I let the ambiguity hang in the air.
"As for whether I will formally enroll, I have no clue, nor do I particularly care. Degrees mean little when you have already built a career. The university can decide what they want from me beyond the coaching consultation, and I will decide whether their offer is worth accepting."
Laurent tilts his head, processing.
"You do not have a pack either," he observes, and it is not a question. "You introduced yourself as Captain Calder, not as part of a pack. You came here alone from Paris. No one was waiting for you at the airport, no one accompanied you to the rink."
Smart. The younger Laurent brother is observant. More observant than his reputation in European circles would suggest, which means either the reputation is outdated or he has deliberately cultivated a persona that underestimates his actual capabilities.
"I do not have a pack," I confirm.
"Why not?" Knox asks, and there is genuine curiosity beneath the defensive suspicion. "You are a captain. You are clearly experienced. You are..." He gestures vaguely at me, the motion encompassing my height, my build, my everything. "You could have any Omega you wanted. Why stay packless?"
I consider the question with the seriousness it deserves.
"In my opinion, a pack should be determined by the Omega." I let the statement settle before continuing. "The most compatible Alphas are those who come together for the same purpose, which is the Omega herself. Securing her wants. Meeting her needs. Building something around her that makes her life better rather than simply claiming ownership and expecting gratitude. I have not met anyone prior who gave me that sense of purpose. That feeling of duty that makes you willing to rearrange your entire existence for another person's happiness."
I pause, and a ghost of a smile touches my lips.
"So why would I attach myself to a pack that does not have that center? It would be hollow. Performative. Two or three Alphas going through the motions of partnership without the heart that makes it meaningful."
Knox and Laurent share another weighted look.
This time, when they turn back to me, some of the suspicion has softened into understanding. Not trust, not yet, but the recognition that my philosophy aligns with their own instincts more than they expected.
Laurent nods slowly.
"That makes sense."
"Thank you for the validation," I reply, letting a hint of sarcasm curl through the words. "Now, since we are sharing, let me ask you something. You are in a pack with my brother, I assume? Yet the Omega told me she has no pack, and you referred to her as a roommate earlier. Which is it?"
Laurent's expression shifts, discomfort flickering across his features.
"She just arrived," he explains carefully. "Temporary housing arrangement. She is staying with us for five weeks while the university sorts out alternative accommodations. I think she requested to move."
Knox's head snaps toward Laurent.
"Wait. She is actually going to change dorm rooms?"
"Probably." Laurent's jaw tightens. "I mean, Rafe did not exactly make her feel welcome, did he? He spent her first day mocking her, challenging her to races, and acting like her presence was a personal offense. If I were her, I would want to leave too."
Knox frowns, the realization settling across his features with visible weight.
"I did not think she would actually go through with it," he mutters. "I figured once she got used to us, once Rafe calmed down, things would settle. She was starting to fit, you know? With the banter and the comebacks and the way she does not take any of our shit."
Interesting. They have already started forming attachments without acknowledging them. The denial is strongwith these two, which means the feelings underneath are stronger than they are comfortable admitting.
I observe them both, letting the silence do the work that words cannot.
Then I ask the question that needs asking.
"So what are we doing about this?"
They look at me, waiting for elaboration.
"We just signed a document," I clarify, "that declares us a pack so she can receive medical treatment. Is that arrangement temporary? A convenient fiction that dissolves the moment she is cleared by the nurse? Or does it extend until the preliminary playoffs in five weeks, giving her the coverage she needs to receive proper care during that time?"
The question hangs between us like a challenge.
