Page 145 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“You do,” I said pointedly. “I have a hundred and fifty in my account, Conrad.”

“What’s ours is yours,” Lachlan said firmly. “We know you’re not a gold digger or taking advantage, but we pulled you out of that life and we will support you. You’ll have access to a joint account and we will put money into a private account for you as well.”

I started to protest but snapped my mouth shut as August squeezed me tighter.

“Usually, I’m on your side, firecracker. But this is what being in a pack looks like. You trust us to help with Gavin and give you a home, you also have to trust us to provide for you. It will get easier but if we can help make this job a reality, then we will.”

“What if I fail?” I argued weakly.

“Then we sell. If you end up hating it, we can also just hire a management company to run it that way we still have another income stream. Who knows, if you hate it, Gavin might love it or one of us.”

“Just like that?” I asked. It was so insane to wrap my head around. No matter what I threw at them they had a ready and calm response.

“Yes,” Conrad said with a shrug. “I think investing in property is smart as hell. Eventually as it takes off you can add to the joint pack account if you want. We’ll help or find help figuring out the business side, but we’d much rather help this idea take off then you work yourself to death.”

I deflated at that. It wasn’t worth arguing and I knew I was being combative because I was nervous for this heat. They loved me and wanted me safe and cared for and if this gave me a life that I had control over, why fight it?

“Did you grab the meds?” I whispered.

“Yes, of course.” Conrad answered before walking over to the counter and picking up a pharmacy bag. My hands shook as I took it from his hand. This was it. The medicine that would change our relationship.

“We should talk about the heat,” August said gently as he gave me a reassuring squeeze. “We need to know what scares you, what you’re excited to try, how you feel about claiming bites. All of it. There’s no embarrassment here.”

I snorted. “Yeah right.”

“Okay, a little. But this conversation has me hard already so let’s get it going,” he teased, adjusting himself to make a point.

I blew out a breath and looked at Conrad. He didn’t smile or falter, just waited calmly for me to start this conversation.

“I love you and I want your bite,” I said. “All of you.”

Conrad’s smile was blinding as he lurched forward and swept me into his arms, kissing me as he spun me in a circle. “I love you, too.”

Lachlan snatched me away just as easily, wrapping me in a real bear hug. “I love you, too, gorgeous. I’ll proudly wear your bite, too.”

I buried my face in his chest, breathing him in. “I want to try everything. I trust you to know what my omega doesn’t like.”

“We’ll keep you safe,” Conrad promised easily.

“Then it’s time to take your meds, firecracker. I know you’re brave enough,” August challenged.

I wanted to argue. To throw the meds away and let this come on naturally. But the doctor’s warning rang in my ears.

This could be far worse without it.

That means more time away from Gavin and putting the hockey season off. I owed it to our entire village to keep it together and do this right.

“I’m also on birth control. I don’t know if I want kids,” I admitted the words that had been simmering for a while now. I’d already raised one baby and though I knew they’d be amazing fathers, I wasn’t sure if I wanted that.

“That’s okay. This is our first heat of many, baby. We want what you want, even if you change your mind,” Conrad promised, speaking for the others though they nodded along.

Every worry was out there and they’d calmed every one of them.

With a bit more resolve than I had before, I opened the bag to find a small bottle filled with liquid. I don’t know what I expected, but this wasn’t it.

Lachlan took the instructions and read them out loud. “It says drink the whole bottle on an empty stomach. We haven’t had food yet, so you could now, but it warns it can work fast or slow but should kick in within twenty-four hours.”

“Bottoms up, baby,” Conrad said with a grin. He turned and snagged a drink out of the fridge, twisting the cap off and holding it, waiting for me to take my meds.