Rejected by the Hockey Alpha, Claimed by his Rival

ast sky. The Frostfang Wolves training facility was located on the far northern edge

ral wolf den built exclusively for

the weight of it pulling at my shoulder. My hockey boots ec

pletely different from the Ironclaw Titans' facility. There were no plush leather couches, velvet ropes, or

rink, the sound of pucks hitting the boards echoe

k. Th

felt the collective, high-stakes energy of a bran

show up," a sharp voice sneer

g rest against my hip. Nathan Pierce, one of the team's star

ed tightly over his chest. He looked exactly like the kind of gu

in the hallway could hear him perfectly. "Did you lose your way to the beauty parlor, Bennett?

link or flinch. "I know exactly where I am, Pierce. I'm where your coach sends people w

l let out a low, collectiv

ith sudden, aggressive irritation, filling the narrow hall

" a stern voice boomed through the

He was a tall, incredibly broad man with cropped silver hair

ered something under his breath, and walked away toward the gym. Once

his clipboard for me to follow him toward the

Coach," I said, keeping my tone

iglass. Inside, several players were already skating hard laps, the

ou to make some political statement against Logan Mercer. I don't care about your personal l

I said, my eyes tracking

Carter said directly. His voice wasn't mean, but i

nd clicks online. Honestly, I don't care about any of that noise. But you have to earn your place h

ting as I met his gaze. "Just give

e starts in ten," Carter said,

er Frostfang jersey. My heart was racing, a mix of nerves and pure adrenaline hitting me all at once. I skat

air of eyes locked onto me, tracking my movements like wolves watching an intruder step into their

rom the bench, clapping his hands loudly to shatter the silence

ribs. I looked across from me and saw Nathan Pierce standing on defense. He had a

ga," Pierce muttered quietly as he l

ot back, bending my knees and

harp crack that echoe

ual lightning. I crossed the line, receivi

ted a flawless, high-speed crossover. I puck-handled right around h

on the bench muttered, lean

corner. I feinted left, making him commit his weight, then immediately dragged the p

etting with a loud

The players on the ice just stared at the back of the

damaged omega anymore. The

lly across my shoulders. I looked directly at Pierce, whose face w

thly, skating past him wi

couple of the other players, including one of the senior Alphas, Ethan Brooks, giving me a small,

a fresh puck onto the ice toward me. "Ni

flicked it up into my hand, a small, confident

ection, the heavy weight in my chest felt a little lighter.