Chapter 46

CHAPTER 46

“ A lrighty, so are we finding out what we’re having?” the tech asks as she slides the device over Sloane’s stomach.

“Absolutely,” she says quicker than she can finish the sentence.

“Let’s see,” the tech replies, moving it around and hitting buttons to take images. The tech smiles and looks at Sloane. “It’s a boy,” she says, pointing to something that I guess is supposed to be a penis.

I swallow thickly.

I’m about to have a son.

A defenseless little baby is about to depend on me, and I have no fucking clue what I’m doing.

Sloane grabs my hand. I have no clue how she’s able to decipher each of us through the bond, but she’s incredible at it.

“A boy,” she says with tears in her eyes.

“I’m just going to come out and say that I called it,” Ethan says.

The tech prints off multiple copies of the ultrasound and hands them to us to take home.

“Just make your next appointment with the girls in reception,” she tells Sloane who nods her head.

She hands me a copy of the ultrasound, and I think for the first time, it really feels real.

Of course Sloane is starting to slowly show, and I’ve seen her have an ultrasound before, but the image in front of me looks like a real baby.

This is fucking real. And completely terrifying.

What if I’m a shitty dad and don’t have patience? What if I don’t have enough time to give them? What if they grow up resenting that I travel for work and can’t always show up?

“Max, can we get ice cream?” Sloane asks.

Bram sighs because forcing this woman to eat healthy has been near impossible.

“We’ll meet you back at the house,” Bram says.

I help Sloane clean up her stomach and get off the bench. “Do you really want ice cream?” I ask her.

“Hell yeah, I want ice cream.”

I laugh and hold her hand as we leave and make our way to our favorite mom and pop shop.

There’s a new girl working behind the counter, and she seems a little nervous as we order.

“What do you want, little guy?” Sloane asks her stomach before looking through the selection. “Can I get a scoop of strawberry and caramel crunch on a waffle cone?” she asks.

“I’ll just have a lemon sorbet in a cup, please.”

“Come on, Maxy, live a little,” she says, and I shake my head at her.

The girl at the counter gets our orders together and rings us up, and Sloane and I sit at one of the small circular tables. She hums as she eats her ice cream and gasps, almost dropping her ice cream as she grabs my hand.

“He’s moving,” she says, putting my hand on her stomach as I feel the baby kick for the first time.

If I thought I was having a crisis earlier, my panic intensifies by tenfold.

“Hey, talk to me,” she says, still holding my hand on her stomach.

“What if I’m shit at this?”

She smiles at me and takes my hand off her stomach and holds my hand.

“You know, you’re too good at doubting yourself and overthinking things. Everything you’ve shown me as a scent match, my bonded Alpha, has been amazing. You’re a good man, and you’re going to be a great father.”

“You can’t know that.”

“I can. Plus, I signed us up for parenting classes anyway during the off season,” she says easily.

I sigh. “I’ve never held a baby,” I admit.

“Then we’ll go to Charlotte’s house. You can hold one of hers.”

“I’ve never changed a diaper or know anything about keeping a baby alive.”

“You also never considered pack life or had been with an Omega before me, and look at you now. These things can all be learned, Max. Not to mention, you have three other people who are here to help with the workload. You’re not alone, and you never will be again.”

I lean forward and place a tender kiss against her lips before taking a bite of her ice cream, which makes her laugh and retaliate by taking a bite of mine.

“Oh, that’s disgusting,” she says, scrunching her nose.

“You really think we can do this?”

“I know we can, as long as we have each other,” she says with a smile.

Some of my panic disappears, even if there’s still some fear of the unknown. This isn’t all on my shoulders, and together, we can do anything.

I’m exhausted and ready to go home to Sloane. She didn’t come to the game tonight—the pregnancy is starting to wear her out. It makes me yearn for the off-season. I know I should be focused on making the playoffs and extending our season. Don’t get me wrong, I want to take the Foxes as far as we can go, but I don’t think we’re built for it this season.

It’s a harsh reality. Even if we do make the playoffs, I’m not sure how far we would advance.

What I do know is that Sloane needs time with us, time to enjoy being pregnant and bonded.

I scrub a hand down my face. I just want to get this press conference over with. I don’t like the thought of Sloane home alone, and I feel on edge. At least with away games, we know she’s safe and at home with Ethan.

I smile to myself when I think about the pair of them. They might be more trouble together than anything, but Ethan would do whatever it takes to keep her safe. It’s a wild sensation, being able to trust someone as completely as I do Ethan.

Bram and I take our seats for the post-game press. We were on it tonight in defense, not letting a single puck through the net. Bram claps my shoulder, and I look out into the field of reporters—something feels off.

Maybe it’s the years of backlash I’ve gotten in the media or just how long I’ve been dealing with the press, but I can tell tonight isn’t going to go smoothly. I sit straighter in my seat and lean my hands against the wood of the table, preparing myself for the questions about tonight’s game.

The cameras are rolling as the first reporter stands up. It’s Serenity Jade, a reporter from Pack Weekly. Why in the fuck is she here, and who gave her a press pass?

“Max, is there anything you wanted to add to address the rumors?” she asks. Her voice is posh and demeaning.

My brows furrow, and I glance over at Bram. Our pack contract isn’t official until next season, and only our close friends know about the pregnancy. I don’t want to give her information if she’s goading me.

I lean forward into the mic. “I’m not sure what rumors you’re talking about.”

