Page 55 of Choosing Their Omega

Having an Omega is a serious business. There’s a lot in your life that changes. Including being ready for a heat when it comes. Omegas can’t afford to have their Alphas take half-measures or only sometimes be there for them. They need total commitment, and we don’t want to give Lily anything less, anyway.

That means we need to talk to our coach and management team.

We go into practice early and request a meeting. Everyone’s silent as we explain the situation. It’s far from the first time that an Alpha has taken on an Omega while playing for the Titans or any other NHL team, but I know, and so do my pack mates, that all of us being part of the same pack and the same team is a bit more rare.

When Lily goes into heat, we’ll be out of commission. All of us. First stringers, including our best goalie and the team’s captain.

Luckily, nobody seems too fazed. Coach Vaughn nods as we finish explaining. “We’ll pick some guys from the second line and tell them to be ready to shift if you guys have to take some days off.”

“Hopefully that won’t be until after the playoffs,” Cruz says, always with is one-track mind.

Personally, if Lily’s just presented as an Omega, I feel like her heat’s gonna come a lot sooner than that. It’s part of why Omegas need to find their Alphas as soon as they can. Once you present, your first heat isn’t far behind, and while all heats require a lot, I hear the first one’s a doozy.

“Heat leaves are common for Alphas,” Vaughn continues. “I don’t think anyone here has a problem with it. We’re glad you all have finally found someone to round out your pack.”

“Looks good for the press,” one of the PR people says, typing something down already in her phone. “An Omega shows how bonded and grounded you guys are. Helps you play better on the ice.”

I remember the game we had after Lily joined us, versus our away games without her. Yeah, maybe there’s a point to be made there.

“There will probably be some kind of reference to it in the press,” another, older manager notes. “But we’ll wait until you’re farther along in your courtship. We don’t want to put the poor girl in the spotlight too early, especially if things don’t work out.”

The idea of things not working out between Lily and the rest of us has me wanting to punch something. “It’ll work out,” I snap, before I can stop myself.

Coach Vaughn laughs. “Save it for the ice.”

Now that we’ve officially told the management and our coaches, we need to tell the team. It’s a lot less formal, though.

We head into the locker room, and Cruz steps up into the middle, as he usually does right before and after a game when he’s about to give his short captain’s speech. “All right, knuckleheads, pipe down for a second.”

There’s a smattering of jokes and laughter, but everyone on our team knows when Cruz is being serious. They shut up.

Cruz nods, then grins. “The guys and I have something to tell you.”

“Finally,” one of the backup goalies chirps. “You all were walking on sunshine and then it was like someone killed your puppy.”

“It was not.”

“It really was.”

“Okay, yes, fine, we found an Omega—”

Cruz can’t even get the rest of his words out because the team explodes into congratulations, money changing hands, and hooting and hollering. I grin. Everyone’s happy for us, clearly, but come on, we can’t be surprised if they had a bit of a bet going on us or if they want to crack some jokes.

“All right, you clowns,” Cruz yells. “Let’s hit the fuckin’ ice, we’re gonna kick your asses in drills.”

Several people yell about that ain’t happening, but honestly, the moment I step onto the ice, I feel like I’m flying. I can tell that Knox, Miles, and Cruz feel it too, even though after drills, Knox is stuck in the net and not moving around like the rest of us.

It’s because of Lily. We’re riding that high, that happiness, because she’s back with us.

Hopefully, this time she’s here to stay.

Chapter 18

Lily

I may not be Ben’s nanny anymore, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to spend time with him.

Honestly, I don’t see why they would need to hire a new babysitter or nanny. I have nothing to do while the men are at practice, and if I’m their Omega that means I’m going to be part of the family, and that’ll mean help raising Ben. I’m happy to do it. I love spending time with him.

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