Never Bet Against A Hockey Player (Breakouts & Baddies #3)

Chapter 1

Chapter

One

Conrad

The first time I saw her, I forgot how to breathe.

She was the most beautiful omega I’d ever laid eyes on.

She was swaying to music only she could hear as she pushed a mop across the locker room floor.

Her earbuds hid her from the world, keeping her blissfully unaware that she’d just brought this alpha to his knees.

Not literally… I’d seen what happens in locker rooms.

I should make more noise or move, but here I was standing in a towel, water dripping down my body, eyes locked on her. She wasn’t just singing a bubbly pop song, no, this girl was playing mop air guitar and pretending to scream along to whatever rock song was playing through her earbuds.

“Hey!” I called out when time stretched on and she didn’t hear me.

There was no way I came out of this not looking like a complete creep if I didn’t at least attempt to get her attention.

She clearly didn’t do her due diligence to ensure the locker room was empty.

My alpha didn’t like that. He was already feeling far too protective of an omega we didn’t know.

It took another minute before she turned to dunk the mop in the bucket and saw me. Her scream was loud enough to echo over the walls and likely through the arena. I flinched and held up my hands, which had my towel falling.

Her eyes widened and took in every inch. Her scream didn’t cut off as I scrambled to put it back in place. It was around my hips before the door opened and a pint-sized blond boy barreled in, cheeks pink from the cold, face terrified but determined, and stumbling around in his skates.

“What are you doing to her?!” he bellowed as he stumbled forward like a foal who just got his legs to work. I stepped back and tried not to laugh at the ridiculous display but knew better than to hold up my hands this time. One stayed firmly on my towel.

“This is our locker room. I was showering and came out to her cleaning. She had earbuds in and couldn’t hear me. I did try,” I said evenly.

The kid looked uncertain, but turned to her. The gorgeous omega’s cheeks were bright pink now and her words stuttered out.

“I… I didn’t realize anyone would be here. I clean at this time every night,” she argued.

“Coach kept me late to go over some drills. There’s at least four new transfers on the team this year,” I explained. “If you both step out I can change and then let you get to work.”

“Oh god, I’m so sorry. Come on, Gavin,” she groaned, pulling him out which only had him stumbling more.

The smile stayed on my face as I changed quickly and tossed my towel in the bin. She was gorgeous and I was only sorry the disinfectant and distance hadn’t given me a chance to catch her scent.

I slid on my shoes and grabbed my bag before heading out of the locker room, hoping she didn’t go hide. She’d looked mortified as she rushed out.

The sound of hockey blades cutting through the ice greeted me first. I looked out to see her preteen protector skating effortlessly around the rink.

When the locker room door shut with a thud behind me, she turned around. Her cheeks were still stained pink, and she was just as gorgeous as she was when I spotted her earlier.

“Again, I’m so, so sorry,” she started, wringing her hands. The poor omega was flustered which had my protective alpha ready to soothe her. “Please don’t report me to management. I should’ve checked the locker room first. That was my fault. It won’t happen again.”

She started rambling about losing her job. I was horrified that she thought I would put her livelihood at risk over that.

“You’re fine,” I said, reaching out for her and barely stopping myself before making contact.

Even though I didn’t touch her, she flinched away. I held up my hands.

“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. The last thing I wanted was to startle her, but the action put me so close that her scent hit me like a freight train.

Her eyes went wide with shock as I breathed in deeply, nostrils flaring. My alpha roared in my chest, pushing me forward so hard I had to tense my body to stop him.

She smelled incredible. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and warm, inviting spices. The kind of smell you only get when someone is baking something incredible on a cold day.

“Your scent,” she rasped out, eyes wide. She wasn’t running, so that was a good sign, but something was holding her back.

“We’re definitely scent-matches,” I confirmed.

She studied me and opened her mouth to speak but nothing seemed to come out. The boy on the ice slapped his stick against a puck, the sound making her jump.

“Can I at least know my scent-match’s name?” I went for quiet and charming in hopes it would help.

“It’s Dhara,” she said quickly.

I could tell the omega was flustered so I didn’t push it. I knew when to stop. I had an omega sister. I could tell how overwhelmed she was, and right now really wasn’t the time.

Plus, if she worked here, I’d see her again. There was no risk of her disappearing into the world never to be seen again.

That thought alone had my alpha pushing against me again, wanting to soothe his omega. Fuck, my instincts were never this intense.

“Look,” I said carefully. “Your job isn’t at risk with me. I just didn’t want to scare you back there. Coach kept me back for a late session, and I took a little longer in the locker because my shoulder was acting up.”

I flexed it a bit and tested it out. She was a fantastic distraction. One I wanted more of if she’d let me.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t going to be the case.

Her entire body sagged in relief at my reassurance and that was enough to calm my alpha.

“Thank God. I can’t lose this job,” she said fiercely.

I frowned at the severity of her tone. It wasn’t a threat, but she sounded so stressed.

Just like that my alpha was pushing again. I wanted to ask more, to learn everything about her, but I could already see her locking her emotions down. Her face became a careful mask of indifference, even as she still glanced at me from the side.

I reluctantly tore my gaze from her to look back out at the ice. The boy was skating hard, but smooth. He knew what he was doing out there.

“You’ve got a tough guy on your hands,” I said as I watched him. The way he stormed into the locker room was adorable. She’d have a strong alpha on her hands one day.

