WINNING THE HOCKEY ALPHA

CHAPTER 5

HARPER BENNETT

My eyes open slowly, as if they had been glued shut for hours.

The light in the room blinds me for a moment.

I don’t know where I am, and my heart nearly stops when I look at my body and see that I’m only wearing my lingerie.

My dress is thrown on the floor of the room.

Next to me, Noah is still sleeping, his hair messy and his expression far too peaceful for the chaos pulsing inside me.

My hands tremble as I try to understand.

How did I end up here? I look at his body, covered only by underwear, but I don’t remember going to bed with him.

The memory hits like lightning: the party, Lexie handing me a drink, saying it was her way of apologizing.

The suspicion that made me switch the glass with Noah’s. But now, apparently, we were both drugged.

“No…” I whisper, bringing my hands to my head.

Noah stirs.

He opens his eyes slowly, blinking against the light. When he sees me sitting there, almost naked and completely tense, he frowns.

“What… happened?” His voice is rough with sleep.

I can’t answer right away.

I’m nauseous. Humiliated. Rage boils in me like a volcano about to erupt.

“Lexie drugged us,” I finally say, my voice firm. “That was her plan all along. To put us here.”

Noah rubs his face, confused.

“What do you mean? I… I just remember drinking and then everything got blurry.”

“Exactly. I’m going to kill that girl,” I say, standing up in anger.

And as if the universe heard me, the door bursts open.

Mason.

Standing in the doorway, his eyes burn like blades piercing through me.

For a moment, no one breathes. I freeze. Noah sits up in shock, pulling the sheet to cover my body. But it’s already too late.

Mason laughs. A dry, bitter laugh that makes me want to disappear.

“So that’s it,” he says, crossing his arms. “Lexie was right. You really don’t waste time.”

“It’s not what it looks like!” I exclaim, trying to cover myself with the sheet. “She drugged us! I switched the drink with Noah’s, I thought only mine had something, but…”

“There’s always an excuse, isn’t there, Harper?” Mason steps forward. His eyes are as dark as a storm. “And always an easy target. My brother, this time. Very clever. Noah, the silly lovesick heir. Must’ve been easy. How could you be so stupid to believe this girl?”

“She didn’t do anything wrong, Mason!”

“Mason, listen to me! I never wanted this. She set everything up! She wanted you to see!”

He ignores me.

He’s about to explode again when his phone rings in his pocket.

He curses before answering.

His tone changes completely. Cold, professional, but with a restrained rage boiling underneath.

“If you don’t fix this failure immediately, I swear I’ll terminate your contract,” he says. “I don’t care if it’s a minor detail. I want it solved now. Understood?”

He hangs up and throws the phone hard on the table.

My fingers clutch the sheet. All the humiliation, the pain, the anger… everything I’ve held in for so long starts to overflow. I won’t let this go.

I throw the sheet aside, ignore my exposed body, and get dressed quickly. Noah is still confused, trying to understand what happened. But I don’t wait.

I leave the room and freeze as I see several phones pointed in my direction. Many people laugh and take pictures of me and Noah together.

“Stop taking pictures now!” Noah shouts, putting on his shirt.

“Harper, wait!”

Noah keeps calling after me, but I push past the people around me, trying to find one person.

She’s holding a drink in her hands, laughing with two girls, as if nothing happened. When she sees me, her smile falters. Just a little.

“You finally woke up, Harper. Was the s*x with Noah good?” she teases, and the other girls laugh.

“You! You drugged me! You set all this up!”

“Harper…” she says, feigning surprise. “What are you talking about?”

“You wanted to destroy me in front of everyone. But this… this was low, even for you.”

“Do you really want to make a scene here?” she steps closer, her voice low. “Because honestly, it looks like you got exactly what you wanted: Noah and his brother’s attention. Congratulations.”

“Tomorrow all those photos and videos will be posted and everyone will know you were just the cheap sl*t who slept with Noah Lancaster.”

My blood boils.

I step forward, but then I see Mason approaching again.

He looks at me with the same contempt as before.

I go back to the room, grab my purse, and find Noah trying to talk to me, but I just want to get out of here.

But when the elevator doors open, he’s there. Mason.

I freeze.

I try to pretend I don’t see him, but he grabs my arm forcefully and pushes me against the wall.

“Congrats on the plan,” he says with a cutting smile. “Moving faster with Noah than any other girl before. Are you marrying him too? Or maybe claiming you’re pregnant with his child now?”

“Don’t talk to me like that,” I whisper, breathless.

“Why not? The truth hurts? You can fool Noah, but I’m not that easy. I see what you are. Your motives are darker than his eyes.”

“You’re wrong,” I say, lifting my chin. “I’m not like the others. Noah and I already had a connection before. The alcohol just… sped things up.”

He stares at me for a moment that lasts too long. His eyes shift between anger, pain, and something I can’t name.

Mason steps closer to me, pressing his body against mine. I stop breathing when our faces are so close.

“Let me go…”

“You’re not leaving this d*mn place until you tell me what you’re planning with all this…” he whispers near my ear.

“What do you want, Harper?”

Our mouths are almost touching and I wonder if trying to seduce the nephew was a good idea because I think I’m attracted to his brother too.

I push him away and walk off, and he doesn't follow me.

If I hadn't moved, I would have done something stupid.

