Chapter 4

Kai

My calves burned like I’d sprinted through rival territory on all fours, and my glutes screamed for mercy as Declan and I hauled our exhausted asses up the stone steps of the Moonfang pack house.

Early season practices under Coach Thompson were designed to forge wolves into weapons—endless drills, territorial scrimmages under simulated full-moon lights, and enough body checks to rattle even an alpha’s bones.

The Shifter Hockey League didn’t forgive weakness. Neither did the Shadowfang Reapers wait for our next matchup.

I was still laughing at Declan’s rare dry joke about Jonesy’s latest failed attempt to mark the goalposts when he shoved the heavy oak door open and froze mid-step.

I slammed into his back with a grunt. “What the—?”

Then the scent hit me.

Warm vanilla, fresh pine, and something achingly right that made my wolf snap to attention, ears pricked and tail practically wagging. I peered around Declan’s broad shoulder and forgot how to breathe.

She was a perfection incarnate.

A woman sat cross-legged on the thick fur rug of our living room, a tiny pup in her lap. Mousey brown hair piled in a messy bun, large doe eyes that caught the warm den lighting like polished amber, soft curves that promised both comfort and sin. She looked up at our sudden entrance and offered a shy smile that punched straight through my chest.

My wolf howled internally: Mate.

I’d chased the thrill of puck bunnies for my first few seasons—empty nights of heat and conquest that left my wolf restless. After a while, the scentless transactions felt hollow. No pack bond. No future. Just claws and teeth and morning regrets. This woman? She smelled like home. Like moonlight on pine needles. Like the missing piece our three-wolf den had been waiting for.

“Rogue! Why is there a beautiful stranger in our den?!” Declan growled low, his goalie instincts flaring protective and territorial.

I elbowed past him with a wide grin, unable to contain my wolf’s excitement. “Easy, Frost. Let’s hear the story.”

Ronan emerged from the hallway, running a hand through his dark hair, looking equal parts exhausted and relieved. “Forgot to text you both. This is Annie—my daughter. Turns out I’m a sire now. And this is Lila. I hired her as our live-in nanny.”

Live-in. The words sent a spark of pure joy through my veins, I’d get to see her every day. Scent her in the kitchen. Watch her move through our territory, my wolf was already planning how to leave subtle marks—nothing overt, just enough to signal mine to the others.

Lila stood gracefully, the pup nestled securely against her chest. She offered her hand. I took it, deliberately pulling her a fraction closer than polite society allowed. Her palm was warm, soft, and fit perfectly in my larger one. Her breath hitched. A pretty pink flush colored her cheeks, and I caught the faintest spike in her pulse. She felt it too—the pull. Latent shifter blood, I’d bet my next contract on it. Humans didn’t usually react this strongly to an alpha’s aura.

“Hi,” she said sweetly, voice like honey over gravel. It went straight to my cock and my wolf simultaneously. “It’s nice to meet you… both.”

Declan took her hand next, but his grip was cautious, his ice-blue eyes narrowed like he was assessing a rival forward. He’d always been the cautious one—our brooding goalie who trusted actions over scents.

Ronan filled in the gaps: Cedar, the surprise custody, the pack daycare pickup. Annie cooed softly, reaching a tiny fist toward Lila’s hair. The sight of Ronan—our fierce captain, Rogue on the ice watching his pup with such raw vulnerability did something to the pack bond between us, it strengthened us.

Lila laid out ground rules with confidence, her attention mostly on Annie but her words included all of us.

“Since this wasn’t planned, I want to respect your routine. I’ll handle Annie, cooking, and cleaning. Strict diets? Give me the meal plans—I’ll shop and cook. I’ll stay in my room when you need space. But for Annie’s stability, I have one big ask: if any of you bring females home, give me a warning so I can keep her out of sight. Pups need consistency, not revolving scents.”

My grin widened, bold little moon. She was staking a subtle claim on the den already. “Puck bunnies?” I teased, leaning against the couch arm. “You a fan of the league, or just pretending you didn’t know who we were?”

She rolled her eyes playfully, but there was steel beneath the softness. “I’ve worked at an arena daycare for years. Of course, I know the Moonfang Wolves. Grew up in a hockey household too. I’m a fan, but I’m not tossing my panties on the ice or fan-girling. Annie deserves better than chaos.”

Declan muttered something about “that one time” with the fan who’d flashed a message on her chest last season. I barked a laugh. Lila’s snort-laugh in response was undignified and utterly charming. Unattached, then. My wolf noted that with predatory interest.

The doorbell rang. Lila brightened. “That must be for me!” She headed for the door, Declan shadowing her like a suspicious enforcer.

A handsome young man stood on the stoop with two large duffel bags. Brother, from the similar features and protective stance. Declan growled low in her ear about “random males,” but Lila shut it down firmly.

I saw my opening. “Your brother? Bring him in!” I called, wrapping an arm around Lila’s waist to gently pull her aside. She fit against me as she belonged there. Sam’s eyes went wide—starstruck. Perfect.

I dragged him inside, arm over his shoulder like we’d known each other for years. “Sam, right? Kai Voss. Welcome to the den.” Beers were poured. The replay of last night’s game went on the massive screen. Sam relaxed quickly, geeking out over my two assists and the highlight-reel goal I’d scored by breaking away rogue-style—ironic, given Ronan’s nickname.

Lila settled back on the floor with Annie, playing quietly. I kept stealing glances. Every time our eyes met, heat crackled. She mouthed “thank you” during a commercial. I winked, warmth spreading through my chest like a successful hunt.

After an hour, I exchanged numbers with Sam and promised on-the-glass tickets for Thursday’s game. “Bring your father too. The pack box is open to the family.”

Lila narrowed her eyes at me as we waved Sam off. “You didn’t have to do that.”

I shrugged one shoulder, flashing my most charming grin—the one that usually dropped panties but felt different with her. “We’ve always got time for fans. Especially when they’re connected to our new pack member.”

She stepped closer after closing the door, looking up at me with those doe eyes. “That was very sweet. Thank you, Kai.”

The air thickened. Her scent wrapped around me, vanilla and pine and something wilder stirring beneath. My wolf pushed forward, urging me to nuzzle her neck, to test the mate bond I already sensed humming between us. Ronan watched from the hallway, his own wolf interest clear. Declan lingered in the shadows, tense but intrigued.

This human woman with latent fire had walked into our den and already begun weaving herself into the pack bonds. Annie’s presence had cracked us open; Lila was the moonlight sealing the fractures.

I wanted to take it slow—woo her properly, date her under the moon, walk around shirtless to show off the scars and muscle earned on the ice—but my wolf had other plans. The full moon was two weeks away. If the pull grew any stronger, none of us would be able to resist.

The Moonfang pack house had never felt more alive. Or more dangerous.