Tamed and Claimed by the Hockey Alpha

Chapter 3: Becoming Luna

Chapter 3:

Kestrel's Pov

I'm barely through the door of my dorm when Sera practically tackles me, bouncing on her bed like she's had ten energy drinks.

"Oh my God, Kess! Did you see him? Did you see the new guy?" She's giggling and jumping around like a maniac. "He's so f*****g hot I can't even breathe properly!"

I drop my backpack and grab my laptop, trying to ignore her squealing. "Yeah, I saw him. He's an asshole."

"An asshole? Are you blind? Those eyes, Kess! They looked almost unreal, like they were glowing or something."

I pull up the student database and type in his name. Zephyrius….What kind of pretentious name is that anyway?

Nothing comes up.

I frown and try different spellings, different search parameters. Still nothing. It's like he doesn't exist in the system, which is impossible. Every student has a digital footprint here.

"I want him," Sera sighs dramatically, flopping back on her bed. "But so does every other girl in school apparently."

She's right, I can hear them through our thin dorm walls, girls giggling and gushing about the mysterious new student with the gorgeous eyes and dangerous aura. Their voices carry through the hallway like a chorus of lovesick idiots.

"His eyes were definitely not normal," one of them says. "Like, werewolf eyes but... more."

"Did you see those scars on his neck? So mysterious and sexy."

"I heard he's from some super powerful pack up north."

I roll my eyes and close my laptop. Most of the students here are wolves anyway, but we're all supposed to keep our abilities concealed. That's the deal we made with the human government… we can attend their schools and live in their cities as long as we don't flaunt what we are.

My phone rings, cutting through Sera's continued gushing about Mr. Mysterious. The caller ID makes my stomach drop.

Dad.

He never calls. Ever! In the two years I've been here, I can count on one hand the number of times we've spoken.

"Hello?" I answer cautiously.

"Kestrel." His voice is as cold and distant as always. "How are you?"

The question catches me off guard. Since when does he care about my welfare?

"I'm... fine. Why are you calling?"

"You need to come home. Immediately."

My blood turns to ice. "What? Why?"

"Don't ask stupid questions," he snaps. "Stop wasting your life at that school and come home. You have responsibilities over here."

"What responsibilities? Dad, I'm on a full scholarship here. I'm getting an education—"

"You're becoming Luna."

The words hit me like a physical blow. Sera looks up from her bed, panic written all over her face as she sees my expression.

"What?" I whisper.

"Alpha Malik of the Golden Coast Pack has expressed interest in you as his Luna. This is an opportunity for you to become something tangible, especially since your wolf is useless."

I can't breathe. I literally cannot get air into my lungs.

"My wolf is not useless!" I scream into the phone, causing Sera to jump. "She's locked up, but she's there! She'll come out when she's ready!"

Dad's laugh is cruel and bitter. "Kestrel, you turned twenty six months ago. If your wolf hasn't emerged by now, she never will. You're defective so stop denying that."

The word hits me like a slap tha tears burned the corner of my eyes. Defective!

"Come home willingly, or I'll come pick you up myself," he continues. "You have twenty-four hours to decide."

The line goes dead and I stare at my phone, my hands were shaking so badly I nearly drop it. Sera is saying something, asking what's wrong, but I can't hear her over the roaring in my ears.

I need air. I need to get out of here.

I run out of the dorm, through the hallways, past confused students who stare as I sprint by with tears streaming down my face. I don't stop until I reach the school garden, a quiet corner behind the library where no one ever goes.

Alpha Malik. I know exactly who he is, a sixty-year-old alpha who already has a fated mate and two chosen mates. He's rich and powerful, but he's also known for collecting young women like trophies.

And my father wants to sell me to him like cattle.

I collapse onto a stone bench and sob. Great, heaving sobs that come from somewhere deep in my chest. This can't be happening. I have a life here, a future. I have Diego who is yet to notice me.

My heart clenches at the thought of him. How can I fight for love when I'm being forced into an arranged mating? How can I compete with Victoria when I can't even shift into my wolf form?

"Why are you crying?"

I look up through my tears to see Diego standing a few feet away, his expression was unreadable. God, even when I'm having a complete breakdown, he still looks like a golden god.

"It's nothing," I lie, wiping my face with my sleeves. "I'm fine."

"You shouldn't cry in public," he says, sitting down beside me. "It makes you look weak. Other girls will trample on you if they see vulnerability."

His words sting, but I know he's trying to help in his own way.

"I brought you something," he continues, pulling a stack of books and papers from his backpack. "My project deadlines are coming up, and being captain makes it hard to focus on academics."

He sets the pile between us, and my heart sinks as I see how much work it is. Research papers, lab reports, a full presentation on advanced calculus.

"I need all of this done as soon as possible," he says. "Tomorrow morning at the latest."

I stare at the mountain of assignments. I have my own work to do too….three major projects due this week that I haven't even started. But Diego is asking for my help, and I can't say no to him.

"Of course," I say, forcing a smile. "I'll get it done."

"Great….You're a lifesaver, Kess." He stands up, already dismissing me. "I'll see you tomorrow."

He's about to walk away when a familiar figure steps into his path and blocked his way.

The new student, Zeph stands there like a wall of controlled fury, his dark eyes fixed on Diego with an intensity that makes my skin crawl.

"Excuse me," Diego says, raising an eyebrow. "You're blocking my way."

"Pick up that s**t you just dumped on her," Zephyrius says, his voice deadly quiet. "Right now."

I blink in confusion. "What? No, it's fine. I said I'd help—"

Before I can finish the sentence, Zephyrius snatches the pile of assignments from my hands and hurls them into the air. Papers scatter everywhere, caught by the wind and floating across the garden like oversized confetti.

"What the hell?" Diego shouts, but Zephyrius ignores him completely.

Instead, he grabs my arm with a grip that's firm but not painful and pulls me to my feet.

"We're leaving," he says.

"Wait, I—" I try to protest, but he's already walking, practically dragging me away from Diego's shocked face.