The hockey alpha who claimed me

Chapter Two

Slap of Jealousy

Keira Nash POV

Morning came too quickly.

Keira barely slept. Her mind replayed the night over and over again, every word Jax Monroe had said, every look, every charged silence. She told herself it meant nothing. It was just adrenaline. Just anger. Just a reckless night she would forget.

But her body didn’t agree.

She stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair slowly, noticing the faint tension in her shoulders that refused to leave. Jax’s words replayed in her head. Ownership might be.

She shook her head hard. No. She would not let a man like him crawl into her thoughts. She had already been hurt once. She would not let it happen again.

School felt heavier than usual. The hallways buzzed with energy, louder than normal, like something was about to explode. Students whispered in clusters. Phones were out. Eyes followed her as she walked past.

Keira felt it immediately.

Something was wrong.

She reached her classroom and slid into her seat, ignoring the stares. Theresa sat two rows away, already glued to her phone, fingers flying across the screen, with her eyes bright with excitement.

Keira didn’t like that look.

She opened her notebook, trying to focus, when the classroom door suddenly slammed open.

Everyone went quiet.

A girl walked in with confidence sharp enough to cut through the air. She was tall, athletic, with long dark hair tied in a high ponytail. Her eyes burned with anger and pride. Everyone knew her.

Raven Steele.

She was one of the top girls in the hockey division. She's fierce, popular and known for being close to Jax Monroe. Too close. She always sat near him during games, always posted photos from dinners and late nights, always making sure people knew she belonged near him.

Keira’s stomach tightened.

Raven’s eyes locked onto Keira.

She walked straight across the room.

Before Keira could react, Raven raised her hand.

Slap.

The sound was loud and sharp.

Pain burned across Keira’s cheek. The class gasped while chairs moved. Someone screamed.

Keira stumbled back, shock freezing her for a split second before heat rushed through her veins.

Raven stood in front of her, her chest rising fast, with her eyes blazing with fire.

“Stay away from him,” Raven snapped. “You don’t get to touch what isn’t yours.”

Keira’s hand slowly rose to her face. Her cheek burned, her skin hot and stinging. But her eyes were steady when she looked back at Raven.

“Excuse me?” Keira said, her voice was low but firm.

Raven laughed coldly. “Don’t act innocent. Everyone knows what you did last night. You think sneaking around with Jax makes you special?”

Murmurs erupted around them.

Theresa was already standing on her chair, phone held high, livestream rolling.

“Oh my God,” Theresa said loudly, grinning at the camera. “Guys, this is insane. The useless girl who got dumped by her ex boyfriend has gone extra miles by trying to claim another person man. Jax the Alpha and leader of his hockey team.”

The comments flooded in instantly.

Likes climbed fast.

Ten thousand.

Fifty thousand.

One hundred thousand.

Keira’s chest tightened.

Raven stepped closer, invading her space. “You’re nothing,” she hissed. “A rebound. A joke. Someone he’ll forget by morning.”

Keira’s fingers curled into fists.

“You slapped me,” Keira said quietly. “That means you’re scared.”

Raven’s eyes flashed. “Scared of you? Don’t flatter yourself.”

“Then why are you here?” Keira shot back. “Why walk into my classroom like you own me?”

Raven scoffed. “Because I’ve been fixing dates with him for months, dinners, meetings and private time. And then you show up like some broken little girl and think you can steal him.”

Keira laughed once, it was sharp and bitter. “You fixing dates doesn’t mean he wants you.”

That hit.

Raven’s face twisted with rage. Her hand lifted again.

Keira reacted on instinct.

She caught Raven’s wrist midair.

The classroom erupted.

“You don’t touch me again,” Keira said, her voice shaking but strong. “You don’t get to hit people because a man won’t choose you.”

Raven yanked her hand free. “You think he chose you?”

Before Keira could answer, the classroom door opened again.

Jax Monroe walked in.

Silence crashed down hard.

His presence filled the room instantly. Tall, calm and dangerous. His eyes swept over the scene, landing first on Raven, then on Keira.

His jaw tightened.

“What’s going on here?” Jax asked.

Theresa squealed softly into her phone. “Guys, Jax is here. This just got crazier.”

The live stream numbers jumped again.

Five hundred thousand.

Raven turned toward Jax immediately, her expression shifting. “Jax, she’s lying about last night. She’s spreading rumors.”

Keira stared at him, heart pounding. She didn’t speak. She didn’t explain. She waited.

Jax’s eyes didn’t leave Keira.

“Did you slap her?” he asked Raven calmly.

Raven hesitated. Just a second. But it was enough.

“She deserved it,” Raven said. “She crossed a line.”

Jax’s expression hardened.

“No one touches what isn’t theirs,” he said.

Raven blinked. “I was protecting.....”

“You embarrassed yourself,” Jax cut in. His voice was cold. “And you embarrassed me.”

Gasps went through the room.

Keira felt her breath catch.

Raven’s face went pale. “Jax…”

“Leave,” he said. “Now.”

Raven stared at him, disbelief flashing across her face. She looked around, at the phones, the stares, the comments flooding in.

One million views.

Trending.

She laughed shakily. “This isn’t over,” she said, glaring at Keira. “You’ll regret this.”

She stormed out.

The classroom buzzed with noise, excitement, whispers. Teachers rushed in too late to stop anything.

Jax turned to Keira.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“I am fine,” Keira said, even though her cheek still hurt.

Their eyes met.

“This will get worse,” Jax said quietly.

Keira nodded. “It already has.”

The bell rang.

Students left, still filming, still whispering. The video spread fast across the school and hockey circles.

Keira picked up her bag.

“You should stay away from me,” Jax said. “People will come after you.”

“They already did,” she replied.

Jax watched her closely. “Then you must be strong.”

Keira walked past him.

Her face hurt. Her heart was racing.

But she knew one thing.

This was no longer just a school drama.

It had become a battle between her and Raven or anyone connected to her.