The Mate He Can't Claim

Fractured Lines

Lyra sat on the edge of her bed the morning after the Riverrun game. Her body was covered in bruises and she could still feel the heat from the kiss with Kael. It had been a desperate and completely forbidden kiss. She could still taste him. Salt and frost. That wildness that made her wolf blood stir restlessly beneath her skin. She pressed her fingers to her mouth trying to push the memory

Focus on hockey she told herself. That was why she had come to Frostfang. Not for gray eyes or a bond that threatened to change her life.

There was a knock on her door. She opened it to find Rylan leaning against the frame with two coffees in hand and his usual smirk on his face.

"Morning sunshine " he said. "Captain wants the team on the ice in twenty for film review.. By the look on his face last night did not end well for anyone."

She took the coffee grateful for the warmth against her chilled fingers.

"Did everyone see?" she asked in a voice.

Rylan shrugged. "Enough to start talking. Selene is already sharpening her claws. Word is she went straight to Kaels father after the game. You two need to be careful. The Draven alpha does not tolerate weakness. Right now that bond you are both fighting looks like the biggest weakness of all."

Lyra pulled on her practice jacket, the one that still carried a trace of Kaels scent.

"I did not ask for this " she muttered. "I just want to play."

Rylan walked beside her as they headed toward the rink.

"Yeah well the ice has a way of deciding things for us.. You are not as human as you thought Vale. That surge during the game when your eyes flashed that was real. Coach saw it. Kael definitely saw it."

The arena felt different in the quiet morning light. The stands were empty. The ice gleamed under the overhead lamps like a battlefield waiting for war. The team was already gathered when they arrived some sprawled in the bleachers others stretching on the rubber mats. Kael stood at the front arms crossed over his chest his expression carved from stone. His eyes found hers immediately. The pull hit her like a body check.

Coach Harlan started the film review without preamble. The projector flickered to life showing highlights from night. Lyra watched herself score that goal the way power had flooded her veins, unnatural and intoxicating. Murmurs rose from the team.

"What the hell was that?" one of the defensemen asked. "She lit up like a moon shift."

Coach paused the video.

"Vale has latent blood. We all saw it. Questions later. Now we break down Riverrun weaknesses because they will be back for the conference finals and they will come hunting."

Kaels voice cut through the room commanding.

"Focus on positioning. No one goes rogue there. He glanced at Lyra, his jaw tight. Especially not you. Stay in formation."

The words stung. She lifted her chin meeting his head-on.

"I scored the winning goals, Captain. Maybe your formations need adjusting."

A few teammates. The tension thickened. Selene sat near the front her braid coiled like a snake. Her lips curved in a smile that promised trouble.

"Careful human " she said sweetly. "Some of us have lines. We do not need strays messing up the pack order."

"Enough " Coach Harlan barked. "On the ice. Full contact. Show me you can work together or I will bench the lot of you."

Practice was brutal. Every drill felt personal. When Lyra and Kael ended up on the line the chemistry was undeniable. They read each others movements as if the bond fed them thoughts. A perfect pass from him a blistering shot from her. The puck flew true.. Off the puck the contact was electric. A brush of gloves a bump of shoulders and fire raced through her blood to her core.

During a break Kael skated close under the pretense of adjusting her stick tape. His breath brushed her ear.

"Last night was a mistake " he said, his voice rough. "It cannot happen again. My father already suspects something. If he finds out you might be mate material he will test you until you break."

Lyras heart clenched at the word "mate," even as desire pooled low in her belly.

"Then stop looking at me like you want to devour me " she whispered back. "Because I feel it too. It is driving me insane."

His hand flexed on his stick knuckles white.

"You think I do not want to pin you against these boards and finish what we started?" His eyes darkened with visible hunger. ". The pack comes first. Always."

Before she could reply Selene slammed into their space during the drill. She checked Lyra hard sending her sprawling across the ice.

"Oops " she called out her voice dripping with innocence. "Thought you could handle it stray."

Rage surged through Lyra hotter than before. She pushed up eyes flashing with that golden light from the game. Power crackled under her skin begging to be released. She launched forward stick-handling the puck with speed and delivered a legal but punishing check that sent Selene crashing into the boards. The impact echoed.

Kael blew his whistle stepping between them.

"Enough. Both of you."

His hand lingered on Lyras arm a fraction too long. The touch sent sparks racing up her skin to her n*****s, which tightened painfully against her sports bra. She wanted him. Badly. The need was primal and embarrassing in its intensity. She could smell her arousal mixing with his and from the way his nostrils flared he could too.

In the locker room after practice the air was thick with challenges. Lyra changed quickly keeping her back to the room. She felt Kaels eyes on her the entire time. When most of the team had cleared out he cornered her near the showers.

"We need to talk " he said, his voice low. "Alone."

He led her to an equipment room off the main corridor. The door clicked shut behind them. The space was cramped, shelves of pads and sticks surrounding them. Kael paced like a wolf.

"This bond is getting stronger " he said, stopping in front of her. "I can feel your emotions, Lyra. Your desire. It is messing with my head during drills. I almost lost control there."

She stepped closer drawn by the invisible thread.

"Then what do we do about it?" she asked. "Because I cannot stop thinking about that kiss. About how you felt against me."

Kael groaned, a sound that vibrated through her.

"Do not say that " he said. His hands came up framing her face without touching. "One. I want to claim you right here. Mark you so every wolf in this academy knows you are mine."

The words sent a wave of heat between her thighs. Lyra trembled with the effort not to close the distance.

"Then do it " she challenged, her voice breathy. ". Stop pretending you can fight it."

He kissed her again harder than before. This time there was no hesitation. His mouth claimed hers tongue sweeping in with hunger. Lyra moaned, hands fisting in his damp jersey pulling him closer. Their bodies pressed together hips grinding instinctively. She could feel his hardness through their clothes, insistent against her stomach. Wetness slicked her core making her panties cling uncomfortably.

Kaels hand slid down to grip her ass lifting her slightly so he could rock against her center. The friction pulled another sound from her throat.

"More " she whispered against his lips. "I need more."

He growled, nipping at her lip.

"Not here. Not like this. But gods, Lyra you are killing me " he said. His fingers slipped under her waistband brushing the edge of her folds. "You are so wet for me already."

The touch made her knees buckle. She arched into his hand shamelessly. Kael rubbed circles over her c**t drawing out her pleasure until she was panting. Emotions were raw and visible in his eyes. Lust, protectiveness and a fierce possessiveness that should have scared her but only made her burn hotter.

A sudden knock on the locker room door shattered the moment. Kael pulled back breathing ragged, eyes glowing with power.

"This is not over " he promised, his voice hoarse. ". We have to be smart. My father is watching. Rival packs are circling.. Whatever your bloodline is it is rare. Dangerous."

Lyra straightened her clothes, legs shaky.

"I am not running from this " she said. "From you. From any of it."

He nodded once jaw tight.

"Good " he said. "Because the real tests are coming. The championship is weeks away and whispers say the Riverrun alpha has put a bounty on any new bloodlines at Frostfang. Including yours."

They slipped out separately. The bond thrummed stronger than ever between them. Lyra returned to her dorm, with her body aching for completion and her mind spinning with questions. That night as she lay in bed fingers drifting between her legs chasing the release Kael had started she whispered his name into the darkness.