Alpha Nobody and Her Hockey Captain

First semester

Selena's POV

"Life isn't so bad."

Melinda's cheerful voice drifted through our tiny dorm early that morning.

"We get free food, free healthcare, free education, and a roof over our heads. That's practically luxury."

I buried my face deeper into my pillow. "Not again, Mel," I groaned. "The least you can do is let me sleep. I covered your entire shift at the stadium yesterday."

"Nope." She sounded far too energetic for someone who had worked all night.

"If I stop talking, you'll start thinking," she deadpanned.

I blinked. "..."

"And if you start thinking, you'll become depressed.”

I sighed. Unfortunately, she wasn't wrong. With another groan, I dragged myself out of bed.

Our room was barely large enough for four people. We had two bunk beds, one tiny window, and four metal lockers squeezed against the wall.

We lived next to the janitor's closet, in the section of New Colorado College reserved for scholarship students nobody wanted to see.

Melinda sat cross-legged on the floor, humming happily while brushing her hair. The moment she noticed I was awake, she beamed.

"There she is! My beautiful future billionaire's best friend."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't remember applying for that position."

"You didn't." She grinned. "I did."

I couldn't help smiling. Melinda had an unbelievable talent. No matter how terrible life became, she somehow found something to laugh about.

Without her, this place would've swallowed me whole.

I grabbed my towel before heading toward the communal bathroom. Cold water splashed across my face. The reflection staring back at me looked exhausted.

My eyes had dark circles, my skin was pale, and my body looked like it hadn't truly rested for weeks.

I'd only been here for one month. Yet it felt like an entire lifetime.

“Ashford…” my mind went back to him. Yesterday was the first time he'd spoken to me.

He knew my name now. It wasn't much, but it was a beginning. And beginnings mattered, because my time was running out.

I closed my eyes. "You have to make him fall in love with you, Selena. You must."

Those words haunted me every morning. Not because I didn’t want Ashford to notice me. God, I’d dreamed of that for five years. What terrified me was what would happen after he did.

When I returned to the room, Melinda had already laid clothes across my bed.

"No." I shook my head.

She immediately frowned. "What do you mean, no?"

"I'm not wearing that,” I replied.

Melinda folded her arms. "You haven't even looked properly. How do you know that you wouldn't like it?”

I picked up the dress and dropped it back. "It is too short, and I won't be able to breathe.”

Melinda dramatically placed a hand over her heart. "Exactly! That's fashion. You will look beautiful in a short gown.”

I shook my head. "It's torture, and I don’t need such expensive clothes.”

Melinda pouted. “Come on, Selena, this is my most beloved gown.”

Before I could protest, she shoved the outfit into my arms and smiled.

"Go change."

Five minutes later...

I regretted everything. The dress hugged my waist so tightly I could barely inhale.

I stared at myself in the mirror. "This doesn't even look like me."

Melinda walked over and adjusted one strand of my hair.

"It doesn't have to." She smiled proudly. "It just has to make people notice you."

Those words lingered in my mind. I'd avoided getting noticed my entire life. Yet now, it was exactly what I needed. Because somewhere on this campus, Ashford Enzo Callaghan was beginning another day. And if I wanted to save my family, I couldn't remain invisible forever.

___

The morning air buzzed with excitement. Today wasn't just another school day. It was the official start of the semester.

Luxury cars lined the entrance of New Colorado College, one after another. Students stepped out dressed in expensive clothes that probably cost more than everything my siblings and I owned combined.

Some laughed as servants carried their luggage. Others complained because the weather was "too hot."

I lowered my gaze. Our scholarship badge suddenly felt even cheaper.

"Don't look down." Melinda nudged my shoulder. "If you keep acting poor, they'll know you're poor."

I gave her a deadpan look. "We are poor."

She clicked her tongue. "That's not the point."

Before I could respond, she hooked her arm around mine and practically dragged me toward the cafeteria.

The building was already overflowing with students. The rich occupied the center of the hall where crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The scholarship students sat near the back, close to the serving stations and the exit.

No one had written the rules anywhere. Everyone simply knew where they belonged.

As we collected our breakfast trays, a familiar voice called from behind us.

"Morning, Selena."

I turned around. Caleb smiled shyly, balancing two trays in his hands. He wasn't particularly handsome, nor was he playful like Melinda. But he was kind, and around here kindness was rarer than wealth.

"Morning," I replied with a small smile.

His ears turned pink.

Melinda groaned. "There he goes again. Blushing like clockwork."

"I do not," Caleb muttered, but the pink deepened.

I laughed softly. For a moment, everything felt almost normal. There were no threats, no deals, and no impossible missions. Just three scholarship students teasing each other over breakfast.

"The nameless three are present," Melinda announced proudly as we sat together.

That ridiculous nickname had started during orientation. Most wealthy students couldn't remember our names. To them, a group of friends was simply scholarship kids or the nameless three.

Eventually, we'd started calling ourselves that too. Sometimes laughing at your pain made it hurt a little less.

Caleb stirred his oatmeal absentmindedly. "I didn't see you after the hockey game yesterday."

I hummed. "I was helping clean the locker room."

His eyes widened. "The players' locker room?"

I nodded. “Obviously.”

Melinda nearly dropped her spoon. "You actually went inside?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"And?"

"And what?"

"Don't play innocent." She leaned so close that our foreheads almost touched. "Did you see Ashford Enzo Callaghan?"

His name made my heartbeat stumble. I carefully took a sip of water before answering.

"...Yes."

Melinda gasped. "You talked to him?"

"A little,” I whispered with a ghostly smile.

