Page 77 of Puck Your Charity

I look across the room.

Victor laughs out loud, exchanging a complicated handshake with our rookie defenseman. The haunted, miserable look he carried for years vanished. He looks alive. He looks present.Finn sits on his bench, texting on his phone with a dimpled smile on his face. He acts as the heart of this team, and his joy radiates outward, infecting everyone around him.Lawrence charms a team photographer in the corner, posing for a post-game shot with his usual effortless charisma.

The locker room door swings open. The security guards let a familiar figure step into the chaotic room.

Olive wears a vintage Iron Wolves denim jacket. Her dark bob looks flawless. Her brown eyes search the room. She spots us and a breathtaking smile lights up her face.

She doesn't look like a terrified outsider anymore. She commands the room without saying a word. The sweet scent of her apple pie cuts through the smell of sweat and hockey tape, grounding the four of us in a heartbeat.

Victor drops his conversation and walks toward her. Finn shoves his phone in his pocket and follows. Lawrence excuses himself from the photographer.

I step forward, joining my pack around our Omega.

Victor reaches her first, wrapping his arms around her waist and burying his face in her neck. Olive laughs, her hands tangling in his blond hair. Finn steps up and kisses her cheek. Lawrence wraps an arm around her shoulders.

I stand back for one brief second. I observe the scene. I watch my brothers surround the woman who healed the fractures in our foundation. The chaos and the exhaustion of the playoffs fade into the background.

A profound sense of peace settles deep in my chest.

We found total harmony on and off the ice. I step forward and wrap my arms around Olive from behind, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She leans back against my chest, her slick scent spiking with affection. We face the Alpha Cup Finals next week, but standing here with my complete pack, I know we possess the strength to conquer any battle ahead.

Chapter 23

The bell above the glass door rings. I take a sip of my iced vanilla latte. Condensation drips down the clear plastic cup. It pools on the scratched wooden table. May sun bakes the sidewalks outside, but the air conditioning inside the cafe freezes my bare arms.

I wear a simple white tank top and faded denim jeans. Two months ago, I wore navy blue scrubs and walked the halls of the pediatric oncology ward. Two months ago, my life made sense.

I tap my fingernails on the table. I'm anxious. Susan sent me a text message yesterday asking to meet. She runs the HR department at the hospital. Seeing her name on my phone screen sent a jolt of stress straight to my chest.

A lot has changed in the last eight weeks. The Iron Wolves swept their opponents and secured their spot in the Alpha Cup Finals. I moved into their mansion in Manten. I learned how to live with four millionaire athletes. I watched Victor transform from a toxic, angry tyrant into a grounded, devoted pack member. He goes to therapy twice a week. He visits Sam in the hospital. He puts in the work every single day. The pack feels whole, and I'm head over heels in love with all of them, but I haven’t told them yet.

Losing my career still leaves a void in my life. I miss the kids and the chaotic hospital floor.

The cafe door opens.

Susan steps inside. She wears a tailored charcoal suit and sensible black heels. Her eyes scan the crowded room. She spots me in the corner and heads over.

"Hi, Olive." Susan takes the empty wooden chair across from me. She sets a sleek leather bag on the table.

"Hi, Susan." I offer a tight, nervous smile. "You want something to drink? I can go grab you a coffee."

She shakes her head. "I'm good, thanks." She folds her hands together on the table. "I appreciate you meeting me. I know our last conversation left a bad taste in your mouth."

"You fired me for presenting." I keep my tone flat. "You kicked me out of my dream job."

"We followed the state regulations." Susan offers a sympathetic grimace. "Unbonded Omegas carry severe liability risks on a hospital floor. A spontaneous Heat causes chaos. We had to protect the patients."

"I know." I rub the condensation off my cup. "I understand the rules. I hate them, but I get it. Why did you ask me to come here?"

Susan reaches into her bag. She pulls out a sleek digital tablet. "We hired a replacement Child Life Specialist three weeks ago. She has a master's degree and glowing recommendations."

"Okay." I frown, a sting of jealousy hitting my gut.

"She quit yesterday." Susan sighs, rubbing her temples. "The pediatric ward poses a tough challenge. The kids miss you. Sam asks about you every single day. The morale on the floor sits at an all-time low. We need you back, Olive."

I stare at her in stunned silence. "You just said the state regulations ban me from the floor. My status remains the same. I'm still an Omega."

"You're an unbonded Omega." Susan taps a manicured finger against the tablet screen. "I spent the last few weeks digging through the state medical liability laws. I found a specific loophole."