How to get away with a Hockey Alpha

RILEY’s pov I wasn’t supposed to be here. The bonfire roared at the edge of the training field, bathing the entire senior class in flickering gold. Flames licked at the night sky while twelve towering pines stood like silent sentinels—one for each pack. Moon-Tide. The one night every year when the Seers summoned the mate threads and the Goddess decided who belonged to whom. I had spent the whole day convincing myself I didn’t care and that today didn’t matter. In the clinic I’d stitched a defenseman’s split eyebrow, wiped blood from the bench, and repeated my mantra like a prayer: “Medical school. The league. First halfling strategist they can’t ignore.” I had No wolf. No mate and destined no fairytale and somehow I had made peace with that. Until Maren Hale decided to ruin my afternoon. She’d cornered me by the athletic center lockers, glossy hair swinging, her fitted team jacket cinched tight enough to make every wolf nearby go dead silent. “Riley,” she cooed, the word dripping venom. “Still showing up to things you weren’t invited to?” Snickers rippled around us. I kept my face blank even as heat crawled up my neck. Maren tilted her head, eyes sparkling with malice. “Oh, wait. Right.” She gasped, taking the crowd into her range of sight then turned back to me. “Halflings don’t get mates.” She cooed sweetly. “Don’t worry. I’ll take Kael off your hands. You can go back to playing nurse.” Someone behind her mimicked taping an ankle. A girl giggled. “Maybe she can be our team medic once we’re all mated.” I fisted my palms. “Yeah, if any wolf wants a human with no scent.” I slammed my locker shut hard enough that the metal rang, I stepped straight into Maren’s space and she backed up a bit. A sarcastic smile crossed my lips as I leaned in, the laughter had quieted down and there was now a weighted silence. “Does Kael know you want him this bad or are you just better at warming benches?” I c****d my head to the side while Maren’s face turned bright red. An uncomfortable bout of whispers burst from corners as I walked away. Heart heavy but refusing to look back. I wish Kael had been there but he was up in the heir’s tower with the generals, as usual. Everyone else knew I’d been his unofficial second for five years—breaking down film, designing power plays, running drills, taking care of him…Everyone except him, apparently. It was draining being so close to him but not being able to tell him how I felt. By 8:55 p.m. I was in my room, clothes off, lights on, ready to hide from the entire night when the banging started. I had on a silk robe that showed a good amount of my skin when I opened the door to Kael Voss leaning against the frame like he owned the hallway. Black compression shirt, sleeves shoved up to his elbows, veins standing out on his forearms. Damp hair, fresh sweat, and that damn puck bruise still darkening his cheekbone. He looked illegally good for someone who’d just come off the ice. “Riley.” He exhaled, eyes darkening for a split second, before locking on mine. “We still on for strategy after Moon-Tide? You said if I didn’t let you run the new power play you’d bench me in front of the whole team.” The corner of his mouth quirked—the same crooked smile the boy who once taught me a 2-1-2 forecheck used to wear. My stupid heart flipped. I couldn’t form words. “And you promised to help me study anatomy,” he added, softer, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingertips brushed my skin. I fought the shiver. “Medical school won’t get into itself, future Dr. Riley.” He mused and heat crawled up my neck. He respected me as a halfling. A mere human. That had always been the most dangerous thing about him. “I…I wasn’t going to go,” I admitted, voice small. “What’s the point? Someone’s going to get you tonight anyway,” I said “You play terribly,” I quickly added. Kael squinted at first, then lightly slapped my shoulder the way he had since we were fourteen. “Then let’s do strategy after anyway. Friends don’t bail on game tape just because of Moon-Tide.” Friends. The word carved straight through my ribs. Because while he was still picturing late-night film sessions, I was already imagining some other girl wearing his mark. Calling him, hers. “Fine,” I said, grabbing my jacket before realizing horribly that I was only in a robe. Self consciousness engulfed me and without being asked, Kael stepped away from the door and gave me my privacy. I was dressed quickly before I could talk myself out of it. The mating circle was already lit when we arrived. Twelve flames. Twelve packs. The whole school packed shoulder to shoulder. Maren stood front and center in pure white, glowing like she already knew she’d win the night. My heart tugged at the reality of things but when she saw Kael and I walk in together, her eyes narrowed to slits. A smile creased the corner of my lips and I held onto Kael a little tighter, clearly infuriating her even further. She whispered to her friends and they all turned and laughed behind their hands. “Thinks she belongs here,” one muttered loudly. “Halfling’s gonna cry when nothing happens,” another added. My confidence faltered a little but Kael bumped my shoulder, reading my mood the way he always did. “You good?” But I could only nod. Afraid that my voice would shake if I answered truthfully. “Strategy after?” I whispered back, forcing a smile. “Strategy after,” he promised. “We’re fixing that breakout.” We got seperated the minute the ceremony was about to start. The Seers raised their arms. Their chant rolled across the field like thunder. Silver light burst from the central fire and fractured into dozens of glowing threads that snaked through the crowd, searching for their matches. I never expected anything after all, I was merely a halfling. It wasn’t possible. I clapped for everyone whose light matched with another until my vision became blurry. For once I wished the moon gooddess would surpise me. Take this curse from me and let me meet someone…even if it wasn’t Kael. I couldn’t take the pain of knowing I was always going to be alone and made to move back then quietly slip until a harsh gasp wrecked the room. Something warm flowed through me and slowly my vision cleared. Everyone was staring at me. It wasn’t until people parted a way for me that my breath caught. There was a faint ray of light, directly above me! I was being picked, by the goodness?