25. Lucas
I sink into the couch in my agent, Jon’s, office as the weight of stress bears down on my shoulders.
“You look like shit,” he says. “What’s going on?”
I’ve always been able to talk to him. I trust him. And he’s been trying to get me to sign a deal with the Miami Sharks. I know he won’t do or say anything that will destroy this friendship.
I shrug my shoulders. “Nothing hockey related. Apart from wanting to kill my captain.”
“What’s he done now?”
I could tell him the truth, but I’m not ready. “He’s convinced we’re a pack, yet he goes out fucking puck bunnies. And it’s not my thing.”
“You could always sign up for the Miami Sharks. Move away from him.”
“Nice try.” I love living in New York, and I already play for one of the best teams in the League.
Leaning forward in his chair, Jon’s brow furrows in concern. His eyes roam over my face, like he is trying to read me. “Anything else? Love perhaps?”
I swallow. “Not just love.” I take a breath and whisper, “And not just anyone. I found an omega.” I want to tell him I think she’s a scent match, but she’s refused to confirm it. I want to tell him she is pregnant with my baby … or maybe it’s Stanton’s. “But you know who my father is. One whiff of knowing about her and he’ll make my life and hers unbearable.”
His eyes widen. “Do you think he’d do something to her?”
I laugh. “I doubt he’d have her killed, but he’ll do one of two things: make her life hell or give her enough money to make mine hell.”
“Do you want her if she’ll be so easily bought off?” he asks.
I shrug my shoulders. An unsettling sensation lingers within me, refusing to go away. I can’t tell him I don’t know her well enough. But I know she was prepared to sell her heat.
“You need to get rid of this dark cloud looming around you. Blow it off. You have an important game tomorrow.”
“I know.”
I do. But my alpha is clawing at my insides, wanting her. Wanting the baby that is growing inside her. But knowing my father is a sick man. He also has one goal on his mind. And that goal could be destroyed if his electors find out his unmarried son got an omega pregnant.
I have to keep her a secret.
If I don’t and he loses his presidential possibility, he’ll break her and then he’ll destroy me.
Despite being the one on the ice, the one who was good enough to earn my big break years ago, my father seems to think he can click his fingers and ruin everything for me.
I tread carefully, despite now and then challenging him. But I know my limits. I won’t sacrifice everything I’ve made. And that means I have to keep Grace and my baby a secret.
Jon leans back in his chair, tilting his head as his brow furrows with worry. “You need to focus on the game, and on your team.”
“I will. I am,” I huff. Since when was hockey not my number one priority? “But…”
He gestures for me to continue.
“Stanton is determined to make her his.” I curl my fingers into fists. “He wants her, and she’s pregnant.”
“But she’s pregnant with your…”
“Well.” I pause with a dep sigh. “The baby could be his.”
He gives me a nod of understanding. But Jon is a beta, he doesn’t really understand.
“It feels like mine.”
“What’s more important to you? This baby or your father?”
“My baby and her mom being safe are the only things that matter right now.”
“Then let Stanton take care of her. Stand back and let it happen. Her and your baby will be safer with an alpha looking out for them.”
I shake my head in disbelief, tightly shutting my eyes and clenching my teeth in frustration. “No, she’s mine.”
“Did you claim her?” There’s a change in his tone—harsher than usual, not that I blame him. He thinks I’m leaving her alone because I can’t face my father.
“She claimed me.” My voice is raspy as my hand flies to my chest instinctively. “It hurts. I feel her pain and I want to make it go away … for her sake.”
“Then talk to her before the game tomorrow. You need to come to an arrangement.” His lips purse in annoyance. “If you don’t, your game is going to suffer.”
“And tell her what, exactly?”
“That you’re not available and she should date Stanton,” he says.
“What the fuck?” I growl.
“He’s a good man,”
“He is also the biggest player on the team.”
The corners of his mouth twitch, revealing a subtle smile. “Maybe, but you obviously called him when this omega was in heat, otherwise what other way could he be the father?”
He waits for my response and when I don’t reply, he continues, “Maybe you don’t want Stanton to be your pack mate because of his playboy ways, but give him a chance with her. Why don’t you see how much he looks after her?”
“You want me to gift Stanton my omega?” My lips form into a thin line as anger burns inside me, and then I blurt, “Are you for fucking real?”
“It’s a win-win in my eyes. She’s already fucked him.”
“She doesn’t remember. She was deep in her heat,” I growl.
He lifts one shoulder and widens his eyes. “Stanton wants her. Give them permission and you’ll control everything until the baby is born.”
“And then what? Let him be the father? Let him be her alpha?” My voice sounds dejected. “What about me? What if they decide they only want each other?”
“Hopefully before that time you can solve this problem you have with your father.”
I mull over the thought of Stanton and Grace being with each other. “My game will probably suffer just knowing they’re together.”
But what choice do I have? My father will ruin my life. Her life.
“It’s the only solution,” Jon says after I’ve been silent for a while.
I nod.
At least this way, I get to see her. Maybe even see my baby growing inside her.
I just hope this isn’t the worst idea ever.