Chapter 39
Chapter
Thirty-Nine
Lana
This heat had been erratic. I was in and out for only three days, but those days were insane. Maybe it was because I knew the hearing was impending, but when I woke up today, I was breaking out of the fog.
A loud knocking banged on the door of our packhouse, echoing through the house and breaking the quiet of the morning.
Thank God I was past the heat enough to be able to handle it.
“What are you doing here?” Lennon demanded, voice echoing up the stairs. “You know she’s in heat.”
“Yes, and I also know she wanted to go to this meeting. They moved it up to today. Lana! Douse yourself in scent blockers and get your ass downstairs.” Roxie yelled the last part loud enough for me to hear.
The last thing I wanted to do was go in public on the tail end of my heat, but I also couldn’t miss this.
I couldn’t risk my pack’s future because I’d rather burrow away.
Lennon rushed upstairs, knowing I’d heard. “You don’t have to do this, princess. Conrad will handle it.”
“No. This is my fight, too,” I said firmly, pushing past him and heading into the master bedroom. I rushed through a quick shower, scrubbing myself with scent-blocking soap. I kept it on hand, just in case.
I hated that it stole my pack’s scents from me, but I knew I could have them back tonight. And this way, I wasn’t sending the whole hearing into a frenzy.
Even my omega didn’t protest. She knew what was riding on this. Our need to protect our pack was stronger than anything else.
We managed to pull ourselves together in twenty minutes, which was a record. Not to mention, I very much should still be in heat. There was no guarantee it wasn’t going to flare back to life.
Soon, we were racing across town to the big AHA building downtown.
There were several team buses parked outside, meaning that Roxie’s reach was as far as she said it was.
I stood with Lennon and Mason, one hand in each of theirs, offering reassurance during a time that had to be more stressful for them than anyone else.
Roxie was right there with us, a large portfolio in her hands. I knew it had to be full of all the documentation she’d gathered. Roxie didn’t have to get involved to the level she did, but she was a true friend.
She looked relieved to see me upright, rushing over and pulling me into a hug. “I’m so glad you managed to make it. I was worried. Sorry to end your good time.”
“My body decided to pick the worst time ever to go into heat,” I said, biting back a laugh. “But thankfully I pulled out of it this morning. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to come.”
“We would have handled it. Your brother is as driven as you are. But I’m really glad you’re here.”
We shared a smile until the door slammed open again.
Mom was the next to arrive, dressed as classy as she always was. She rushed over, giving me a gentle hug. “Were they good to you? I’ve been a nervous wreck since Conrad told me.”
“They were amazing,” I promised. Maybe it was weird to be reassuring my mother that I’d had a happy heat with my pack, but I knew that’s not what she meant.
She wanted to make sure I was cared for, that I wasn’t neglected the way I had been in the past.
“I just want you to know that your dads have been working hard to convince the board. They’re putting up one hell of a fight.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, meaning it. It was nice to know that they hadn’t dismissed us, but had instead given us a chance.
A woman in a red business suit walked in a few minutes later.
“Everyone, if I can have your attention. We are allowing you to join us in the open forum room. We want everyone to have a chance to speak, but you will speak one at a time. You will come up to the podium when we call on you, and you to speak on your behalf. The board, however, will be deciding without any input at the end of this meeting. The official results will be announced tomorrow.”
Her words were sharp, then she turned on her heel, leading the way into the main room. We all filed in silently behind her.
The room was set up just like I expected. Long tables lined the front, with the board seated behind them. A video setup was in the back to record the meeting, and rows of open chairs filled the room, leaving plenty of space to fit all of the people we’d brought along.
The board looked completely shocked as everyone filed in. The room was packed, some even having to stand in the back.
The podium was in the center of it all, standing empty, waiting for the first speaker.
“Thank you for coming to see us and show your support to the AHA,” the man at the center of the table spoke.
“We’ve taken this matter very seriously and given it a lot of thought, but it seems that there’s more to be heard.
We welcome your voices. However, with the crowd this size, those voices will have to be quick.
Five minutes are granted to each speaker, and we will only be able to hear so many. ”
I recognized him as the head of the AHA board, Atlas Murphy. He had never actually been a hockey player, but he did have enough money to own a team or two in his time.
“We have the list that was submitted for the speakers who organized this hearing. Our first speaker is Lana Flynn.”
There were murmurs in the crowd, but I held my head high as I walked to the front.
My heart was pounding in my chest as I stood in front of the podium, facing the board.
“Hello. My name is Lana Flynn. I currently am a licensed sports nutritionist at the Westgrave Wardens’ arena.
I am, unfortunately, at the center of the delta drama that has popped up because my ex delta was accused of driving me away.
They made a lot of mistakes, mistakes that I will not stand here and outline.
Many of those matters are personal, and unfortunately, I’ve been forced to share more than I care to. ”
They were watching me, some expressions bored, others taking in every word.
“The reason I left my pack was not due to the delta. In fact, Sutton had more control over his delta than most I’ve seen. I left because they cared more about the hockey team than being a part of a pack. I spent months alone, and after an absent heat, I couldn’t take it anymore.”
I glanced at my current pack, drawing the confidence to continue. The bond was full of reassurance.
“We have spoken since then and have reconciled to the point we can be civil. But one thing that I will say is that every delta that I’ve been with or encountered has been a man of integrity.
Sutton made mistakes with me, and they’re learning from them and facing the consequences.
However, losing the career that they’ve spent years cultivating is not an appropriate response. ”
Someone made a noise in the back of the room, likely the delta I was talking about. I ignored it as I finished my speech.
“The story that was formed was a call for gossip and this group latched onto it to spread hate. None of it was founded with actual facts or statistics. When my associate Roxie comes to the podium, she will list the real facts that back our plea. Deltas are not feral or on the edge of turning. They are people who work hard to stay in control, just like their alpha counterparts.”
With that, I stepped back, letting the others take the podium.
One by one, others came forward. It was a mix of personal stories, coaches coming up to support their teams, teammates explaining that the deltas were the ones keeping the team together, and cold hard facts.
We were making sure they had no choice but to hear all of our voices.
By the time it was Roxie’s turn to come forward, they looked like they were ready to crawl out of their skin. But Roxie did what she does best, laying into them in a way that was both polite and firm.
She started with facts that we’d found, and then the ones she’d found on her own. The evidence irrefutably proved that the deltas and betas had improved ticket sales and numbers. This influx led to sponsors that not only made them money, but increased the fan following.
As she stepped down, my brother stepped forward.
“Every story you’ve heard here tonight has proven, without a shadow of a doubt, that everyone who earns a place on a team should be able to keep their place on the team.
This includes any future recruits. We judge by talent, and we work hard to become a well-oiled machine.
And those machines are what line your pockets. ”
Now the board sat up straighter, narrowing their eyes.
“If the public outrage wasn’t enough, and all the words you heard tonight weren’t enough, then I suggest you take into account the rumors circulating about a new league starting up. An inclusive one. You can either join the times, or get left behind.”
A few of the board members looked ready to fight back, but everyone stayed silent before Atlas stood up again.
“Thank you to everyone who spoke. We will take your words into account. For now, this hearing is closed.”
We were officially dismissed.