Melinda looked at me in disbelief. "What did he say?"

I hesitated. "He asked for my name."

For a moment, no one spoke. Then, Melinda grabbed both my shoulders so suddenly I almost spilled my drink.

"HE ASKED FOR YOUR NAME?"

Several students turned to stare. She immediately lowered her voice.

“Selena, that’s huge. Ashford Enzo Callaghan doesn’t talk to people like us.”

I smiled awkwardly. If only she knew he was also my mate.

Before the conversation could continue, Caleb quietly asked, "How's Jenny?"

The smile disappeared from my face. "She's still in the hospital."

He lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay,” I replied. But no, it wasn't.

I tightened my grip around my spoon. I had to get closer to Ashford very soon. Otherwise, everything I'd sacrificed would have been for nothing.

A loud crash echoed across the cafeteria. Conversations immediately grew quieter.

Melinda sighed. "...He's here again."

I didn't have to ask who she meant. The crowd near the entrance slowly parted. Gabriel walked through the cafeteria as if he owned it.

Several wealthy students greeted him. Others stepped aside to avoid getting in his way. He wore the same arrogant smile I'd seen yesterday in the locker room. His eyes wandered across the room. Until they landed on me.

My stomach tightened, and Gabriel smiled like a predator that had just spotted its prey. He changed direction and began walking straight toward our table.

Gabriel stopped beside our table. His expensive cologne reached me before his voice did.

"Well, well..." he drawled. "If it isn't the three little nobodies."

We didn't answer. Melinda lowered her eyes, Caleb tightened his grip around his spoon, and I continued eating.

Ignoring Gabriel had become our unspoken survival strategy. Unfortunately, he hated being ignored.

"What?" he scoffed. "Have you all suddenly gone mute?"

Still, none of us spoke.

His smile slowly disappeared. "So that's how we're playing today."

Without warning, he snatched a cup of hot coffee from another student's tray.

Before I could react— Splash!

The warm liquid soaked the front of my dress, and the cafeteria fell silent. Coffee dripped from my sleeves onto the floor. And gasps echoed around the room.

"My dress!" Melinda cried, jumping to her feet. "You jerk!"

I immediately grabbed her wrist. "Sit down."

She stared at me in disbelief. "But—"

"Please." My voice was barely above a whisper. "If you fight him you'll lose your scholarship."

Her shoulders trembled with anger. Slowly, she sat back down.

Gabriel chuckled. "Look at that. They even know their place."

A few wealthy students laughed with him. Others simply watched. No one stopped him, and no one tried to call a teacher.

Gabriel leaned closer until only I could hear him.

"I warned you yesterday, Nobody. Stay out of my sight."

His eyes travelled over my stained clothes before he smirked. "You look more like a cleaner now."

Laughter erupted behind him. Then, just as suddenly as he'd arrived, he walked away.

The noise inside the cafeteria gradually returned. As though nothing had happened.

Melinda slammed her hands on the table. "I hate him." Caleb only nodded, gripping his spoon like a weapon.

I looked down at my dress. Brown stains covered the pale fabric.

Melinda sighed. "Come on. Let's get you cleaned up."

I shook my head. "You two should eat. I’ll go to the bathroom alone."

Neither of them looked convinced. Still, they let me go.

The corridors outside were much quieter. I walked aimlessly, trying to remember where the nearest restroom was.

My thoughts were louder than my footsteps. The woman's warning echoed through my head again.

"Make him fall in love with you."

How?

I'd spent five years loving Ashford from a distance. I'd imagined thousands of conversations. Yet now that I finally had a reason to approach him. I couldn't think of a single thing to say.

I sighed. "This is hopeless."

Lost in thought, I pushed open the nearest door. The scent hit me first: aftershave, cologne, soap. Then, laughter. It was certainly male voices.

My entire body froze. Oh no!

Slowly, I lifted my head. Three hockey players stood near the sinks. Their conversation stopped the instant they noticed me.

One of them quickly burst into laughter. "Wrong restroom, babe."

Heat rushed to my face. "I—I'm so sorry." I immediately turned toward the door.

"Selena."

My hand froze on the doorknob. I knew that voice, and I slowly looked back.

Ashford Enzo Callaghan stood a few steps away. His damp hair suggested he'd just washed his face after morning practice.

He wasn't smiling, and he wasn't laughing either. His blue eyes moved from my face to the coffee stains covering my dress.

His brows knitted together. "What happened?"

I instinctively looked away. "It's nothing."

He didn't seem convinced. After a brief silence, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a neatly folded handkerchief.

He walked toward me. Every step made my heartbeat louder.

When he stopped in front of me, he held it out. "The coffee will stain if you leave it."

The moment our fingers brushed, warmth spread through my body. My wolf wagged her tail excitedly. She wanted to rub against him. He, however, looked completely unaffected..

"I..." My fingers trembled as I accepted it. "Thank you."

His expression softened ever so slightly. "You don't have to thank me."

Another awkward silence settled between us. Neither of us seemed to know what to say next.

Then Ashford glanced toward the corridor behind me. "Your class starts in ten minutes."

I blinked. How did he know my schedule?

Before I could ask, he stepped aside and opened the restroom door for me.

"This way." His voice remained calm. "And..." His gaze lingered on me for a brief second. "...next time, check the sign before walking in."

For the first time that morning, I laughed genuinely. “I will. Thanks again.”

Ashford's lips curved into the faintest smile before he walked past me.

I stood there, clutching the handkerchief to my chest. For the first time in five years, I hadn't watched Ashford from afar. I stood beside him. And somehow, that impossible mission no longer felt completely impossible.