Chapter 26
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Lennon
The gossip sites had been going insane all day, and I had a feeling that was exactly why the arena was packed tonight. Our games with the Knights never did this well.
The team in question stayed huddled on their bench, staring over at us like a bunch of little schoolgirls the whole fucking time, and I was starting to get more and more annoyed.
I flexed my hand inside my glove, knuckles still aching from laying into that delta. Smashing his pretty face had been the highlight of my week. I wished we could’ve done more, but Mason was right to call it off when he did.
We hadn’t heard a peep from them since, but news of their swollen faces and bruises had definitely gotten out.
I was just waiting for the execs to call a meeting, or for some kind of fallout to drop.
For now, I focused on the game.
The first period ended in a tie. I was counting down the seconds until we were back on the ice. The Knights at least gave a damn about the game. They had more integrity than North Crossing.
“Alright, starting lineup, get out there and take this home,” Coach called.
My pack and I hurried over the boards, letting all the bullshit fall away. The bond was open but quiet as we all locked in. My skates cut into the ice as I tracked the puck, watching it ricochet off of their goalie again.
The fans were going insane as we fought for control of the puck.
Rodriguez, their center, was trying his best to drive it toward our net, and he had a hell of a shot, but Mason and I worked together to shut that down.
I could feel Mason’s confidence, solid and steady, and I let it wrap around me as we wrestled the puck away near the neutral zone.
The game pressed on, both teams giving it everything. The puck slid back and forth, fast and vicious. I stole it clean and snapped it into the net just as Coach pulled us in for a line change.
“Hell of a shot out there, Lennon,” Coach said, clapping his hands. He was downright giddy right now.
“Thanks, Coach.” I grinned, taking a long pull from my water bottle as the second line jumped in.
Conrad might have been unhinged yesterday, but tonight he was focused, blocking everything the other team threw at him. I could see their frustration building, and despite how well they were playing, I took a little satisfaction in it after watching them gossip all fucking night.
I knew this was only the beginning. Now that word was out, and that fucking picture was circulating, there was going to be more.
A lot more.
The picture wasn’t exactly flattering, but it was hot as fuck. It didn’t paint us in a good light, especially when she was known to be packed up already.
I was just waiting for the media to start calling her names. It felt like they were always eager to blame the omega, even though this was completely on her exes shoulders. That didn’t always matter when it came to revered hockey players.
The other team was growing bolder and more desperate as they fell behind. More than a few nasty comments were flung our way. We’d played dirty against the Narwhals and that was enough ammunition. Pair it with the gossip sites, and it was going to be a season full of bullshit.
Trash talk was part of hockey, teams would do anything to throw you off your game, but that shit wasn’t going to work on me. I’d just get mad and play harder. I’d prove to them that no matter what they fucking said, I would always take home that win.
“Next time we get out there,” Cade said, leaning in close to Mason and me and gesturing for Wilder and Kieran to join. “We finish this. I’m done with this gossip bullshit. I want you to wipe the ice with them. I don’t care how good they are. If you have to fuck them up, do it.”
“We’re on it,” Wilder said. “But keep it as clean as possible. This is only the beginning. We can’t spend the season in the sin bin.”
“I’ve read those sites more than I care to admit,” Cade added. “Doesn’t fucking matter. We know the truth. We know what happened. And when Lana’s ready, the rest of the world will too.”
“You’re up,” Coach called. I stretched out my neck and waited for the other line to move past before heading in. Our bond was no longer silent, it was thrumming with determination and frustration. It would only fuel us to kick ass.
By the end of the second period, we’d pulled ahead again. The gossip had stopped as their coach laid into them.
“Look, there’s our omega,” Kieran said with a grin as we flopped down on the bench, sweat dripping from our hair and faces.
Now that she didn’t have to hide, Lana was sitting in the staff section. I made a mental note to get her a spot in the box where packs and families were supposed to sit.
Knowing her, she’d refuse. She probably spent the first half making food and already had it waiting for us. There was never pressure with her. She understood that sometimes people wanted to go home or celebrate, but the food was always there regardless.
She was wearing a jersey. When she caught us looking, she grinned and turned around, sweeping her hair aside to show off FLYNN across her back. When she turned back, she cracked up at our expressions.
To be fair, Flynn was her last name, and if I had to pick favorites out of the rest of the team, Conrad definitely won. He was family.
“First-line back in,” Coach called.
The final period was always my favorite. My body ached in just the right way, muscles burning, adrenaline still pumping. I pushed harder, skating faster, stealing the puck, making sure Cade, our center, could drive it down the ice and take his shot.
