Claimed by the Quarter Back Alpha

CHAPTER 9 : Unexpected

The stadium lights burned bright even as the crowd thinned, turning the football field into a glowing battlefield of celebration and defeat. Ridgewood had just demolished Whitmire final score a brutal shutout and the air still crackled with adrenaline. Nina yanked her pom-poms free, arms burning from the high kicks and flips, sweat making her cheer skirt cling to her thighs. Victory should've felt good. It didn't.

Veronica's piercing squeal cut through the noise like a knife.

"Oh my God! Congratulations!"

Veronica Hills sprinted across the turf in her tiny skirt, ponytail whipping, straight into the Whitmire huddle straight into Jason's arms. She threw herself at him, breasts pressing flush against his chest, legs wrapping around his waist for a second before he set her down. The hug lingered. Too long. Her hands slid down his back like she was claiming territory.

Nina's chest seized. She wasn't supposed to feel this Jason had publicly shredded her, paraded Veronica like a trophy the day after dumping her. But watching those perfect manicured fingers dig into his jersey made heat coil low and ugly in her belly.

Jason lifted his head over Veronica's shoulder.

His eyes found Nina.

Locked.

Panic slammed into her like a linebacker.

Without thinking, she spun and grabbed the nearest body yanking him hard against her chest. Fake laughter spilled from her lips, bright and brittle.

Dave went rigid.

His sweat slicked torso was a wall of heat under her palms. Football jersey damp, clinging to carved abs that flexed under her fingers. His scent crashed over her cedar smoke, raw wolf musk, alpha dominance that made her knees weaken. Her hands splayed across his stomach before she could stop them, feeling every hard ridge, the rapid thud of his heart betraying the cool mask on his face.

Jason's gaze darkened. Then flicked back to Veronica.

The second he looked away, Nina shoved off Dave like he'd scorched her.

Dave's gray eyes dropped to hers stormy, amused, dangerous. His lips curled into that slow, mocking smirk that always made her core tighten.

"Desperate much, cheerleader?" he drawled, wiping sweat from his neck with a towel. The motion made his biceps bulge, veins standing out. "Grabbing me like that? Felt like you were about to ride me right on the fifty yard line."

Heat flooded Nina's face and lower. "Shut up."

He leaned in just enough for his breath to ghost her ear. "Your little show wasn't convincing. But damn if your hands didn't feel good on me."

She glared, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Like I care what a wolf thinks."

Dave's low, sarcastic clap followed her as she stormed toward the stadium tunnel. "Oscar worthy, baby."

The bathroom lights buzzed overhead. Nina gripped the sink, splashing cold water on her face, trying to drown the burn in her chest.

"Traitor," she whispered to her reflection. "Liar."

Jason's promises echoed-his mouth on her neck, his hands under her skirt, vows he'd broken in front of the whole school. Tears threatened. She shoved them down.

The door creaked.

Cole stepped in quietly, arms loose, eyes gentle. "You okay?"

She laughed bitter, broken. "Do I look okay?"

He leaned against the wall. "He's an idiot."

"He replaced me," she whispered. "With her."

Cole's gaze softened. He opened his arms-just enough.

Nina stepped into him. Pressed her cheek to his chest. His arms closed around her-warm, safe, human. His hand rubbed slow circles on her back. Comfort. Nothing more.

Until the door slammed open.

"Well," Dave's voice sliced through the air-dry, lethal. "That was fast."

Nina and Cole jerked apart.

Dave filled the doorway-arms crossed over his broad chest, gray eyes burning with something dark and possessive. His gaze raked her flushed face, then Cole's hands still hovering near her waist. The air turned thick, electric. His jaw ticked hard.

"Didn't waste any time moving on, did you?" The words were casual. The growl underneath wasn't. "Jason must be crying into his new girl's t**s right now."

Nina snatched her bag, brushing past him. Their shoulders collided hard muscle against her softer curves. His scent flooded her again, making her thighs clench despite the anger.

"Grow up," she hissed.

Dave's dark chuckle chased her down the hall. But his eyes stayed locked on her retreating ass, wolf hunger flickering behind the hate.

The apartment pulsed with victory that night bass thumping, lights dimmed low, pizza boxes and beer cans littering every surface. Rugby players no, football players-laughed and replayed plays. Dave leaned against the kitchen counter, beer bottle dangling from his fingers, pretending the party held his attention.

Cole walked past with two sodas and chips.

Ryder whistled. "Where you headed with that feast?"

Cole shrugged. "Nina's room."

Atlas grinned. "Ohhh. Moving fast, huh?"

Dave's grip crushed the bottle neck. He said nothing. But inside, his wolf snarled fangs bared, claws scraping ribs.

He hated it.

Hated that Cole touching her made his blood boil.

Hated that she was human the exact fragile, lying thing that had once torn his heart out and left him bleeding.

Yet his feet carried him closer to the hallway anyway.

In Nina's room it was quieter. Headphones in, she sat cross legged on the bed, scrolling her phone. Soft knock.

"Come in."

Cole stepped inside, holding up the snacks with a small grin. "Peace offering. For surviving the shitshow today."

Nina's lips curved. "Thanks."

He dropped to the floor beside her bed. They talked easy, light. Then her playlist hit "As It Was." Nina's eyes lit.

"That song again?" Cole teased.

"It helps."

She pulled one earbud out, offering it. Cole took it their fingers brushing, lingering a second too long.

Then she stood.

"Come on. Dance."

Cole raised a brow. "In here? Tiny room, short skirt dangerous combo."

"Yes."

He rose. Nina cranked the volume. She started moving hips rolling slow to the beat, arms lifting, cheer skirt riding high enough to flash smooth thigh. Sweat from the game still glistened on her collarbone. Cole matched her clumsy at first, then closer. His hands settled on her waist, thumbs brushing bare skin under her cropped top. She laughed bright, free. Bodies brushed. Heat built. For a few minutes she forgot Jason, forgot the field, forgot everything except the rhythm and Cole's easy smile.

Down the hall, Dave heard every note. Every breathy laugh. Every soft gasp as their bodies swayed too close.

He stood frozen in the shadows, jaw locked, fists clenched so hard his knuckles whitened. His wolf flooded him with images he despised:

Nina grinding against him instead-skirt hiked, thighs wrapped around his waist.

His hands replacing Cole's gripping her ass, yanking her flush so she felt every thick inch of how hard she made him.

Her laughter turning into a needy moan against his throat as he pinned her to the wall.

He hated himself for it.

She's human. Weak. A liar who'll break you again.

Yet the jealousy burned hotter than hate. His c**k twitched painfully against his jeans just imagining storming in, tossing Cole out, and claiming what his wolf screamed was his.

Dave ran a hand through his hair, muttering, "f**k. Not again."

He forced himself back to the party chaos.

But his mind stayed locked on that room.

On her hips swaying.

On the fire he couldn't keep denying.

And the walls he'd built?

They were cracking faster than he could rebuild them.