13. Anya
Chapter 13
M averick hands me a mug of throat coat tea and I give him a nod of thanks as I sip it. My throat is killing me. My heat is finally over, but during it, my inner omega had no issue moaning. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard to me, but they seem to like it. So she did it more to please them. But after almost a decade of near silence, my vocal cords are shot, and I'm paying for it now. The tea helps, though, soothing the raw feeling.
Leo sits beside me in my nest, running his fingers through my hair. It's a comforting gesture, one I've quickly grown accustomed to over the past week. Jenson's on the other side, his hand resting gently on my knee. We're a tangle of limbs and blankets.
It's been...intense.My heat has never hit me as hard as it did while on suppressants. Having three compatible alphas at my disposal certainly didn't hurt, either. They were incredible, patient, and attentive to my every need, every whimper, every mumbled, garbled request. It was overwhelming, in the best way possible. Now that it is over, I don't know what to do with myself.
But there's a nervous energy in the air. Today's the day. We have to go to the clinic, get the blood tests, and prove our compatibility to the league. It's the only way they can keep their "emergency leave" without getting penalized. Part of me is terrified. What if it's all a mistake? What if the tests come back negative? But another part, the part that's grown increasingly fond of these three men, is hopeful.
I don't want them to get in trouble. Not because of me. Not because of this.
"You okay, sweetheart?" Leo asks, his voice soft. He's always so gentle with me.
I nod, offering him a small smile. It's hard to express the whirlwind of emotions inside me, especially without a voice.
Jenson squeezes my knee. "We're going to be right there with you, every step of the way."
"We just need to get this done, so we're not benched," Maverick adds, from where he's leaning against the door frame of my bedroom.
"I know. Thank you," I sign.
My gaze drifts towards the window overlooking the street. I still haven't brought myself to look at that email sitting in my inbox. I know I need to read it, and it nags at me.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road." Maverick pushes himself off the door frame. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner we can relax."
It's now or never to know the truth.
The clinic is a small, nondescript building downtown. The waiting room is empty, thankfully. I don't think I could handle a crowd right now. A nurse, her name tag reading "Maria," greets us with a warm smile.
"Right this way." She leads us to a private room.
The phlebotomist, a young man with tattooed arms, enters shortly after.
"Hello, I'm Nathan. This should be quick, just need a small vial from each of you, and then you'll be free to go."
He starts with me, the alcohol swab cold against my skin. I can't watch as he draws a vial of blood from me.
He then makes quick work of the guys.
"That's it." He labels the vials. "You'll receive the results via email within the hour. Have a nice day."
We head out to the front and Maria hands us a small card with a website and a code. "You can upload your results here for the league to review."
We thank her and head out, the tension in the air thick enough to cut with a knife.
Back in Maverick's truck, we drive around as we wait. Each minute feels like an eternity. Finally, a ping from Maverick's phone signals the arrival of the email. Pulling into a parking lot, he turns off the engine, and we glance at each other.
He opens it, his eyes scanning the document. Leo and Jenson lean in from the back seat. I can barely look, my heart pounding in my chest.
Maverick lets out a breath, a smile spreading across his face. "It's confirmed. We're a match."
Relief washes over me. Leo lets out a whoop, and Jenson pumps his fist in the air. They're excited, happy. And me? I'm relieved, yes, but also...something else, and I'm not sure what it is.
Maverick uploads the results to the league website, a few quick taps on his phone. "All done. Now they have no reason to give us grief."
"So, what now?" Jenson asks, looking around at us.
"Now," Maverick says, turning to me, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "we take our omega to practice."
My eyes widen. "Practice?"
Leo chuckles. "Don't worry, sweetheart. It'll be fun. You can watch us skate."
"I don't know," I sign, hesitantly. "A lot of people?"
"Nah," Jenson says, shaking his head. "It's a closed practice. Just the team and some staff. You'll be fine. Besides, we want to keep an eye on you."
His words send a thrill through me. They want to keep an eye on me. They care. It's a new feeling, one I'm still getting used to.
