Claimed by the Campus Hockey Alpha

Episode 3

Ford

Seeing Tatum sitting by the willow tree with her eyes looking full of pain shot like an arrow through my heart. I wanted to go over to see her straight away and ask her what was up. Then that douchebag Jenson wandered over like he was some kind of king c**k. He knows he isn’t. I am the only Alpha.

The way she seethed with anger when he put his hand on her leg made my blood boil and turn to ice. Clearly something is not right between those two and he is an absolute asshole. They’re supposed to be dating, only whenever he goes to parties and Tatum isn’t with him, he’s always with another girl. Man, I want to punch him in the face and break his goddamn nose.

“You sure you’re okay?” I ask as Jenson leaves and spits a parting comment at her. “You look visibly shaken. What did he do? Do I need to punch his lights out?”

She half smiles, dammit she is beautiful with those pillow lips of her and those violet eyes. I’ve never seen eyes like it before in my life. They can bring a guy to his knees and render him helpless in her power. It makes me wonder what her wolf looks like. Gorgeous I can only imagine.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I know she’s lying. She is sniffling.

“Mind if I sit down?”

“I don’t mind; besides you are towering over me, it’s intimidating.”

“Listen, is there anything I can do? He’s a jerk, you know that, right? You could do better without him.”

She shrugs her shoulders. It’s difficult to keep my eyes off her lips.

“I know. I caught him with my best friend this morning. He was groping her tits.”

Anger fuels my body. “I can kick him off the team, he’s not that great anyway.”

Okay so that is a lie. Jenson, even though he is a prick, is a good player. He’s one of my better defensemen and we need that on our team especially since we’re heading into the college playoffs around the country and I want our team to win this year. Last year we came second and then they stepped me up to captain and since then we’ve been playing better. I got rid of a lot of dead weight but Jenson was one I kept. Hell, if he’s hurt her this badly, I can easily find another defenseman.

“No, that’s not necessary. Say, why are you even talking to me, Ford? You don’t like me; you always take the piss out of me.”

She’s got me there. My guys and I aren’t always the nicest to her. She comes from a working-class family. Her mother was an omega who fell pregnant with another man’s baby and was outcast leaving Tatum with her father. She’s lucky her entire family weren’t kicked out. Ever since then, Tatum’s life has been miserable, people poke fun at her and call her mother a w***e.

“Yeah, about that,” I say, running my callused hand across my square jaw feeling the bristles where I need to shave. “I’m sorry for being such a jerk around you. Do you think we can call it a truce?”

“No f*****g way, Ford. You’re another asshole just like Jenson. I don’t want to have anything to do with hockey players. Ever again!”

Whoa, she has some temper on her, it kind of turns me on. I like a woman with a bit of fighting spirit. But why this one? Why all of a sudden do I feel some kind of ridiculous attraction to her?

I can smell her scent, it’s powerful. Like spring meadow flowers and a hint of musk. It’s driving me crazy even though it shouldn’t. She is low ranking and not fit for an Alpha’s mate. Not that I want a mate and all that hassle right now. I’m young and only want to have fun. I’ll go mate less for as long as I can if it means avoiding all the s**t my parents went through.

“Bro, there you are,” Dexter calls out as he saunters over holding some brown bag in his hand.

“S’up?” I ask him, feeling pissed off he has just interrupted my conversation with Tatum.

“Ah, nothin’ just was looking for you after you shot off like a rabbit from a dog. Oh, what do we have here then?” He looks at Tatum and grins.

“f**k off, Man,” I tell him knowing he’s about to say something nasty to her. It’s true we have been utter jerks to her in the past. It’s not surprising she is wary of us.

“Hey, Ford, Dex, you guys want to come and chat up the freshman girls?” f**k my life. My two other best friends, Callum and Liam have arrived.

“No,” I say through gritted teeth.

“And this is exactly what I mean,” Tatum says, letting out a sigh. “You hockey players don’t give a s**t about anything unless it’s s*x and girls.” She goes to stand but I grab at her wrist holding her in place so she can’t move.

“Let go of my wrist, you brute.” She tries to break free but I won’t let my grip go.

“Man, what the f**k are you doing? She’s the daughter of a w***e. Are you insane?” Callum says making me want to knock his front teeth out, best friend or not. But seriously, sometimes he can be such a jerk.

I don’t know what’s going on. It’s like I have to have her. Hell, I am so whipped!

A bolt of electricity buzzes through my body, she looks straight into my eyes, f**k, she felt it too!

Maybe I have an idea that could save her from being in this arranged marriage situation to an old man, who is old enough to be her own father.