The Infamous Hockey Player Is My Stepbrother And My Mate

Nova’s POV. The city looked and smelled very different like concrete and promise, harsh and dazzling simultaneously. Nothing like the pine-drenched woods I grew up in. As I stepped out of the car, dragging my duffel bag behind me, the towering mansion before me shimmered under the early summer sun, too big, too grand, and too cold. This was my new home. “Nova!” My mom’s voice rang out from the front steps. She looked radiant, practically glowing in a soft yellow sundress. Marriage suited her. Alpha Killian Wyatt stood beside her, tall and commanding in a crisp black shirt, his presence impossible to ignore. He wasn’t my father but he was now her husband. And I had promised myself I would try. For her. “Hi, Mom,” I smiled, wrapping her in a hug. She smelled like lavender and peace, everything familiar in this unfamiliar world. “You look beautiful, sweetheart,” she said, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Come in. Killian had the guest room on the third floor prepared for you.” “Guest room?” I repeated, glancing at the Alpha. He didn’t smile, but nodded politely. I wasn’t sure if that was how all the other Alphas acted, or if it was just him. I swallowed down the knot in my throat and followed them inside. The mansion was a labyrinth of polished marble floors, gold-trimmed chandeliers, and walls lined with ancestral portraits. Everything here was different, I was amazed but didn't show it, I had to be as composed as possible. My room was bigger than our entire old cabin. It felt more like a museum than a home. But I tried to adjust with time, I cooked when Mom was tired, kept my distance from Alpha Killian, and kept myself busy reading or watching the news about the city’s supernatural scene and sports documentaries. Especially about one name I couldn’t stop obsessing over, Logan Wyatt. Six years older. Ice-cold on the hockey rink. A golden boy of the supernatural sports world. He wasn’t just infamous , he was untouchable. I had watched every one of his games, had posters of him taped to my wall back home, and always dreamt of meeting him, even just once, just to tell him how amazing he was. But I have never gotten a chance to. It was barely a week after I moved in when I heard the roaring of a sports car in the driveway. A sharp, sleek beast of a machine. I peeked through the window, wondering who it could be. “Was Alpha Killian into sports cars?” “Definitely not, I would have spotted one by now if he were into them.” I was still lost in thought when a guy climbed down with his back facing me. He had a familiar figure, like I had seen him somewhere before. As he turned to enter the building, his face came into view and my jaw dropped. It was him! Logan Wyatt. He looked like a scene from one of my dreams. Black jeans, leather jacket, eyes hidden behind designer shades. I watched him disappear into the building. Suddenly, a knock on my door jolted me back to reality. The door slowly creaked open, and my mum's face peeked through the gap. “Can I come in, darling?” she asked. I adjusted myself on the bed and nodded. Still stunned and struggling to find my words, I blinked a few times to make sure I was really awake. This had to be a dream, what else could it be? What on earth would Logan Wyatt be doing here? I felt my bed sink as my mum sat beside me, and she had a gentle smile on her face. “Nova, how are you enjoying your summer holiday?” she asked, running her fingers through my hair and massaging my scalp, which felt amazing. “Fine, I guess.” My eyes met hers and I could see how happy Mum looks now. Her face glowed differently, she was no longer pale like she used to be before meeting Alpha Killian. “Mum, you look happier than I have ever seen you and I guess it's because of him,” I said. She looked away, and I could see her cheeks turn red, she was acting like a teenager in love. I was so glad she finally found happiness. Her smile dropped and she looked up at me, gently rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb. “Are you not fine with all these, baby?” She asked, looking like she might cry. I moved closer, leaned into her, and placed my head on her shoulders. “I am more than happy for you, Mum, and I pray you get all the happiness in the world because you deserve it,” I said. Her face lit up as she held me tightly. “Thank you. I’m so excited you’re staying for the summer,” Mom said. “It’ll give you time to settle in before college.” I nodded and smiled, trying to match her excitement. “I have something to show you, Nova, but you will have to come down for dinner to see it,” I raised my head and looked at her suspiciously, her eyes sparked with excitement. “What could that be?” I asked eagerly. “You should come see for yourself,” she said, leading me to the dining table where the food was already served. I sat across from Mum and she signalled to me to start eating and wait. We were halfway through dinner when the front doors slammed open. I turned in my seat and then forgot how to breathe. It was him, this time I was sure I wasn't dreaming. He walked into the dining room like he owned it, tall and cut from raw steel, wearing comfy grey sweatpants, a dark brown oversized sweatshirt, and confidence like a second skin. His dark hair was tousled, his jaw sharp, his body toned in ways that made my breath hitch. But it wasn’t just his looks that hit me. It was his scent. Earthy pine, fresh rain, and something ancient. It slammed into me like a tidal wave, and everything faded. My wolf stirred awake inside me fully and sharply for the first time in years. “Mate!”