“You haven’t seen the article that published today in Pack Weekly ?” she asks, and it’s almost like she’s getting enjoyment over having information I don’t have. She probably is. That magazine has been a constant sore in my side since I joined the NHL.

“I tend to not read about myself in the press since they are mostly rumors.”

She pulls out the magazine, and my heart sinks when I see the cover. It’s me and Sloane at the ice cream shop.

“This article claims not only that you’re bonded to Sloane Applegate but that she’s pregnant. Can you confirm that?” she asks.

I look over to Bram who leans forward into his mic.

“I thought the purpose of a post-game wrap up was to discuss the game and hockey, not trivial rumors reported by gossip rags?”

Moments like this are when I know I love Bram Nilsen. Our love might be a little confusing and unconventional. But I know he has my back, no matter fucking what.

“Maybe you would like to comment, Mr. Nilsen, considering the rest of the article goes into detail about how you’re also bonded to Ms. Applegate. Though you aren’t her scent match, are you?” the reporter asks.

Bram’s knuckles are white from grabbing onto the table. He stares at the woman like he wants to make her disappear with just his mental fortitude.

Coach is quickly on the press stage, grabbing a mic.

“Unless you have educated questions that actually pertain to the sport of hockey, I suggest you get the hell out of my stadium,” he says, staring the woman down.

“Or maybe you would like to comment on your daughter sleeping with your players and getting pregnant before bonding. Sources place her earning her bond marks only recently, but?—”

“I’d like to comment on how inappropriate this conversation is. How disgusting it is to comment on what an Omega is or isn’t doing with her body. I’m extraordinarily proud of my daughter and these men before me who are excellent athletes and men. They say there’s no such thing as stupid questions, but you’ve just proved them wrong. Please see your way out, and hand over your press badge. Now, if there are actual questions about tonight’s game, we’d be happy to answer them,” Coach says confidently as Serenity is dragged off by security.

Bram and I glance at each other.

It’s one thing for Coach to accept that we’re bonded and be excited for the baby. But that man just stood up for us in a way I didn’t expect.

The rest of the questions are about the game. All the reporters are shaking in their boots as Coach Applegate stares them all down with crossed arms.

As soon as the press conference is wrapped up, Coach pulls us to the side.

“Go home, and make sure Sloane’s alright. I pulled up the article,” he says with a wince. “It’s not a shining light on your relationship or Connery’s past dalliances.”

“I’m not that guy anymore,” I say, feeling shame.

“I know that. Sloane definitely knows that. The only reason you’re still here is all the work she put in this season to make you look better,” Coach says.

“How bad is it?” Bram asks, and Coach hands him his phone.

We both glance down at the image of me and Sloane at the ice cream shop, my hand on her stomach.

“Rosemary is going to be on that ice cream shop like a hot rash figuring out what little shit sold the picture,” Coach says, and I nod as we read through.

It’s poorly written, speculative, and ridiculous.

Shotgun Pack

By Serenity Jade

We’ve been speculating for months about what is going on with the New Haven Foxes this season. Are Bram Nilsen, Max Connery, the coach’s daughter, and the mascot in a relationship?

Well, this reporter has the scoop.

Spotted enjoying a casual ice cream on a brisk winter evening are none other than Max Connery and Sloane Applegate.

Most of you probably know Max Connery from his many instances in Pack Weekly. He would typically be featured with his flavor of the month. But it seems his new favorite flavor is the forbidden fruit.

(Collage of images of Max with other women)

But could the former playboy be settling down? My reliable source says yes, but only because the coach’s daughter is not only pregnant, but the goalie’s scent match.

What is in the water at that facility?

If you remember last season, Connery’s brother, Owen Connery, hid his designation in order to play goaltender for the Foxes. He is now part-time staff for the team and in a formal pack with former captain, Alexi Bandnin, and his scent match, Piper Blake.

That leads us to question, can a zebra change its stripes? Is Max Connery capable of staying true to this Omega? Or is this a loophole in securing a long-term contract with the Foxes?

All this long-time reporter knows is that it all seems suspicious. The missing games, the speculative car accident, and now a secret pregnancy?

My best guess is Max got in a sticky situation, and now there’s no getting himself out. Especially since there have been no rumors of pack contracts. My guess is the two Alphas are duking it out to figure out who’s the daddy.

Join my poll to guess who you think the father is and how much time until we see Connery spotted with a new sweet treat.

“What the fuck?” Bram hisses as he hands Coach back the phone.

“How the hell did this get published?”

Coach is typing away on his phone. “Rosemary is already requesting a full redaction and apology from the paper.”

I guess it helps to have in-laws in high places.

“Have you heard from Sloane yet?” Coach asks, and we both shake our heads. “Go handle that. I’ve got this covered.”

Bram and I grab our shit to meet Ethan in the garage. He’s leaning against the car, waiting for us, and whistles.

“I’m winning by ten percent in who people think the daddy is. It does say the mascot and not my name, but I’ll take it.”

Bram rolls his eyes.

“Oh, come on. First off, you have all that shit blocked on her phone, and she wouldn’t believe in trash like this,” Ethan says.

“Yeah, we had to take it off her phone because she was looking at it all. I don’t think she’s going to be too happy seeing a collage of me and all the women I fucked before her.”

Ethan grimaces.

“Shit,” he hisses.

“Yeah, shit,” Bram agrees as we drive home, and I wonder what state I’m going to find my Omega in.