I take a deep breath and nod.
When we arrive, the building is bustling with activity, even without fans. We enter through a side entrance, the scent of ice fills my nostrils. It's a surprisingly comforting smell.
Maverick leads us to the stands to the front row, right near one of the penalty boxes. "Best seats in the house," he says with a wink. The seats are right up against the glass, giving me an unobstructed view of the ice. It's almost like being on the ice myself.
Their team is already on the ice, warming up. They each give me a kiss before they head off. I watch the others skate around, and soon the three of them come out with helmets, hockey uniforms, and bulky looking skates on. I know a little bit about hockey. My grandpa was a fan, but I don't know a lot.
The practice is intense, a whirlwind of motion and energy. They move with a speed and precision that's breathtaking. I find myself captivated, my earlier anxieties melting away as I watch them skate. The sounds of the rink surround me - the scrape of skates on ice, the thud of the puck against the boards, the shouts of the players. It's a sensory overload, but in a good way.
Maverick, Leo, and Jenson are in their element, their movements fluid and powerful.
As I watch them, a strange feeling washes over me. It's more than just admiration. It's...hot. Seeing them like this, in their element, showcasing their skills, their strength, their dominance...it ignites something within me. My inner omega purrs, a low thrum of contentment and desire.
My cheeks flush. I steal glances at them, at the way their muscles flex beneath their jerseys, at the sweat glistening on their skin. I can hear them shouting to each other, their voices rough and excited. They're beautiful and they're mine.
The realization hits me like a slap shot to the chest. I feel for these men. Deeply. It's more than just attraction, more than just the bond of compatibility. Could it be...love?
I've never been in love before. Never allowed myself to even consider it. But with them...it feels different. It feels possible.
The whistle blows, signaling the end of a drill. Maverick skates over to the boards, right in front of me, leaning against them. He looks at me, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple. He winks, and my heart skips a beat. I can hear him panting, his breath fogging slightly in the cool air.
Leo and Jenson join him, their chests heaving, their faces flushed. They look happy. Content.
And I realize, with a jolt, that I am too. For the first time in a long time, I feel safe. Protected. Cherished.
This...this is what it's supposed to feel like. This is what a pack is. And maybe, just maybe, it's what love is, too.
As they start skating again, a small smile tugs at my lips. I have a feeling my life is about to change, in ways I never could have imagined. And for the first time in a decade, I'm not afraid. I'm excited. And maybe, a little bit in love with my three hockey playing alphas.
I can see them turn to look at me, and I blush, ducking my head slightly. They're so hot. My gaze goes to the ice, and I see a few of the other guys staring at me. My face heats up even more. One of them looks as if he might fall over, and another is looking between his legs as if checking something. I gasp, and my eyes fly back to my pack.
Jenson, who's closest to me now, shakes his head and hits his stick on the ice, hard. Maverick turns to look at the other players, his eyes narrowing, and he growls, low and menacing. It's the first time I've heard him do it, and my inner omega can't help but preen at the sound. It's so hot. It sends a shiver down my spine.
The practice ends, and I wait for them to shower and get changed. Soon, they come out to me
Jenson puts his hand on my lower back as we head out to the parking lot. "Did you like it?"
I nod and sign, "Very much. You're all very good."
"We'll take you to a real game soon," Maverick promises.
I smile. "I'd like that."
They take me back to my apartment, and we cuddle in my nest. It feels like home. It feels safe.
Safe. My inner omega agrees.
"We'll always keep you safe, sweetheart," Leo says, as if reading my mind. His hand runs soothingly up and down my arm.
I snuggle closer to him. I hope he's right. I don't think I could take heartbreak again. Especially not now, when things are finally starting to look up. As I drift off to sleep, curled up with my alphas, I can only hope that this newfound happiness will last. That they'll keep their promise. That I'm safe. That I'm loved. That they're the ones. My alphas. My pack. My family.
I'm in love and I don't want to be let down, again.