“That’s right,” I say, also feeling the strain of wanting to be with him, especially with how good he smells now that he’s completely unmedicated and fully accepting who he is.
“I swear the universe is just fucking with us in making us go celibate again.”
“I’m more than open to becoming the house fuck toy again,” Alexi says with a smirk.
“I bet you are, big guy.” He wiggles his eyebrows as we all get to the car and head home. A few things might be left in the air, but where we stand with each other seems more solid than ever.
* * *
It takes two weeks to get a decision from the NHL, but they don’t change anything about the Foxes winning the Cup, and there are discussions of changing regulations regarding Omegas. My Omega helped make this change, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been more proud of a person in my life.
We throw a huge celebration at our home to celebrate, which is long overdue. Owen never got the chance to truly celebrate his Stanley Cup win, so we go all out. Everything is hockey themed and Foxes gear. The team is overjoyed at the celebration, and while I watch Owen smile and joke with the team, I can’t hide my own smile.
He used to be so closed off, so afraid of being who he was meant to be, when he was perfect all along. I catch Alexi watching him the same way I do, and it’s at that moment that I can’t wait for Alexi to bond with Owen, for the three of us to be connected.
Alexi must feel my gaze on him, then he puts his beer down and walks behind me, an arm wrapping around my collarbone as he kisses the side of my head.
“You know we wouldn’t have made it here without you, right?”
“No, it was your team, how talented you all are.”
“Malyshka?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t sell yourself short around me. You’re a big part of why this happened. You may not have been on the ice, but you helped Owen get his meds regulated and supported the both of us. I love you for it, you know.”
I kiss his forearm. “Are we going to be one of those sappy packs that is obsessed with each other and is always saying overly cute shit?”
“Yeah, I think that’s exactly who we’re going to be.”
CHAPTER42
Nervous doesn’t even cover how I feel right now. You know when you hold something off for so long that the task becomes near daunting? That’s how I feel about bonding with Owen. I want to make it special and memorable.
Piper wraps her arms around my waist from behind and squeezes. Her head is pressed against my shoulder blades in a show of support and comfort.
“It’s going to be perfect.”
I take a deep breath and turn around in her arms. “I just want it to be special, he deserves it.”
She wraps her arms back around me, resting her head on my chest. “So do you, you know.” Resting her chin on my chest, she looks up at me. “You deserve the world too, Alexi.”
I don’t say anything, instead I just lean forward and kiss her forehead. I might have went a little overboard in the nest, but Piper didn’t say it was too much. There are candles everywhere, including rose petals on the bed.
“I’ve gone overboard,” I say, looking ridiculous in the room.
“You did, but he’s going to love you for it.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay?”
“I’ll come in after. You two deserve this moment together.”
“But we’re a pack.”
Her hands glide over my chest, and she smiles up at me. “We are that, but as much as we’re a pack, we also have our relationships between each of us. Enjoy your moment with our Omega, and I’ll come in and join in the afterglow.
I push her hair from her shoulder, and part of me wishes I could mark her.
