Pack Plus Three (Pucking Pregnant Book 1)

1. Jeremy

If I had to look at one more playbook, I was going to lose my mind.

Work had been a pain in the ass. My team, the California Chargers, had a good chance of making it to the Stanley Cup, so they were working us to death with practice after practice. But that”s not what I wanted. We were entering the beautiful, cool autumn months, and I dreamed of a job where I could use my hands full time.

Hockey was the job I was forced to do, but I much preferred working construction. Owning a small construction company on the side wasn’t the most glamorous of jobs, but it was one of the few things that brought me genuine joy. And I got to take Gilbert—my giant golden retriever, who was so large, he was probably crossbred with a polar bear—to work with me.

We were selective when taking on clients, usually leaving my name out of things, due to my celebrity status. The demand for work gave me that luxury, and we always took on jobs from clients who seemed kind and agreeable. Not a soul had complained about Gilbert’s presence.

Gilbert was lying at my feet while I cooked. I had been craving spicy rice cakes for a few days, so instead of lounging on the couch with a beer, I’d dragged my ass into the kitchen and started cooking.

My stepfather had spent his youth in Korea, so growing up, I was spoiled for choice. My mother had been visiting Korea when the two scent matched. My stepfather hadn’t been able to resist my mother’s scent; he claimed it was like crack. They had been together ever since, blissfully in love.

The kind of love I would do anything for.

I’d done what was expected of me, taking to the ice like a pro since the first moment I’d put on skates. I’d made it my life, whether I wanted it or not, and it was a life others would kill for.

Yet, the kind of happiness my stepdad had found with my mother? That was far out of reach.

I’d tried dating a few omegas, but their scents, while nice, weren”t the kind of life-changing experience my stepdad described.

The closest I had come was a three-month fling with an omega in Dallas, but she had just been looking for a convenient knot to get her through her heat. I’d enjoyed it, like any alpha would, but I wanted more.

Walking over to the fridge, I grabbed a bag of cheese to stir into the sauce, pausing a moment to feed a small pinch to Gilbert, who had been hot on my heels from the moment he had seen me reaching for the cheese. I had spoiled him as a puppy, and now he was a cheese demon.

Sprinkling a little into the sauce, I shrugged to myself before tipping the rest of the bag in. Cheese improved everything. I was halfway towards the cabinet, intending to grab a bowl and indulge in cheesy heaven with a beer, when there was a knock on my door.

Probably Mrs. Jenna, the elderly widow who lived on my floor. She often asked for help with odd jobs, and I was happy to assist. Last time I’d fixed a leaking pipe for her, she’d given me enough cookies to feed an army. I loved jobs like that...fixing things and using my hands. So far from skates, drills, competitions, and never-ending fans climbing over themselves for a signature—or worse, a grope.

But when I opened the door, it wasn’t to a sweet elderly lady who smelled like citrus. I paused in surprise as I looked down at a tiny, heavily pregnant omega.

I had seen her before in the building, but I had never really seen her. How on earth could I have missed someone that beautiful right next door? Her hair fell in copper waves, and her nose was covered with a smattering of freckles. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and denim overalls that looked fit to burst over her bump. She must have been at least six months along, if not ready to pop.

Right now, she was blushing and panting slightly, one hand leaning on my door frame and the other cradling her bump.

Instead of greeting her like a normal, rational human being, I simply stared at her with wide eyes. Where the hell had this omega come from, and why was she alone? She was far too beautiful to be left alone.

“Uh . . . hi, I’m Daisy. Daisy St. James.” She introduced herself breathlessly.

“Hey!” I replied casually, trying to pull my shit together. I had already heard her name from Mrs. Jenna, who had been quick to tell me of the pretty omega who just moved into the building and was living alone. She had told me with excitement, commenting that the omega could probably use some help settling in, with that wink-wink-nudge-nudge sort of manner that old ladies are so skilled at.

But surely she wasn’t alone if she was expecting? She would have a husband, or a boyfriend, at the very least. Omegas didn’t stay single long, especially not ones as stunning as her.

Her stomach was disproportionately large compared to the rest of her body, and she looked ready to pop.

“Hi...uh...this is going to sound odd.” She huffed, her face bright pink as she ran her hand through her hair, the movement filling the air with that sweet brown sugar apple scent. “Look, this is an odd request, I know, these hormones are killing me b?—”

“How can I help?” I asked with a smile, cutting off her adorable rambling.