Her entire demeanor softened as she watched him take another shot. “He’s one of your junior league players here.”

“I heard the Renegades really embraced that program.” I’d been meaning to get involved and Coach made it clear on no uncertain terms we’d be participating.

“They have. Gavin loves hockey. Hence the importance of the job,” she clarified.

The way she said it was almost like an explanation, but I knew I was only getting a portion of the truth.

Silence descended between us. It made the divide seem bigger and I didn’t know enough to cross it yet.

She studied me for a second before answering, her light blue eyes searing into my soul, as if she were judging me, determining if I was worthy of her time, then she was watching her boy on the ice again.

“That’s Gavin.” I wasn’t sure if that was just to prepare me for the inevitable meeting via junior league or an olive branch. I’d never had this hard of a time figuring someone out. She was guarded.

We watched as Gavin skated over to the pucks he had lined up, taking shots one after another. The way he held the stick was just a little too stiff, and the hold a bit too low.

“Gavin, come here,” I called out, waving him over.

The boy’s expression was hard and cautious as he approached, but he didn’t protest.

“Your form is just a little off. I’m sure your coaches will cover it, but you need to adjust your grip.”

I demonstrated for him. Surprisingly, he didn’t argue. He practiced the same motion, looking at me for approval and then adjusting carefully until he had it down.

“Go try that,” I said.

He looked at Dhara, who just shrugged, before skating back to the pucks he had lined up.

This time he only missed one. The rest sank effortlessly into the net.

When he skated back, his eyes were wild with excitement, an almost mirror image of the woman standing beside me.

He had to be hers, right? They looked too similar to be anything else.

My protective instincts flared to life. He was a preteen. The implication of someone taking advantage of her when she was far too young made me want to rage. For now, I swallowed it down. I didn’t know the details yet and showing my alphahole side wouldn’t help anyone feel at ease.

“That was amazing! Thank you!” he said emphatically.

Then his entire expression shifted. He gasped, startling Dhara.

“Wait… you’re Conrad Flynn! I don’t know how I didn’t recognize you!”

“Probably because I’m not wearing my goalie gear,” I joked. “But I know my way around the ice regardless of the position I play.”

He started rattling off my stats to Dhara, trying to give her context for why this was such a big deal to him.

She smiled and nodded along indulgently, her expression open as if she genuinely wanted to soak in his excitement.

I’d just met this duo, and I was already hooked.

Hell, I’d been hooked from the moment I saw her.

Not just because she was gorgeous and perfect, but because she was also a good and compassionate person.

Nobody who looked at their kid that way was a bad person.

The fact that she kept this job just so he could play meant not only that she needed the money, but that she would do anything for those she loved.

That was something I could relate to.

“Well, I didn’t realize you were a celebrity,” she said when he finally skated back to try again.

“Only in the hockey world,” I reassured her.

“He’s talked about you before,” she admitted. “I usually just gloss over the details, though. Hockey is his passion, not mine.”

“Oh? And what’s your passion?” I asked.

She looked startled by the question, like she’d never considered it before.

Between that and her careful wording and guarded expression, I couldn’t help but wonder what these two had been through.

The idea of anyone treating my omega terribly made me want to rage almost as badly as I had when I found my sister after her pack neglected her.

Something that never should’ve fucking happened.

I wanted to ask, to make sure they were safe, but she would clam up in a second or lie if I did. Instead, I was forced to be patient.

Something I usually pride myself on. Not today.

“Do you need somebody to clear the ice for you after this?” I asked instead.

“Oh, no.” She shook her head quickly. “The coach arranged for the morning crew to do that. He knows we’re here.”

“And here I thought you were just a rebel,” I teased.

She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling now. I was relieved to see it. She had grown far too serious.

“Not a rebel. Just grateful to have somewhere he can practice.”

“Are you guys from around here?” She hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Yeah. We grew up here in South Lake.”

Finally, a piece of who she was. My chest warmed that she felt safe enough to open up, even a little.

“You transferred, right? Where did you come from?”

The question had me almost giddy. I had never let my emotions be affected by anyone before but she was different. She was mine.

“Westgrave. It’s where I grew up. It’s also where my dads played. They’re pretty big in the hockey world and I thought it was time to make my own legacy somewhere else out of their shadow.”

My sister Lana had chosen to leave hockey behind. I embraced it. It also meant that their name and legacy was forever attached to mine. Even here I knew I’d be compared, but this felt like mine. Untainted by them. I hadn’t realized how badly I needed that until now.

I wanted reactions like Gavin’s, where it was genuine and earned through my hard work, not theirs.

She studied me for a moment but didn’t question it.

“Before meeting you, I told Coach I’d be happy to help with the program, so we should be seeing each other around quite a bit.”

“Gavin will be happy,” she said quickly, not quite meeting my eyes.

I let the conversation drop, even though that was the last thing I wanted to do.

“I’m getting the impression you’re unhappy with matching.”

“No,” she said quickly.

The conflict was obvious in her eyes even as her words contradicted my assumption.

“Do you already have a pack?”

“No,” she said, snorting out a laugh.

It was adorable and completely indelicate. I loved it.

“Well, whatever it is holding you back, just know that I’m a patient man. I can wait until you’re ready.”

Because one thing was becoming painfully clear: whatever burden she was carrying, she had been carrying it alone for far too long. Something I was prepared to carry for her, as soon as she’d let me.