Rejected By The Hockey Alpha

CHAPTER 6

Harper's POV

The growls rippled through the air, causing a cold shudder to run through my spine. Ryker's claws sliced through the other monster, and the growl increased. The forest shook with violence as the sound of flesh and bone collided. I gripped the tree so hard until bark dug into my palm, but I didn't feel it.

How could I feel pain with what was unfolding right in front of me?

And as if sensing me, Ryker stopped. My breath caught in my throat as he turned in his wolf form, massive and scary. His chest heaved, blood dripping from his fur.

His glowing eyes snapped straight to where I was hiding as if he already knew where I was all along, or he expected me to be there.

Our eyes locked and horror widened my eyes. In those burning eyes of his, I did not just see a beast. I saw him, Ryker Soren, the boy I'd been chasing, fighting. The star hockey player who was never just a boy.

I should move, run away from him because he was dangerous. A monster. But God help me, my legs didn't move, despite my instincts screaming at me to run.

His glowing eyes held me captive and for a moment, it felt like the world had stopped moving.

Ryker's massive body moved towards me, the wolf he was fighting was nowhere to be found.

I stumbled back, branches snapping under my feet as panic clawed up my throat.

My mind reeled with different questions. Was he going to kill me now that I knew what he really was? Now that I knew he wasn't human?

I swallowed hard, my heart pounding heavily as my legs decided to act with my brain. To run away from this monster before he killed me.

My father's warning echoed back in my head. He'd warned me to stay away from Ryker especially.

Did he know what he was?

Did my father know he was a monster? The thought shattered me and my chest tightened.

"Harper," The monster called out.

The sound of my name on his lips didn't sound like one from a monster. It sounded like the voice of a broken, bleeding boy.

Something tugged painfully in my chest and against every shred of reason screaming at me to run, I stopped.

My throat bobbled up and down as I stared at him.

He stepped closer, his movement slow and deliberate.

My heart beat fast, but I told myself to remain calm, that the monster wasn't going to hurt me.

"Ryker?" I called out, more like trying to confirm he was really the one.

That inside that monster was the star hockey player I knew.

He answered his name. My eyes widened again, it was real. This was not a dream or a night mare. Ryker was really a werewolf. He took another step forward.

"Don't," my voice broke as I stumbled back another step, my hand signalling to him to stop. "Don't come closer."

Ryker froze, his massive body trembling. His fur rippled as if he was fighting something inside of him. Then, before my eyes, the shift began.

His bones cracked, muscles shifted. The sound was nauseating, but I couldn't look away. His wolf went down, shrank, and in seconds, he was kneeling before me in his human form.

He slowly lifted his head, his brown eyes locking on mine. "You weren't supposed to see this," he said, his voice hoarse and broken.

It felt like the air had been knocked out of my lungs, because I could barely breathe. "What are you?" I asked.

The question hung in the air, the silence between us sharper than a blade slicing through the flesh.

For a moment, he flinched, his jaw tightening. He looked away from me, then his eyes locked on mine again.

"I'm not human, Harper. I'm not like you," he swallowed hard as if the words were too heavy for him to say. "I'm a werewolf."

The truth knocked the air out of my lungs. My chest rose and fell, my instincts screaming so hard at me.

Werewolves, they were real. And there was one in front of me right now.

Then, it wasn't just any werewolf. Ryker Soren. The star hockey player.

I shook my head, denial clawing at my throat. "No, no... that's not possible. Werewolves are stories. I once looked it up. They are just tales, they are not real."

"Do I look like a story to you?" There was an edge laced into his voice. "This is who I am. The part no one else knows and you shouldn't have seen."

Panic surged through me, my heart hammering so hard in my chest. Every warning, every shadow since last night, they were all real. He'd asked me to stay away, to stop digging, but I didn't.

No wonder he skated on ice with a strength that wasn't human.

"You can't let anyone know about this," his cold voice jolted me out of my thoughts. "If anyone does, you will be in more danger than you can possibly imagine."

A cold chill ran through my veins, causing ice to replace the blood in them.

Some stories are not meant to be dug up.

My father's words echoed again. I should have listened to him. I shouldn't have followed Ryker. How was I supposed to keep this a secret?

How was I supposed to sleep peacefully? Yet, this was something I couldn't talk to anyone about.

Now, I knew the truth I wasn't supposed to know, and I could never unknow it.

"Is that clear, Harper?" Ryker snapped at me.

I bobbed my head in response despite myself, because if I didn't, I might actually be killed. No one knew where I was, not even my father.

"It's a promise," the words rolled off my tongue like poison and I knew immediately that there was no going back. I would have to keep this secret forever.

Then Ryker walked out of me, leaving me behind like I'd not just learnt a secret that could haunt me forever.