Chapter 19 #2
"As for whether I will formally enroll, I have no clue, nor do I particularly care. Degrees mean little when you have already built a career. The university can decide what they want from me beyond the coaching consultation, and I will decide whether their offer is worth accepting."
Laurent tilts his head, processing.
"You do not have a pack either," he observes, and it is not a question. "You introduced yourself as Captain Calder, not as part of a pack. You came here alone from Paris. No one was waiting for you at the airport, no one accompanied you to the rink."
Smart. The younger Laurent brother is observant. More observant than his reputation in European circles would suggest, which means either the reputation is outdated or he has deliberately cultivated a persona that underestimates his actual capabilities.
"I do not have a pack," I confirm.
"Why not?" Knox asks, and there is genuine curiosity beneath the defensive suspicion. "You are a captain. You are clearly experienced. You are..." He gestures vaguely at me, the motion encompassing my height, my build, my everything. "You could have any Omega you wanted. Why stay packless?"
I consider the question with the seriousness it deserves.
"In my opinion, a pack should be determined by the Omega.
" I let the statement settle before continuing.
"The most compatible Alphas are those who come together for the same purpose, which is the Omega herself.
Securing her wants. Meeting her needs. Building something around her that makes her life better rather than simply claiming ownership and expecting gratitude.
I have not met anyone prior who gave me that sense of purpose.
That feeling of duty that makes you willing to rearrange your entire existence for another person's happiness. "
I pause, and a ghost of a smile touches my lips.
"So why would I attach myself to a pack that does not have that center? It would be hollow. Performative. Two or three Alphas going through the motions of partnership without the heart that makes it meaningful."
Knox and Laurent share another weighted look.
This time, when they turn back to me, some of the suspicion has softened into understanding. Not trust, not yet, but the recognition that my philosophy aligns with their own instincts more than they expected.
Laurent nods slowly.
"That makes sense."
"Thank you for the validation," I reply, letting a hint of sarcasm curl through the words. "Now, since we are sharing, let me ask you something. You are in a pack with my brother, I assume? Yet the Omega told me she has no pack, and you referred to her as a roommate earlier. Which is it?"
Laurent's expression shifts, discomfort flickering across his features.
"She just arrived," he explains carefully. "Temporary housing arrangement. She is staying with us for five weeks while the university sorts out alternative accommodations. I think she requested to move."
Knox's head snaps toward Laurent.
"Wait. She is actually going to change dorm rooms?"
"Probably." Laurent's jaw tightens. "I mean, Rafe did not exactly make her feel welcome, did he? He spent her first day mocking her, challenging her to races, and acting like her presence was a personal offense. If I were her, I would want to leave too."
Knox frowns, the realization settling across his features with visible weight.
"I did not think she would actually go through with it," he mutters. "I figured once she got used to us, once Rafe calmed down, things would settle. She was starting to fit, you know? With the banter and the comebacks and the way she does not take any of our shit."
Interesting. They have already started forming attachments without acknowledging them. The denial is strong with these two, which means the feelings underneath are stronger than they are comfortable admitting.
I observe them both, letting the silence do the work that words cannot.
Then I ask the question that needs asking.
"So what are we doing about this?"
They look at me, waiting for elaboration.
"We just signed a document," I clarify, "that declares us a pack so she can receive medical treatment.
Is that arrangement temporary? A convenient fiction that dissolves the moment she is cleared by the nurse?
Or does it extend until the preliminary playoffs in five weeks, giving her the coverage she needs to receive proper care during that time? "
The question hangs between us like a challenge.
Laurent speaks first.
"I do not mind." His voice is quiet but certain, carrying the weight of a decision that has been forming beneath the surface.
"If it ensures she can get checkups, get her knee properly monitored, get the treatment she needs to heal.
Mae used to figure skate at a professional level.
I think she wants to rediscover that part of herself again.
If being listed as her pack means she can pursue that without administrative barriers, then I am comfortable maintaining the arrangement. "
Knox nods slowly, his amber eyes thoughtful.
"Besides," he adds, "she was doing Coach Mercer a favor when she got injured. That demonstration on the ice was at his request. And the puck that hit her had to be from one of Rafe's wannabe followers. Some jealous asshole who could not handle watching an Omega outskate their captain."
His jaw tightens with the anger of an Alpha who has identified an offense but does not yet know who to direct his fury toward.
"If someone sabotaged her intentionally, that is not something we can ignore."
I nod, filing the information away.
"I will deal with that later," I say, and the promise in my voice is enough to make both of them pause. "Whoever left that puck on the ice will be identified. And they will answer for it."
Neither of them asks for elaboration.
Neither of them looks like they want it.
Good. Some things are better handled without an audience.
The nurse's office door opens before the conversation can continue.
The petite, silver-haired woman emerges with a clipboard in hand and a professional smile on her face that suggests she is accustomed to delivering news to anxious Alphas.
"Everything looks good," she announces, glancing between the three of us.
"She did pull the ligament slightly, so I am recommending a week off the ice to let it heal properly.
I have supplied some anti-inflammatory creams she can apply to the knee, which will speed the recovery process.
It would be beneficial if one of you helped her apply the cream and bandage it properly, especially for the first few days.
The positioning can be tricky for her to manage on her own. "
"I can take care of that," I say immediately.
Knox's eyebrow twitches, but he does not argue.
"However," I continue, addressing the practical complication, "I just arrived today and have not been assigned a room. My accommodations are not finalized yet, which makes the logistics of assisting with her care somewhat complicated."
The nurse's expression shifts to one of surprise.
"Oh!" She blinks, then her smile returns with renewed brightness. "I can fix that right now. Of course you need to be with your pack. Let me just pull up the housing system."
She turns to the computer on the desk, her fingers already moving across the keyboard before anyone can clarify the situation.
"So it is Raphael Calder, yes?" She glances at me over her shoulder. "C-A-L-D-E-R?"
"Yes."
"Silly administrators," she mutters, clicking through screens with the efficiency of someone who navigates bureaucratic systems regularly.
"They must have misspelled your name or entered it into the wrong housing block.
I will fix it now. It only takes a moment to add a pack member to an existing unit.
Just need to verify your student ID and update the roster. "
Knox opens his mouth.
Laurent's hand covers it before sound can emerge.
I watch the interaction from my peripheral vision, fighting the smirk that threatens to surface.
Knox's eyebrows climb his forehead in confusion, his amber eyes darting between Laurent's silencing hand and my carefully neutral expression.
Laurent, for his part, maintains perfect composure, his storm-blue gaze fixed on the nurse's back with the focused stillness of someone who has made a decision and intends to see it through.
Smart. The younger Laurent is definitely smart. He sees an opportunity and is seizing it without letting Knox's instinctive objections interfere.
He probably does not realize I know his older brother.
Bastien Laurent is a notorious figure in European hockey circles, his reputation preceding him across multiple countries and leagues.
A talented but volatile player whose departure from Valenridge left a crater that the current pack is still trying to fill.
The younger brother appears to be the opposite.
Measured where Bastien was explosive. Strategic where Bastien was impulsive.
Tamed and smart, as I suspected.
"There you go!" The nurse turns back with a satisfied smile, holding out a printed form.
"You are officially registered in the same residential unit as the rest of your pack.
You can pick up your keycard from the housing office later, or Miss Phillips can bring it to your door if you prefer.
She handles most of the athlete housing coordination. "
"Thank you," I say, accepting the form with a nod. "May we go in now? I want to make sure she is comfortable before we transport her."