She wanted something from me? She could ask for the keys to my car, and I would hand them over in a heartbeat.

She released a long-suffering sigh. “Can I, uh...” She chewed on her lip, eyes darting past me. “Can I have some of whatever you’re cooking?”

I looked down at her, and I couldn’t help it—my smile grew even wider.

“Gah! I’m sorry, I know you must think I’m a crazy person.” She spoke so fast, I almost didn’t catch her words. “I would think I’m a crazy person. I swear, this little devil”—she waved at her stomach—“is making nothing smell good. Kicking me in the bladder every ten minutes and giving me the worst backache. I haven’t managed to eat in days, but whatever you’re making smells so damn good, my hormonal ass dragged me off my comfy sofa to investigate! Do you know how hard it is to sit up when you’re smuggling a beach ball in your pants? And don’t even?—”

“Come in,” I said, cutting her off before she could say anything else. “There’s plenty.” I opened my door, inviting her in.

Her face softened and she gave me a grateful look. “Are you sure?”

She has to have a partner,I reminded myself, no good will come of this.

But . . . I didn’t care.

She was absolutely captivating—and she wanted my food.

“My sister had a baby a few years ago. I remember how bad her cravings got. I’m pretty sure I once got a remote thrown at my head because I ate the last chocolate chip cookie.” As I spoke, I walked down the hallway, and Daisy followed me, peering around my apartment anxiously. Well, calling it my apartment was a stretch. It was my pet project. I usually lived with my pack, but this apartment had been in such a state of disrepair, we’d seen an opportunity. While this area wasn’t exactly desirable, the apartment had been a steal, and after a few months of fixing it up, we would be able to sell it for a tidy profit.

“Maybe it’s the hormones, but I say that’s totally fair!” She laughed, following me slowly. “I probably should have asked your name. Or asked if you’re a serial killer. Are you a serial killer? Actually, you know what? I don’t care, as long as you feed me first.”

“Jeremy,” I said, unable to take my eyes from her as we entered the kitchen. She was so adorable, rambling and asking if I was a serial killer—like I could ever hurt her. “Take a seat, I’ll grab you a dish.” I nodded at the small table as I went over to stir the gooey rice cakes.

Gilbert poked his head up from his dog bed, noticing our guest as she took a seat, holding her swollen belly as she did. Why was that so cute? I wanted a heavily pregnant omega of my own to spoil more than anything. Gilbert trotted over to her, a goofy, lopsided grin on his face.

“Oh! Hello, sweetheart,” Daisy cooed as Gilbert rested his head in her lap. “What’s your name?” she asked, gently stroking his head.

“Gilbert.”

“Oh, such a lovely name for a lovely boy!” She looked up at me, her expression so content as she scratched him. ”He is perfect, I adore him!” she said, beaming wildly. Pride filled my chest because she liked my dog. Not the ratty thing that lived four doors down that looked like it was mutated in a lab. No, my dog was the one the pretty omega liked.

”He”s a good dog.” I smiled as I dished up two plates. “But I worry he doesn’t get enough attention when I’m at work.”

”What do you do?” she asked, looking up at me, still absentmindedly scratching Gilbert”s ears.

”I”m a...” I paused, not wanting to ruin the moment with the truth. “A contractor.” That wasn’t an outright lie; it just wasn’t my only job. “What about you?”

“I do some admin work from home. I used to work at a bookstore and cafe, but this situation makes it a little difficult.” She gestured to her stomach again. “But I need to make ends meet, so working from home, it is!”

“Can’t your boyfriend or husband help you?” I asked, eyes drifting from where I was serving up the rice cakes, suddenly tense. I cleared my throat. “I just mean, you must be exhausted. My sister literally only ate and napped in the later months.”

I walked over to the table with two bowls, setting one in front of her and one next to her for me.

“I’m, uh...on my own,” she admitted, not meeting my eye. The smell of her unhappiness filled the room.

She was alone?

How the hell could someone leave her? There was no possible way she’d gotten into her current predicament alone, so she should have had at least one person by her side. Were she mine, I would be on her ass like glue, making sure she had everything she needed. Fulfilling every weird craving or giving three a.m. foot rubs, I would be there with a fucking smile on my face.

I wanted answers, but shit. I hadn’t meant to upset her.

“Chopsticks or fork?” I asked, changing the topic, my mind still racing.

“Chopsticks, if you have them. It feels wrong to eat this sort of food with a fork.” She smiled. “This smells so damn good,” she moaned, gently rubbing her belly, and I couldn’t take my eyes from her.

