Page 40 of Puck Your Neighbor

I carry her onto the ice, the crowd roaring its approval. She wraps her arms around my neck, her eyes shining with delight, and I can feel her silent laughter in the way she hugs me tighter. It's a moment of pure joy, of shared happiness. I keep her cradled against me, not setting her down.

I spin us around, her silent laughter a beautiful melody in my ears. Leo and Maverick skate around us in wide circles, whooping and hollering with the crowd, their joy mirroring my own.

When I finally stop spinning, I keep her held close. She's a little breathless, her cheeks flushed. She looks up at me, her eyes full of emotion.

She's not hiding her neck anymore. The silver marks, our marks, are visible, a sign of our bond. And I can't help but feel a surge of pride. She's ours.

I lean down and kiss her, a soft, gentle kiss that says everything. She kisses me back, her lips warm.

When we break apart, she's smiling, a radiant, beautiful smile that lights up the entire arena.

At that moment, surrounded by my pack, by the woman I love, by the cheers of the crowd, I know that we've won more than just a game. We've won everything. We've got the cup, and most importantly, we have each other. I hold her tighter, never wanting to let go.

The sounds of movers grunting and furniture scraping against the floor fill the air. I'm perched in the kitchen nook, a cozy little alcove with a built-in bench seat, Anya snuggled up beside me. Leo's sprawled on the other side of the nook, his long legs stretched out, while Maverick leans against the counter, supervising the movers with a critical eye. We just bought this place, pooled our money together.

"That table goes over there, careful with that!" Maverick calls out, his voice echoing through the mostly empty house.

"Where to, boss?" a mover asks, holding up a box labeled books.

"Living room, against the far wall," Maverick directs as he walks away, and I can practically hear the mental gears turning as he plans the layout of each room. He has always had an eye for this kind of thing.

Anya's laptop is open in front of us, the screen filled with images of plush blankets, oversized pillows, and colorful tapestries. We're shopping for her nest. Our nest, really, but she's taking the lead, her fingers flying across the keyboard. She has it angled so we can all see the screen.

"What do you think of this one?" she signs, tilting the screen to show us a particularly fluffy, faux fur blanket in a soft shade of lavender.

"Perfect," Leo says, leaning in closer to examine the picture. "Get it in every color."

I grin. "Might be a bit much, even for you, Leo."

Anya smiles and signs, "It is very soft."

"Soft is good." I reach out to stroke her long dark hair. "We want you comfortable."

Our omega. It still feels surreal, sometimes, how much our lives have changed in under a year. We went from being the dead-last team in the league, the laughingstock of the hockey world, to winning the Alpha Cup. From being three alphas searching for their missing piece, to a complete pack, bound to the most incredible omega we could ever have imagined. From a cramped apartment to this amazing house.

Life is good. Better than good. It's amazing.

"Alright, couch is in," Maverick announces, walking back into the kitchen. "Dining table is next. Then we can start on the bedrooms."

"Did you order that easel you wanted?" I ask her, nudging her gently.

Anya nods, her eyes sparkling. She's excited about this house, about having a dedicated space for her work. The carriage house in the backyard is going to be her studio. It's a perfect little space, detached from the main house, with plenty of natural light. I can already picture her out there, surrounded by her canvases and paints, creating her masterpieces. She's already got plans to renovate it, and make it her own space.

She nods and signs. "Will ship next week."

I can't help but smile, seeing Anya happy, thriving, surrounded by a pack that loves and cherishes her, it's the best feeling in the world. It's everything I've ever wanted. Everything we've ever wanted.

My gaze drifts around the house. It's a large place, but not overly so. Plenty of room for all of us, for guests, for a family... The thought sends a jolt through me. A family. It's a future I hadn't dared to dream of before Anya.

The movers bring in another piece of furniture, a large sectional sofa that will anchor the living room. It's a comfortable-looking thing, perfect for movie nights and cuddling. I can already picture us all piled up on it, Anya nestled safely in the middle, surrounded by her alphas.

"This is going to be great," Maverick says, his voice full of satisfaction, as he surveys the living room. "A real home."

"Our home," Leo corrects, with a meaningful look at Anya.

She smiles, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She signs, "Our home."

And in that moment, surrounded by the chaos of moving, by the scent of new furniture and fresh paint, by the love and warmth of my pack, I know that we've found something truly special. Something rare and precious.

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