Page 69 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

He’d already missed several days of school. I knew he’d open his notebook to try and catch up on what he missed.

Bad grades likely weren’t tolerated in this house, either.

Conrad tucked the notebook carefully back between Gavin’s textbooks before we left his room, closing the door gently behind it.

The three of us sat in silence, watching over our omega as the night wore on.

This moment was slipping through our fingers. We knew our omega wasn’t safe and that was the worst feeling a pack could have. If we stole her away, she’d call the police herself. Anything to save her brother. If we took him then we’d always be watching our backs. Our faces would be plastered nationwide.

All we could do was fight beside her from a distance while she fought to survive. We’d be watching closely, waiting for her mother to slip up, documenting every instance while our lawyer strengthened our case against her.

No matter how long it took we’d never leave Dhara and Gavin behind. They were ours and we’d do everything we could to get them out alive.

Chapter

Nineteen

Dhara

As soon as we woke up the next morning, I made sure the guys left. They were reluctant. I wanted them to stay by me forever but I had a feeling that she’d be back this morning.

The last thing I wanted was for them to get caught in the crossfire.

Sure enough, the moment they disappeared from sight, my mother’s car rumbled into the driveway. I practically tore out the front door.

I ignored her completely as I rushed to his side of the car, practically yanking him into my arms before checking him over.

No visible bruises or cuts. There was nothing to indicate she or someone else hurt him but I knew that most pain could be hidden away.

“Are you alright?” I demanded.

“I’m okay,” he promised. His voice was strange and distant, the sentiment half-hearted at best.

Gavin wasn’t okay.

The circles beneath his eyes were darker than ever, and he looked dead on his feet. I doubt he’d slept at all since I’d last seen him.

Granted, it’d only been a few days. It somehow felt like weeks.

“Don’t you dare act like me spending time with my son is a problem.” My mother’s sharp voice cut through the morning.

I braced myself before finally turning toward her.

“I take care of him every day, and you took him away without a word.”

She scoffed, her face twisting into that familiar sneer. “Yeah? What was I supposed to do when I hear my daughter’s whoring herself out around town to some random pack?”

“They’re not random.” The words came out before I could stop them. “They’re mine. I wasn’t whoring myself out.”

The second she brought my pack into the conversation, my omega reared up, ready to defend them. Gavin’s eyes widened, his expression pleading for me to stop.

He’d probably spent the entire drive home listening to her rant about how she was going to put me back in the pretty little box she kept me in.

“Unless you want me to pack Gavin up for good and leave your ass behind, I suggest you fall in line, little girl.”

I glared at her with my jaw clenched so tight my teeth ached. It took every ounce of my own willpower to not say a word.

“I’m okay,” Gavin repeated in a hushed whisper. His fingers gripped my wrist in desperation.