Page 142 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

I covered my face and nodded. “No regrets there.”

“I would imagine not,” Lana said with a laugh. “Honestly, that’s genius.”

“And then my mom took Gavin away for three days and left me freaking out. She forced me to cut them out. So, Conrad took alpha classes to be a better alpha. August stalked me outside my window, and Lachlan hired his cousin to dig into my mom and figure everything out.”

“Your life is like some kind of movie.” Roxie declared as she bit into a breadstick.

“Hardly,” I said, waving a hand between us. “Now, somebody, change the subject to your lives. How did you meet your packs? What changed your minds? I want all the details.”

Our waiter dropped off our food right as Lana launched into her explanation. I didn’t realize how comforting it was to hear about healthy pack relationships. To know that maybe my pack and I were doing something right.

Now that they’d reassured me that heats were amazing, I couldn’t wait. I’ve had time with each of my mates individually, but I wanted to experience them together. To wear their bites.

To know they were mine forever.

August

“What the fuck do you mean you have a no-heat policy?” I bit out, my fingers gripping my hair. Everything had been in place. Conrad had booked the cabin with no issues. Lachlan had put in the orders, and we had every supply we needed.

Now that we were arriving to set up the cabin while she was out to dinner, he was telling us they had a no-heat policy.

He’d spotted the electrolyte drinks right away and knew exactly what we had planned.

“It’s far too much of a risk for us rental companies,” the owner said, crossing his arms. He wasn’t being rude, but stubborn, and I wasn’t having it. “I’m sure you can understand the trouble that could cause for us.”

I glared down at the old man, and he swallowed hard, stepping back, losing some of his bravado.

“Let me buy it then.”

“What?” he sputtered. “You want to buy my property?”

“Yes.”

“I own several here. Why would I sell one of them?”

“Then let me buy them all,” I bit out.

“Like you could afford that, boy,” he growled.

I stared at him, not backing down. With our lawyer, Conrad’s family money, and hockey earnings of three of the top players, we were more than prepared to handle an impulse buy like this. I wasn’t afraid to admit that.

When he realized I was serious, he glanced between Conrad and Lachlan as if they were going to save us.

“He’s serious,” Lachlan supplied. “We have the means. We’re professional hockey players.”

“I have family money, too,” Conrad tacked on. He didn’t look pleased about sharing that, but whatever worked. Our omega needed this.

It wasn’t like any of us to throw our names around, but right now I sure as fuck would for Dhara. We needed this to play out like we planned. I wouldn’t let anyone stand in the way of a perfect heat.

If buying more than one meant we’d secure the cabin we needed for the nurse as well, I’d figure out what to do with the rest of them later.

Even if we sold them at a loss, it would all be worth it.

“I’m calling our lawyer,” Lachlan said as he stepped away. Our poor lawyer. He’d probably dealt with enough of us already, but I wasn’t going to argue.

“These are high-end rental properties,” the man said, switching tactics. He puffed out his chest and was absolutely ready to scam us now.

I snorted as I took a pointed look around.