Page 1 of Pack Plus Three

Chapter 1

Jeremy

If I had to look at one more playbook, I was going to lose my mind.

Work had been a pain in the ass. My team, the California Chargers, had a good chance of making it to the Stanley Cup, so they were working us to death with practice after practice. But that's not what I wanted. We were entering the beautiful, cool autumn months, and I dreamed of a job where I could use my hands full time.

Hockey was the job I was forced to do, but I much preferred working construction. Owning a small construction company on the side wasn’t the most glamorous of jobs, but it was one of the few things that brought me genuine joy. And I got to take Gilbert—my giant golden retriever, who was so large, he was probably crossbred with a polar bear—to work with me.

We were selective when taking on clients, usually leaving my name out of things, due to my celebrity status. The demand for work gave me that luxury, and we always took on jobs from clients who seemed kind and agreeable. Not a soul had complained about Gilbert’s presence.

Gilbert was lying at my feet while I cooked. I had been craving spicy rice cakes for a few days, so instead of lounging on the couch with a beer, I’d dragged my ass into the kitchen and started cooking.

My stepfather had spent his youth in Korea, so growing up, I was spoiled for choice. My mother had been visiting Korea when the two scent matched. My stepfather hadn’t been able to resist my mother’s scent; he claimed it was like crack. They had been together ever since, blissfully in love.

The kind of love I would do anything for.

I’d done what was expected of me, taking to the ice like a pro since the first moment I’d put on skates. I’d made it my life, whether I wanted it or not, and it was a life others would kill for.

Yet, the kind of happiness my stepdad had found with my mother? That was far out of reach.

I’d tried dating a few omegas, but their scents, while nice, weren't the kind of life-changing experience my stepdad described.

The closest I had come was a three-month fling with an omega in Dallas, but she had just been looking for a convenient knot to get her through her heat. I’d enjoyed it, like any alpha would, but I wanted more.

Walking over to the fridge, I grabbed a bag of cheese to stir into the sauce, pausing a moment to feed a small pinch to Gilbert, who had been hot on my heels from the moment he had seen me reaching for the cheese. I had spoiled him as a puppy, and now he was a cheese demon.

Sprinkling a little into the sauce, I shrugged to myself before tipping the rest of the bag in. Cheese improved everything. I was halfway towards the cabinet, intending to grab a bowl and indulge in cheesy heaven with a beer, when there was a knock on my door.

Probably Mrs. Jenna, the elderly widow who lived on my floor. She often asked for help with odd jobs, and I was happy to assist. Last time I’d fixed a leaking pipe for her, she’d given me enough cookies to feed an army. I loved jobs like that...fixing things and using my hands. So far from skates, drills, competitions, and never-ending fans climbing over themselves for a signature—or worse, a grope.

But when I opened the door, it wasn’t to a sweet elderly lady who smelled like citrus. I paused in surprise as I looked down at a tiny, heavily pregnant omega.

I had seen her before in the building, but I had never really seen her. How on earth could I have missed someone that beautiful right next door? Her hair fell in copper waves, and her nose was covered with a smattering of freckles. She was wearing an oversized T-shirt and denim overalls that looked fit to burst over her bump. She must have been at least six months along, if not ready to pop.

Right now, she was blushing and panting slightly, one hand leaning on my door frame and the other cradling her bump.

Instead of greeting her like a normal, rational human being, I simply stared at her with wide eyes. Where the hell had this omega come from, and why was she alone? She was far too beautiful to be left alone.

“Uh . . . hi, I’m Daisy. Daisy St. James.” She introduced herself breathlessly.

“Hey!” I replied casually, trying to pull my shit together. I had already heard her name from Mrs. Jenna, who had been quick to tell me of the pretty omega who just moved into the building and was living alone. She had told me with excitement, commenting that the omega could probably use some help settling in, with that wink-wink-nudge-nudge sort of manner that old ladies are so skilled at.

But surely she wasn’t alone if she was expecting? She would have a husband, or a boyfriend, at the very least. Omegas didn’t stay single long, especially not ones as stunning as her.

Her stomach was disproportionately large compared to the rest of her body, and she looked ready to pop.

“Hi...uh...this is going to sound odd.” She huffed, her face bright pink as she ran her hand through her hair, the movement filling the air with that sweet brown sugar apple scent. “Look, this is an odd request, I know, these hormones are killing me b?—”

“How can I help?” I asked with a smile, cutting off her adorable rambling.

She wanted something from me? She could ask for the keys to my car, and I would hand them over in a heartbeat.

She released a long-suffering sigh. “Can I, uh...” She chewed on her lip, eyes darting past me. “Can I have some of whatever you’re cooking?”

I looked down at her, and I couldn’t help it—my smile grew even wider.

“Gah! I’m sorry, I know you must think I’m a crazy person.” She spoke so fast, I almost didn’t catch her words. “I would think I’m a crazy person. I swear, this little devil”—she waved at her stomach—“is making nothing smell good. Kicking me in the bladder every ten minutes and giving me the worst backache. I haven’t managed to eat in days, but whatever you’re making smells so damn good, my hormonal ass dragged me off my comfy sofa to investigate! Do you know how hard it is to sit up when you’re smuggling a beach ball in your pants? And don’t even?—”

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