve let your parents down. My dads are amazing, but after my hopes of a pro hockey career ended, it was awkward. Before that, our whole relationship revolved around the game, so suddenly, we didn’t have anything to talk about because they were afraid of bringing it up.”
She strokes the back of my hand, not saying anything, but her golden eyes are wide with understanding.
“Things are much better with them now.” I try to sound more cheerful, not wanting her to pity me. “Now that they’ve gotten over the shock of their son not becoming the pro player they wanted him to be.” I grab a birthday-cake-flavored bar, holding it out toward her. “Want one?”
She accepts it, unwrapping it while tilting her head to the side. “You were always going to be more than a hockey player. I may not know a lot about hockey, but from what I’ve seen and know of you, you’re pretty fucking great at helping people, which…” She drops her voice in a mock whisper. “Is a lot more important than knocking a puck around, contrary to what many students on campus think.”
A warm sensation spreads through my torso. She always seems to know the right thing to say to make me feel better.
“Why did you pick engineering?” I change the subject.
“I’ve always loved understanding how things work.” She wipes crumbs from her lap. “I may not look like the typical engineer or talk like one, but I think that’s a good thing. I want to bring something new to the industry. If I can make one other omega think that they can step outside of their designation’s comfort zone, then I’m in.”
“I love that about you.” I smile at her. “How you’re so unapologetically yourself.”
“I’m never going to be anyone else.” She shrugs like there’s no other way to be. “Mom once told me that most people are too busy worrying about themselves to even pay attention to anyone else, so I figured, why not be myself? We only get one life.” She leans back on her elbows, taking in the scenery. “We’ve got to fill it with things that make us happy, right?”
“Yes.” I don’t take my eyes off her. “We do.”
I thought the wilderness was my new happy place, but now I realize that I’ve found my true slice of happiness right here. With her. A happiness that I once believed I could only find on the ice. Only now I realize it was never hockey I was missing; it was someone who sees me. Someone who accepts me so completely. Someone who will push me to be the very best version of myself. I can’t believe an accidental bite brought her into our life.
When her head turns and our eyes meet, her mesmerizing pools of amber glow in the sun, the little gold flecks in them sparkling like glitter. We hold each other’s gaze as she leans in closer.
Her lips tenderly brush against mine, unsaid words passing between us. Without making a sound, she’s telling me that I’m enough.
A bird cawing overhead has us jolting apart, slightly breathless. With the heat and my jackhammering heart, I’m gladwe’re seated because I don’t know if my legs could support me right now.
“How about a swim?” Sabs gestures down to the water. “I’m melting.”
“But we didn’t bring swimsuits.”
I practically swallow my tongue when she stands and pulls off her top. “We don’t need swimsuits.”
Her shorts follow next, landing in a heap at my feet. I watch, speechless, and in total awe, as she bolts down the hill, giggling and wearing nothing but a tiny thong.
“Hey! Wait!” I wrestle with my hiking boots and clothes, my fingers not working as fast as I want them to. “I’m coming!”
Once stripped down to my underwear, I race down the grassy hill after her. The soft earth turns to sand under my feet as I pick my way across the shore, watching her wade out into the water, running her long, delicate fingers across the surface. A surge of desire fills my cock as I get to enjoy the view of her perfect, round ass skimming the water’s edge until she’s engulfed waist-deep and dives under.
Momentary panic strikes me, watching circles ripple over the top of the water before Sabs erupts through it like a party cannon, her arms extended high in the air. She looks stunning, beads of water glistening off her skin as she swishes her hair around.
