Page 57 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

I didn’t say anything as I wandered from room to room, taking in each new space.

The kitchen was beautiful, though I wasn’t about to admit the only things I knew how to cook were boxed meals, frozen dinners, and whatever was cheap enough to stretch. This pack probably expected real meals. I barely knew where to start.

Pushing that aside, I kept going. Letting doubt steal this moment away would be a tragedy. I owed it to them to keep my eyes on what they’d done for me.

The window behind the sink looked out over the garden and lake. The garden was more than a little overgrown, but I knew a little work and it would be back to its former glory.

The porch was wider out back and we could easily fit patio furniture and a grill. I could picture a life here.

Gavin and the guys racing down the dock before diving into the water.

Fall nights spent grilling on the porch and watching the sun sink down over the horizon.

This could be it.

“There’s an upstairs, too,” Lachlan said gently, pulling me from my thoughts. He led me to the stairs and up to the second level.

Every step made the warmth in my chest burn brighter, the tears in my eyes threatening all over again. They’d done so good. Everything was soft and neutral, just waiting for our touch.

“We picked this room out for Gavin,” Conrad said as he pushed open the first door. “It has an attached bonus room that he could turn into a hangout space for him and his friends. Or, if he happens to present an omega or delta and needs that separate space, we’ll be prepared.”

That was when the dam finally broke. They hadn’t just carved out a safe place in their lives for me, they’d included my brother in that vision, too. He was seen just as much as I was.

My brother meant the world to me, and they had made him a priority from the very beginning. There was no petty jealousy that my time would be divided. No whiny alphas demanding all of my attention. No expectation that I’d leave him behind and run away with them.

They were trying to figure out how we could all make a real life together that was untainted by my past.

“We’ve got you, Firecracker,” August murmured as he wrapped his arms around me.

He didn’t let go while they showed me the rest of the house, room by room, until we finally reached a gorgeous set of double doors. Conrad pushed them open to reveal an omega suite.

A large sitting room was filled with cozy places to curl up. The couch and chair looked soft as a cloud. A huge bed that could fit all of us comfortably was set up with far too many throw pillows to be functional but still looked cozy as hell.

Beyond that was a nesting room. It was empty now but the perfect size.

For the first time since stopping my suppressants I felt my omega stir and warmth spreading through me, like it was a premonition of what my heat could feel like.

It was insane… this whole house was. Yet, it was what we needed.

“This house is incredible,” I whispered. It could have been half the size and a hundred times grungier, and I still would have loved it. The fact that they’d carved out a place for me in their lives like this meant so much more than I could ever put into words.

I wanted it so badly it hurt.

Now that I’d finally accepted it, I was ready to find out just how we were going to make this a reality.

“Alright.” I finally stopped walking and turned to face my pack. “What’s the plan?”

Chapter

Sixteen

Dhara

August was by himself the next day at breakfast. The look he gave me when he walked in had my cheeks flaming red. I knew exactly what he had planned for the day.

After the tour of the lake house the energy between us all felt amplified. Conrad was still a bit more reserved, but he wasn’t shy about reaching for me now. His texts were always sweet and careful.

Lachlan had checked in and talked about future plans. His flirting wasn’t as obvious as August but it was still there. Small reminders that this wasn’t just about taking care of me. They wanted me as an omega, too.