Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
Lana
Practice today started at eleven, so thankfully I didn’t have to go in early. It gave me time to make breakfast for the guys at the house before heading down to the arena.
My lack of a car would have been a problem if the hockey house wasn’t so close. Between deliveries and Conrad having a car, I was set.
I’d just finished putting out some high-protein muffins, fruit, and yogurt for the guys, along with a note. Snagging my shoes, I pulled them on. Thankfully, I’d loaded up my tote last night.
I was just about to walk out the door when Cade’s sleep-roughened voice hit me.
“Where are you going? We’re off this week.”
Amused, I turned around to face him. “You are off this week,” I corrected. “I don’t get that same luxury.”
Realization dawned on his face before it turned to sadness.
“No,” he protested. “This was supposed to be a week to relax and hang out. We never get time off.”
“You realize it was supposed to be a punishment, right?” I teased.
The frown never left his face. Cade was not happy. It was strange but nice to be the one going off and being missed.
“You still get to have that,” I said gently. “Me being at work doesn’t stop that. Enjoy your time.”
“It does,” he said, refusing to budge. He shoved a hand through his white hair, forcing it back. The move exposed his pale green eyes that were begging me to stay, even if I couldn’t.
“I can’t stay,” I argued. “You’ve got the others to hang out with. Pack bonding time.”
“You’re one of us now.” He paused, as if thinking it over for a second before shrugging. “Can you wait five minutes?”
“I guess, but why—” I started, but he was already yelling out at the others.
“Hey! Princess still has to work today, guys!”
“What?” Mason protested, sliding into the room on socked feet and boxers. My mouth went dry as I took him in. He smirked as my eyes raked over him and then snapped back up, realizing what I was doing.
“It’s okay. You can look,” he promised, flexing a little for my benefit. “I’m all yours, Lana.”
Kieran, Lennon, Wilder, and Conrad all walked in together. Conrad gave me a look before crossing his arms and glaring at the others. He was not over things, that much was obvious. Fuck, another thing I’d have to fix.
“You guys realize that I have practice too, right?”
“But you’re not as cute as she is,” Mason countered. He kept his words light but there was a warning under them. I hated the wedge I put between them.
Conrad scoffed. “How many times do I have to tell you to back the fuck off my sister?”
“You can say it all you want,” Cade shrugged. “It changes nothing.”
Mason raised an eyebrow. “She likes it. Don’t you, princess?” he asked, giving me a flirty smile that might just get him killed this morning.
Conrad didn’t bother to look my way. “She’s dealt with enough bullshit.”
Mason only seemed to get more annoyed, losing any hints of teasing. “She has, so why are you making it worse?”
“I’m not.” Conrad was finally looking at me for help, but he wasn’t going to find it from me. Mason was right. I could make my own decisions. The sooner my brother accepted that, the better.
“I appreciate your concern. I do,” I said carefully.
He huffed again. I didn’t want him to feel like I wasn’t taking him seriously but he wasn’t listening.
“Mason is right. I don’t mind some harmless flirting.” I tipped my head.
He let out a warning growl. “Maybe it’s a good thing you have to work this week. I think being around them is clouding your brain.”
I stumbled back as if he’d struck me. His words were like a slap to the face. He wasn’t just dismissing this, he was stating quite obviously that I was being careless and clueless.
“At some point, you’re going to have to accept that I’ve grown up,” I bit out, trying to hide the tears threatening to fall.
Conrad ran a hand over his face. “I know that. You’re right. I do,” he said roughly. “It’s just that my past decisions have caused you enough trouble—”
“You need to stop beating yourself up over the actions of assholes who lied to us both. They don’t get to hold that kind of power over us anymore.”
“I’m trying,” he sighed.
“Not to be dismissive, but we need to move onto the issue for today,” Cade said, clapping his hands loud enough to get everyone’s attention. “She has to work and is going to be late if we don’t move it. We’re banned from practice, not the arena.”
“Nothing says we can’t go spend the day in the kitchen with her,” Kieran agreed, catching on.
“Why the hell would you guys want to spend the day in the kitchen with me?” I said, throwing up my hands. I didn’t mind it, but I didn’t want them hovering and bored. “I’ll be able to spend time with you guys when I’m done.”
“Not if they take you for the away game,” Mason pointed out, glancing at the others to see if they were as uncomfortable as he was with the idea.