She had to be lying. No one would leave an omega like her alone. Not expecting.

“I agree.” I grabbed two sets from the drawer to get my thoughts straight and took a seat next to her, handing her a set. “I’m so used to them now. My dad is Korean and would always make me use chopsticks. It’s second nature, now. I’m grateful he did, though. I went to Korea to study for a few summers, and all his training made me a natural.”

“That sounds amazing!” She took the chopsticks gratefully, deftly digging into the plate.

“It is spicy,” I warned, but she looked up at me with a grin that lit up her face.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time!” She laughed before picking up a noodle and shoving it whole into her mouth. The happy little sound she let out was obscene, and I was suddenly grateful that the table was hiding my tightening trousers and obvious hard-on.

Does she really have no support?

Still, that didn’t give me an excuse to skip my manners. And it didn’t mean anything. Not really. She had her life to get to, and I still had the season to complete. The ice never stopped its demands, and there wasn’t room to give an omega like this what she needed. Not really.

Even if she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

“How long have you lived here?” I asked.

“Just a few weeks.” Daisy hummed as she took another bite. “You?”

“About six months. It’s a good building. The neighbors are good people.”

“Mrs. Jenna from apartment thirty-six was at my door the moment I moved in, plate of cookies in hand.”

“The butter pecan ones?” I asked with a groan of my own. “I love those things. She hardly ever makes them for me! I get regular chocolate chip, even when I’m her on-call handyman.” I laughed.

“She’s been giving me a plate every week. I would have accused her of trying to fatten me up if I weren’t already the size of a house!”

I looked over at her again. While her stomach was almost comically large, she was still tiny. When standing, her head hardly touched my chest. “My sister couldn’t move by herself at the end. Her mates had to carry her everywhere.”

“Oh, lucky woman! I would love my own human taxi service. This food is amazing, what is it?”

“Spicy Korean rice cakes. I’d been craving them all week and dying for an excuse to make them, plus Gilbert goes nuts whenever I make anything with cheese,” I said. “Sometimes I can’t take him to places because he tries to steal anything with cheese in it.”

“If you ever need someone to watch him, I’m happy to help! It’s the least I can do. This food is seriously a godsend.”

I took a moment to look her over. Despite her happiness, her cheeks were slightly hollow, and she had a slight gray tinge to her skin. It looked like she hadn’t had a good meal in a while. “Morning sickness?” I asked.

“Twenty-four-hour sickness.” She grimaced. “You know, I was told it would stop after the first trimester, but no, it’s never ending.”

“That’s rough. If you ever want more rice noodles, you’re welcome to come over. It’s nice having some company.”

“Thank you. I can’t believe I just knocked on your door.” Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment.

“The hormones will make you do crazy things, and you could do with a few good meals. There’s some extra as well. I can pack them up for you if you want?” I didn’t tell her I had planned to use those for my lunch tomorrow, since she clearly needed it more. A deep, instinctual part of me wanted to care for this omega. The idea of her alone, struggling to eat, didn’t sit right with me. Della had had her entire pack and our parents around while she was pregnant, so she’d wanted for nothing, and it had still been hard on her.

“Really?” she asked, looking at me hopefully. “Are you sure?”

I frowned at that, the alpha part of me rejecting the notion that anyone had ever made her nervous to ask for what she needed. Who was responsible for that?

If I had an omega like this, I would never leave her wanting for anything. Nothing, not even the Stanley Cup, would get in my way.

“Of course. I’ll box them up.”

Her eyes lit up, and my heart warmed. She was terrible at hiding her emotions, and I liked that. I liked that her every thought and feeling was written clearly across her face.

“Thank you,” she said. “You could have told me to go away.”

“Only a grade-A asshole would do that.”

She frowned, biting her lip again gently.

Had someone else rejected her when she asked for help? I hated that idea. “Seriously.” I made sure she was looking me in the eye before I continued. “You’re welcome here to attack my kitchen any time. If you can convince Mrs. Jenna to give me more butter pecan cookies, I’ll happily give you my entire pantry!”

My pack might think I was mad, but I didn’t care. There was a pregnant omega in this building with no one to take care of her.

“Thank you.” Her voice was a low whisper as she nibbled on one of the last noodles, looking down at her plate with a shy smile. Her mood had lifted considerably from the frazzled omega who had been at my door not long ago. I had done that—I had made her happier by cooking for her. My chest was so full of pride it wanted to burst.

