Page 148 of Puck My Life

Henry swats at me. “It’s not like that.”

“Isn’t it?”

“He loves hockey,” Henry says, watching the alpha who is scowling and looking mildly furious.

“Yeah, he sure does love hockey.”

I snicker, but Deacon pulls me away.

“We have to go play with our omega now. We’ll catch up soon!”

Henry smiles and waves as we drive away.

My anticipation grows and grows until we get to her shop. I stand outside the window looking at the massive line. Her cakes look amazing. There are two girls in there helping serve now and a baker out the back who helps with keeping up with what they run out of.

Vae’s face is flushed red, but her eyes are alight with happiness.

I put a hand out and catch Deacon’s arm. “Wait.”

“Wait?”

“I want to organise a surprise for her.”

“A surprise?”

“A date.”

Deacon stops trying to enter the store and turns more fully to me.

“There’s a boat…”

I’m so careful with her as I walk her down the pier and onto the boat we’ve hired for the night. It’s a cool night but not freezing or uncomfortable.

The guy waiting on us hands Raynor the keys. “You’re right on time. I’ll be back in the morning.”

Vae’s listening hard, uncertain, but I stroke my hand down her side and then lift her up off her feet, carrying her the rest of the way.

I set her down and remove her blindfold.

I planned it out perfectly. The only thing she will see is a world of stars brighter than they’ve ever been before.

“What?” she takes a step forward, unable to help herself.

“We commandeered a pirate ship for you to sail amongst the stars for a night.”

Her head whips around, and she finally notices the boat we’re standing on. It’s not the old pirate ship we dreamed of as kids but an expensive yacht with all the amenities. There’s low lights burning, lots of faux fur blankets, flowers, and cakes, of course, to go with her favourite wine and hot chocolate.

“What is this?”

“Be officially our pack omega. I want your bond on me. I know we said we’d give you time and that we’d wait but-”

“I didn’t need time or have to wait,” she says in confusion.

“What?” It’s the only word I can think of saying.

“I was waiting for you to be ready.”

Raynor chuckles in the background, and I want to hit him. All it will take is a stupid comment like ‘I told you so,’ and I will toss him overboard. I hope he can swim.