That seemed to sober everyone up, including Conrad. Hell, even I felt uneasy about it. They’d quickly become my safety net against the world, and the idea of being without them terrified me. I’d been avoiding thinking too hard about it.
“One person isn’t enough to watch over her with everything going on,” Conrad said. I guess the tension of courting and mates was forgotten to focus on this issue.
“It’s against the Renegades,” I said, trying to reassure us all. “They’re rivals, but not the guys we need to worry about.”
Cade’s voice was quiet. “It’s just that we won’t be there, and you will. I’m not a fan of that idea, princess. You’re ours and letting our omega go alone scares me.”
“I’m going to have to reluctantly agree with them on this one,” Conrad sighed. He looked as if that pained him. “I’m a goalie. I’m not exactly pulled in and out of the game like they are.”
“You wanted me to take this job,” I reminded him. “I’ve taken too long; I’m going to lose this job if I don’t hurry.”
I pulled the tote bag up my arm again and started to walk out. The rest had to wait.
“We’ll be right behind you, princess,” Mason called, wiggling his fingers as I went.
It felt wrong to leave without them, but this was what being independent meant. I couldn’t depend entirely on my pack this time, I had to be myself too.
The walk to the arena was frigid but kind of nice. It reminded me that I could, in fact, handle this new life. I didn’t need an entourage of bodyguards as much as they wished for the opposite.
The arena was still quiet when I walked in. The low lights were on, meaning they weren’t blinding, and the familiar hum of the Zamboni smoothing the ice for practice was the only sound that greeted me.
It was a familiar one, and the urge to get out there and skate on the freshly smoothed ice was strong.
I’d have to talk to Coach and see if he would let me skate from time to time. The hockey players could tear up the ice, so I probably couldn’t do it until it was smooth, but I wanted to get back out there and reignite that part of myself.
I pushed open the door to the kitchen and flicked on the lights. It was more familiar now. I felt like I belonged here, not like I was simply borrowing it.
A pile of used containers was waiting for me in the sink, and I couldn’t help but appreciate the sight. It meant the team had been eating the meals I left for them.
Instead of heading for it, I went to the fridge, opening up the double doors and smiling even more when I saw it was almost empty of the meals and drinks I prepped.
It was full of groceries, meaning the delivery arrived. Coach had a deal with the local grocery store. They’d deliver and put everything away for an extra fee that the league covered. It was still on a trial basis, but it felt like we were heading in the right direction.
I set my bag on the counter and pulled out the speaker dock I’d bought for the kitchen. It was bright pink, which I hoped meant no one would borrow it and forget to return it.
Pulling up my cooking playlist, I put it in the dock and started it, tying on my apron.
As the first beats of the song hit, the kitchen came to life. This was my happy place; I didn’t even mind the pile of dishes waiting. I liked feeling needed.
I quickly got to work washing the containers and checking my menu against the grocery order, making sure I’d gotten everything I needed.
Then it was onto cooking. The smell of spices quickly filled the kitchen, and I sang along to the songs as I worked.
I was so involved in my tasks that I didn’t realize anyone had come in until Mason’s smoky voice joined mine, belting out the song with enthusiasm to match mine.
An undignified shriek escaped me, the pan fumbling in my hand. It absolutely would’ve flipped and burned me if not for a strong body pressing against my back, hands engulfing mine and steadying me.
“You can’t scare somebody who has a hot pan like that,” Kieran chastised Mason without moving from behind me.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. It did nothing against the heady aroma of the alpha’s brandy, pear, and clove scent. It was spicy, sweet and warm as it wrapped around me, drowning out the smell of cooking.
It settled in my chest as if it belonged, warming me from the inside out.
Something had shifted, just like with Cade. It was stronger now. Sweeter. And the reaction I had was different, too.
“Thanks,” I managed, though it came out husky and strange.
“Give the lady some breathing room,” Lennon said, pulling Kieran away by his collar and depositing him on a nearby stool.
As much as I was grateful for the moment to actually breathe, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed. I wanted him that close.
I liked it and so did my omega. She was finally perking her head up again.
Turning back to the stove, I took a moment to gather my wits, stirring the chopped bacon in the pan.
“That smells incredible,” Cade said as he snagged one of the carrots from the pile of veggies I’d chopped earlier.