THE HOCKEY ALPHA'S REBORN MATE

Kora’s pov “She must have thought about herself as someone important,” one of the girls in the hallway spoke, and they all chuckled. I lowered my head as I walked through the hallway. If I could bury myself, I would do it. “What was she thinking? That Carter Ace would fall in love with her? I mean, has she even taken a good look at herself in the mirror?” Another person spoke in a sinister tone, followed by their usual laugh. It was obvious that they were all enjoying themselves. The news was everywhere, s*x tape of Carter and I was released, yet I was the only one blamed. It was no secret in the whole of HILTON ACADEMY that I had a huge crush on the hockey captain, Carter Ace, who was also the son of Alpha George of the Blood Moon pack. But what everyone didn't know was that both of us had been having an affair for two years, while I was just a nerd who secretly helped with all his school work, he was the most famous boy in school and within the pack. Our private sections turned into something else, and he had asked to keep it a secret, which wasn't an issue for me until a video of both leaked. Now, the news was everywhere, and everyone thinks I am a slut who forced herself on Carter Ace. My father and I sat at the principal's office. I lowered my head. How could I look up when the video of me and Carter was all over the school blogs and website? My scream and naked body were the only things talked about in school, and now I had to face the school authority. There was silence in the office, and it seemed like the silence was starting to choke me as we sat in front of the principal. “Mr. Gabriel, you do realize the severity of the situation, right?” “I understand, but why is my daughter the only one here? It's not like she was the only one involved; shouldn't Carter be here too?” Principal Nora's fingers clicked against her desk—tap, tap, tap—each one a tiny verdict. "We've spoken with Alpha George. Carter will face appropriate consequences." My father leaned forward. "Appropriate? My daughter's being expelled………" "Mr. Gabriel." The tapping stopped. "The spring hockey nationals are in eight weeks. Hilton Academy hasn't won in a decade. I'm sure you understand the... complexity of the situation." I understood perfectly. Carter was valuable; I was not. "Your daughter seduced a young man with a promising future. He's admitted that she pursued him relentlessly despite his repeated refusals. We have witness statements from……" "That's a lie!" My voice cracked on the last word, barely a whisper, but it was enough to make them both turn. Principal Nora's smile was thin and clinical. "Excuse me?" "He's lying. We were together for two years. He…….." The words tangled in my throat because how could I explain it? The late-night texts. The way he'd pull me into empty classrooms between periods. The promises whispered against my neck that made me believe I was special, chosen, and his. "Do you have any proof of this... relationship?" The way she said it made it sound dirty and impossible. I didn't. That was the point. Carter had made sure of it. I blinked, and tears rolled down my cheek. This can't be happening. “I am afraid that since you have no evidence, the verdict stands; you are expelled from Hilton Academy.” A blank expression on her face, but her words were consumed with venom. I wanted to beg, but knowing Principal Nora’s personality. I knew it would be a waste of time. My dad turned to stare at me. There was a mixture of regret and disdain in his eyes, like I was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. He rose to his feet, and without a word, he stormed out of there. I wiped my tears and followed behind, the crowd still staring at me as I left the office. The car ride home was silent except for the rage radiating off my father in waves. I pressed my forehead against the window, watching Hilton Academy disappear behind us. Four years of straight A's, of tutoring sessions that turned into Carter's hands in my hair, of believing I could be more than Gabriel Reed's disappointing daughter. The front door slammed. I was still reaching for my bag when his fist landed on my face. The world tilted; it was sharp and sudden. My shoulder hit the wall, then my head, and for a second, everything went white and ringing. When my vision cleared, I was on the floor, tasting blood from my mouth and staring up at a man who'd once taught me to ride a bike. "Dad……" My voice came out wet, and it felt wrong. "Don't!" He stood over me, chest heaving, with his knuckles still clenched. "Don't you dare call me that." I touched my cheek. My fingers came away red. "I was this close to the Alpha Council. Do you understand what that means? What could that have meant for us?" He wasn't yelling anymore. Somehow, that was worse. "Your mother would be ashamed of you and what you have become." The mention of Mom, my mother who had been dead three years, who'd never once raised her voice at me, made something hatch open in my chest. "Mom would have believed me." The words escaped before I could stop them. His laugh was hollow and cruel. "Your mother believed in fairy tales. Look where that got her.” He walked to the mantle where our only family photo sat, it was me, him, and Mom, back when smiling didn't feel like work. His hand hovered over it for a moment before he turned it face down. "Pack a bag. You have until morning." The words didn't register at first. They were too big, too impossible, like someone had switched to a foreign language mid-conversation. "What?" "You heard me, Kora." My name in his mouth sounded like a mistake he was correcting. "I can't have you here. I won't. Everything I've worked for, everything I've sacrificed since your mother died, you've destroyed it in one reckless, stupid mistake." I grabbed his arm, but he jerked away like I had burned him. "Please. Dad, please, I'll fix this. I'll talk to Carter, I'll…" "Carter set you up." He said it like I was an i***t for not seeing it sooner. "While you're ruined, he's a hero who 'overcame temptation.' The second he wins nationals, Alpha George retires, and Carter takes over the pack. He used you, Kora. And you let him." The truth of it hit like a second slap. Of course. Of course, Carter had planned this. The video wasn't leaked; it was released. Timed perfectly. His path to Alpha required proving his strength, his resistance to weakness. And I'd been so desperate to believe someone could want me that I'd handed him the knife and shown him exactly where to cut. "I loved him." It came out broken and pathetic. "Then you're a fool." My father picked up his keys. "I'll be at the bar. When I come back, you're gone. If I see you again..." He didn't finish. He didn't have to. And then the door closed. I sat on the floor of the house where I had grown up, blood drying on my chin, and realized I had nowhere left to go. But suddenly, something twisted in my stomach. I realized that something was wrong, and before I could even think any further about it, I dashed out of the house, my feet running as fast as I could. Something was wrong. Some huge and I could already feel it!