“Do you want to try some Korean desserts before you go?” I asked once she ate the last noodle.

She looked torn. “I’ve imposed enough . . .”

“Hush.” I waved away the notion. The most beautiful omega I’d ever met was in my house, wanting my food. Not for my autograph, not for skating tips, not making a bid for my money. For my food. “I’ve got plenty. My mother sends me loads. How about strawberry mochi? It’s a soft rice cake.”

“So, the sweet version of what I just ate?” she asked with an adorable frown.

“Basically!” I grinned. I hadn’t made the connection before.

“If you’re sure you don’t mind.”

“I’m happy to share. Gilbert is crappy dinner company.”

“He’s so sweet,” she said, looking at the dog sleeping at her feet.

“He would let someone break in and steal everything if they gave him a treat.”

“Well, he and I have that in common. Food is the way to our hearts.” She beamed down at the dog.

I took our plates, putting them in the sink and grabbing two mochi packets out of the pantry.

“Do you need help cleaning up? It’s the least I can do,” she said from her seat, bracing her hand on the table, like she was going to try and stand up.

“You keep your butt there! You should be resting. My mother and sister would skin me alive if they found out I let a pregnant woman clean up—and I happen to like my skin.”

“It is annoyingly clear skin.” Daisy nodded with a serious face.

“It’s those good genes,” I said, placing the mochi in front of her. She took one with a smile and gently nibbled on it.

“My lord!” Her beautiful green eyes found mine, and my heart tripped. “This is so good. My stomach hasn’t been this happy in weeks.”

“Glad I can help. Have you been having any cravings?”

It would, of course, be insane for me to make a mental note of them for later.

“Loads, but I don’t have a car, so unless I want to catch a night bus when I have a three a.m. craving, I have to ignore it.”

A night bus?We lived in a decent area, but those buses were not the safest. The idea of a tiny pregnant omega on one of those filled me with worry.

I wanted to tell her that I would happily drive her to the store if she needed, but that would be coming on a little strong. We were practically strangers.

“Well, if I can satisfy any cravings, let me know. I’m at your disposal.” I smiled.

Her face turned bright red. Ahh. Did that sound dirty?

“Thank you.” She composed herself, fighting her smile before her hand flew to her side and she hissed gently.

“Kicks?” I asked.

Daisy nodded. “Strong ones. I love this little parasite already, but I’m not sure they love me with the way they are using my insides as a punching bag.”

“Do you know what you’re having?”

“I wanted it to be a surprise. The, uh...dad wanted to know, but he didn’t bother showing up for the one appointment I booked and told him about, so I decided to find out on their birthday.”

What sort of pathetic excuse for a human didn’t attend sonograms for his own child? She had already mentioned she didn’t have a car, which meant she was traveling alone on a crowded bus to attend doctor’s appointments without anyone looking out for her.

Someone needed a punch to the dick. I didn’t know who this guy was, but I already hated him.

My entire home smelled like apples and sugar, and I found it comforting. Gilbert clearly didn’t mind, either; he was still fast asleep at Daisy’s feet.

“My family is far too impatient. My sister found out the moment she could and decorated the nursery in every shade of blue imaginable. It was like a tornado of blue had come crashing through the house. Between my sister and mother...” I shook my head at the memory. “Dad and I just hid in the basement and discussed work until they summoned us to build furniture. Then we bought them cupcakes and left them to it.”

“You sound like very smart men. Your sister is lucky to have so many people helping her.”

“That’s what family is supposed to do.”

Daisy frowned slightly, her gaze finding the clock on the wall. “Damn, it’s getting late. I should get back. I can’t thank you enough for this. I know it’s not exactly normal.”

“Daisy, I’m happy to help. Seriously.”

She blushed before nodding, and I got the impression she didn’t fully believe me. She pulled herself out of the chair with a groan, gently rubbing her lower back. I wanted to offer her a back rub, but that would just be creepy.

“Thank you,” she repeated when we got to my doorway. She clutched the Tupperware of noodles tightly. As if it was precious. I wondered how long it had been since she’d been offered something by someone else. I was glad she was taking some food home with her.

“Anytime, I mean it,” I said as she petted Gilbert goodbye.

I watched for as long as I could get away with as she waddled off to her own apartment. When the door closed behind her, I was left alone. I stood in silence for a long time, surrounded by the fading scent of brown sugar and apple, unable to shake the feeling that the apartment felt oddly empty.