Another goal. That made two in a row.
Wilder whooped, the rest of us joining in as the puck dropped again. Coach was seconds away from calling a change, and I found myself battling for possession one last time, desperate to sink it home.
When the final buzzer sounded, relief washed over me. I was ready to see Lana and make sure she was okay. We’d checked in all day, not because we didn’t trust her when she said she was fine, but because we worried all the drama might hit her later.
The locker room was pure chaos when we shoved through the doors. We’d played hard, and it paid off. But all I wanted was food and to collapse into my omega’s nest.
Now that our pack had found its missing piece, I couldn’t get enough of her. The feel of her wrapped around me, the perfection of fitting myself between her thighs, was something I knew I’d never stop going feral for.
“I’ve never seen you guys move through the showers so fucking fast,” Conrad laughed, all smiles now.
I flipped him my middle finger, which just had him cracking up more.
“Don’t act like you wouldn’t do the same if you found your omega,” Cade said, raising a brow.
Conrad said nothing, just bolted for the door, eager to see what his sister had made. Honestly, he was her biggest fan here, and that was saying something.
“I bet she made something fucking delicious,” Tim, one of our younger players said, right on his heels.
The rookies went feral for her food, and honestly, I got it. She put effort into her work. I never realized how satisfying it could be to have someone cook just for you.
She rounded our pack out in the best way. We loved taking care of her just as much.
Slowly, we were falling into a comfortable place as a pack. Now, all I could think about was getting a real packhouse, one that was ours and big enough that Lana could build the nest she deserved.
I was the first of the pack to walk into the dining hall, which meant I was the one she greeted.
“That was one hell of a goal, delta,” she said, rushing over and jumping into my arms.
I caught her easily, wrapping her up. I shouldn’t have felt this giddy, but fuck, I loved it.
“That one was all for you, princess. Though next time, maybe we get my jersey on you, instead.”
Her cheeks warmed. It wasn’t easy to make her blush, but now that we made it clear she was ours, her body reacted to us whether she realized it or not.
“I may have ordered a full set from the team shop,” she admitted. “One for each of you. I’ll have to rotate them, which means I’ll have no choice but to come to away games too.”
“My delta really likes the idea of you wearing our name,” I murmured.
“Who needs lingerie when I’ve got jerseys?”
I grinned at her teasing, resting my forehead against hers. “If I walked in and you were wearing nothing but mine, I’d rut you into that mattress. Almost makes me want a den.”
She frowned, reading way too much into it.
“Don’t give me that look, princess,” I said softly. “Someday, when we’ve got a bigger place, maybe I’ll try a den again. You can help decorate.”
“I’d love that,” she said, kissing me.
“Hey, none of that in here,” Conrad called out from his table.
She laughed and wriggled until I set her down. The moment passed as the rest of the team poured in, and I resisted the urge to kill them all for interrupting.
“Don’t growl at me, delta,” she teased. “Come load up your plate.”
True to form, she’d put together a full buffet. Most of the team showed up, even bringing family and pack members. The cafeteria had never been so full.
She was practically glowing, chatting easily with everyone as she filled plates. Eventually, Kieran and Cade stepped in, nudging her aside so she could eat while they served.
I had always loved how our pack took care of each other. We were truly a family. Now that we had an omega, I loved it even more. This was why Cade had pushed for us to bond early.
There were no growing pains or jealousy. And now that we were whole, we were going to spend every day of our lives together making sure she felt loved, seen, and appreciated.
God, I was getting sappy. At least she was worth it.
Everyone pitched in with cleanup, knocking it out in no time. Not that we’d ever let her do it alone.
“Alright, baby,” Mason yawned. “Everything’s done. Can we go home now?”
“You poor thing,” she teased. “Let’s get you home.”
She started to chat with the alphas about the game. It meant everything to have a mate who met our passion with enthusiasm.
When we pulled up to the house, the porch was stacked with boxes, each one bigger than the last.
“Did someone order something?” Kieran asked as he climbed out, the rest of us following him to the porch.
Lana went still as she picked one up to read the label. “It looks like they found me,” she muttered. “My name’s all over these and I haven’t ordered anything.”
“What the hell do they think they’re going to accomplish?” I growled. Maybe they needed a second beating to drive the point home.
She shrugged. “I haven’t checked my phone all night and I’m not even logged into my shopping apps on the new one. But, I think we’re about to find out.”
Whatever their plan was, it wasn’t going to work. She was our omega now, and that was never going to change.