Kissing Mason now, on impulse, in the middle of this chaos, would just be another escape from the confusion I'm feeling.

At least that's what I try to convince my racing mind.

I push open the emergency stairwell door and go down a flight, trying to breathe.

The words and the moment alone with Mason won't stop replaying in my head. I need to stop this and focus on what I'm doing.

I stop going down the stairs when I hear a familiar voice.

Lexie.

"Noah, you know I just want what's best for you," she says in that sweet tone that makes me nauseous. "She's not like us. I can introduce you to other girls, more... decent. From our world."

My stomach churns.

B*tch.

The way she talks, like she's picking out clothes for him... and I'm the cheap option on the shelf.

“Why can’t anyone understand this? I like Harper and I want her and nothing is going to change that, Lexie.”

I keep going down the stairs before I do something I’ll regret later.

The next few days pass in slow motion.

I try to keep my mind occupied with my grandma’s health and with my new sketches and paintings. She’s a little better than before thanks to the improved medical treatment she's receiving.

I’m sitting, focused on the drawing on the screen in front of me, when I hear my phone vibrate with Noah’s name flashing on the screen. I hesitate before answering.

“Hey, Harper.”

His voice is light and I’m sure he’s smiling.

“Hi, Noah,” I reply, putting on my headphones.

“I called because I wanted to invite you to dinner. Tonight. At my place.”

My eyes widen as I drop the brush.

“At your house? Like… you and your brother?”

“Yes. And before you say no, let me say this: he’s not going to bite you. I think.”

I let out a small laugh without meaning to. It's impossible to stay mad at Noah for long.

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea…”

“Please, Harper. Trust me. I really want you to come. I have a surprise for you, and I’m sure you’ll like it.”

And for some strange reason, I say yes.

Their house is exactly how I imagined it: modern, sophisticated, way too cold.

Noah greets me with a wide smile and a quick kiss, wearing a light shirt and his hair neater than usual.

Mason is on the couch, flipping through an old newspaper like it's the most interesting thing in the world. But as soon as I step in, I feel his eyes on me. Burning. As always.

“Wow…” I whisper, looking around at the house decor.

Noah chuckles at my shocked expression.

“I don’t know why you’re so surprised, Harper. I’m sure your house looks just like this.”

I give him a fake smile and nod.

During dinner, Mason barely speaks. But he watches. Every bite I take, every move I make, every laugh with Noah. It’s suffocating.

Until Noah puts down his silverware and clears his throat.

“Mason, I want you to try to get along with Harper.”

Mason raises an eyebrow, skeptical.

“Why, exactly?”

“Because I want to take a step with her.”

Mason slowly folds the newspaper.

“What kind of step?”

Noah looks at me. His eyes shining like they're about to light up the world.

My heart beats faster in my chest when I feel Noah touch my hand and smile at me.

I already know what’s coming.

“Harper, will you be my girlfriend?”

I’m breathless for a second. But then, I smile.

“Yes, I will.”

Noah pulls me in and kisses me.

I ignore the tension in my shoulders as I feel Mason watching us.

We pull apart when we hear the loud sound of a glass breaking in his hand.

Mason stands up, shards of glass still dripping wine.

“Congratulations, little brother. Hope it lasts this time.”

His tone is ice cold.

Noah pretends not to notice and, smiling, pulls something from his pocket.

“This belonged to my mom. I want you to have it.”

It’s a white gold bracelet with a small star-shaped charm. Beautiful and way too expensive for me.

A piece of someone he lost. And now it’s mine.

I realize my plan is going further than I intended—and I like it.

“Noah, it’s beautiful. I can’t accept this.”

“Accept it, Harper. Keep it safe,” he says. “And tomorrow… I want you to come watch my game.”

“I’d love to,” I whisper, kissing him again as he clasps the bracelet around my wrist.

“Then sleep here tonight. Your grandma’s nurse is with her, right?”

I nod. I already checked. She’s fine.

After dinner, I wear one of Noah’s oversized shirts.

His scent wraps around me like a hug, but I’m restless.

I get up from the bed, barefoot, hearing Noah brushing his teeth in the bathroom, and tell myself I just want a glass of water.

But I get lost in the hallways of the house.

The pale marble, the soft lights—everything looks the same. And then I hear it.

Moans.

I stop. They’re coming from one of the rooms. A muffled, rough sound. A name.

My name.

I shouldn’t. I know I shouldn’t. But my hand closes around the doorknob and the door opens with a soft click.

Mason is in bed.

Sweaty, restless, the sheets twisted around his naked body. He moans my name again, a rough whisper like it hurts. My name on his lips.

Sh*t.

I step back, but bump into a vase by the entrance.

It crashes loudly.

“Sh*t…” I curse softly, but it’s too late.

Mason jolts awake, his eyes fixed on me, wide with anger and something else.

He jumps up.

“Were you spying on me, f*ck?” His voice is deep, angry.

He gets up and my eyes widen as he walks toward me completely naked, as if he doesn’t care.

I stop breathing and try to leave the room quickly, but his hand slams the door and spins me, pinning me against the wall—and him.

“What are you doing here?” he asks in a low voice.

My whole body shivers. I raise my head and then he puts both hands on either side of it.

“You were dreaming about me and moaning my name…” I whisper, without thinking.