How to get away with a Hockey Alpha

Chapter 04

RILEY’s pov;

Team is tanking. 0-4. Need you at practice. NOW.

I stared at the screen for hours on end. Guilt eating me up as I bit my lips.

They didn’t deserve this treatment. Kael rejected me but I was still their team strategist.

The dried up drool on my note mocked me and I frowned. If I couldn’t even finish an assignment in time, what good was I as a strategist?

I put off my phone and grabbed a sheet of paper. My hands shook as I started to write.

“Dearest coach. It is with great displeasure I write this but I understand that I have failed miserably as a team strategist. I would like to resign”

I swallowed every nerve that screamed at me for being this selfish. For five years, all I’ve wanted to be was a hockey medic.

A dream that seemed so real just because I had kael with me but now?

It was laughable.

I finished writing the letter and folded it neatly. I could always go for another branch of medicine. ,

I marched to the coach’s office, heart hammering but determined. Everyone on the team was scattered around the arena. Their eyes boring into me. Following me determinedly.

A bitter taste overpowered my mouth and I swallowed. Putting one feet before another, keeping my back straight and pretending that I didn’t want to burst into tears.

I’ve known these people for five years…we were like family.

I reached the coach’s door and hesitated for a split second.

“It’s now or never” I whispered to myself and knocked once before twisting the knob.

I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t Kael.

He looked like hell—heir pin was gone, same dark circles around his eyes and he was pacing like a caged wolf.

Our eyes met. His throat bobbed and my stupid, traitorous heart lurched.

I looked away instantaneously and shoved the feeling down. Storming inside with the crumpled letter in hand.

“Coach,” I called, my voice wavered at the end.

Coach looked up from the game film on his desk, brows furrowed. “Take a seat,” he insisted but I stood my ground.

If I sat then my courage would evaporate.

“I’m resigning,” I said, placing the letter on his desk. “Personal reasons. I can no longer serve as team strategist.”

Kael stopped pacing immediately. His face tightened and I swore he held his breath when our eyes met again.

Coach’s face turned poker. Every emotion, every crevice of thought had vanished from his features and for one painstakingly minute, his eyes didn’t leave the crumpled letter.

“I just wanted to tell yo—“

“I never pegged you as selfish,” he suddenly said, jaw clenched as he sat up straight, hands laying before him.

My breath hitched in my throat and my heart hammered in my ears.

“You want to resign while we’re tanking this season?” Coach questioned, tossing the letter aside.

I didn’t flinch. I couldn’t show how much s**t I was feeling. Behind him, Kael’s jaw clenched so hard I thought it might crack.

It wasn’t until Coach stood up that I realized how mad he was.

His arms rippled, fur threatening to burst through as his wolf rose with his temper. “Pack your stuff. You’re leaving.”

Leaving?

My heart stuttered, mouth agape in confusion.

“What?” I questioned. Baffled that he was this quick.

“You’re going on a little road trip,” he said, suddenly calmer, though his eyes still flashed. “We have a game tomorrow as you well know. We need you to go to the rival school. Pull up some strategy. You leave in an hour. Car’s ready.”

Kael’s gaze darted everywhere except me.

I held up the letter with trembling fingers. “I can’t. I quit—”

Coach snatched it back. “I would expect that you of all people would know what this letter could cost you,” he said and started to rip the paper to shreds.

“At such a dire time, backing out of a school activity this way would tank your chances for med school in relation to your non-academic achievements. If you can’t follow through with an activity, why should any school pick you?” He questioned and the words landed like a punch.

Kael still didn’t look surprised. Of course he didn’t. He probably wanted me gone.

Coach rested his hands on his waist, exhausted. “You’re bringing the Cup home this season. Especially now that we’ve got a star transfer coming in. The team needs its strategist. We can’t do it without you.” He almost pleaded.

I kept quiet. Weighing my options.

“Kael would be going with you for practice just before the rest of the team can catch up,” coach suddenly said and my head whipped up in surprise.

Kael muttered, “Do I really have to go with her?”

I scoffed. The bond gave a vicious tug in my chest, sharp enough to make my eyes water for a second.

Coach looked preplexed and irritated just as he slammed a hand on the desk. “The team comes before anything else kids. You can sort yourself out later, now go out there and bring me that championship cup!”

Kael drew in a long breath, resignation written across his face. “Let’s go, Riley.”

I crossed my arms, an overwhelming surge of rage in me as I locked eyes with him and say;

“I’m not going.”