Tamed and Claimed by the Hockey Alpha

Chapter 1: The new Guy in Class

Chapter 1

Kestrel's Pov

I'm so distracted that I barely notice when our professor introduces a new student until the entire class gasps in unison. I turn around and immediately understand why.

The new guy is gorgeous in a way that seems almost unfair. Dark hair, sharp jawline, and an aura of danger that makes my skin prickle. There's something different about him, something that screams power and authority even though he's just standing there.

But he's not my type. Diego is my type….Our Hockey Captain. This guy looks like trouble, a furnace that would burn any soul.

Apparently, the only empty seat in the class is right next to me, because no one ever sits with the weird tech girl.

I adjust my thick-rimmed glasses for the third time as I stared at nothing but Diego, I tuck a stubborn strand of red hair behind my ear, and applied another layer of lip gloss. Not because I think it makes me look prettier, I'm not delusional but because it gives me something to do with my hands when I'm nervous.

He slides into the chair and immediately starts staring at me.

And I mean staring….Like I'm some kind of fascinating puzzle he's trying to solve.

"What?" I finally snap, glaring at him over my glasses.

"Just wondering what kind of slut thinks she can sit next to me," he says coldly.

"Find another seat."

Heavenly Goddess!! Who's this? The audacity of this asshole this noon!

"Excuse me, you pretentious arrogant bastard, but I was here first," I hissed back. "And I'm not a slut, so maybe keep your assumptions to your perverted self and f*****g focus."

His eyes narrow, and for a second I swear they flash red. "I don't have time for games."

"Neither do I…you don't even look half my type." I say because I know I'm right, he was a hot f**k boy that will never look at a nerd like me twice, I let my gaze drift to the scar on the side of his neck and there was a nasty, raised mark that looks like it came from a fire.

"Looks like your greed got you that scar. Keep talking to me like that and you'll get another one."

The moment the words leave my mouth, his eyes blaze fully red and my heart jumps into my throat.

Oh s**t. Oh s**t, oh f*****g s**t!!

He's not human. And I just royally pissed him off. Without another word, I stood up and walked out of the classroom after excusing myself, History wasn't even my subject anyway, I was here for Diego before some royal f****d up dude scratch me with his claws, but not before I catch something that makes my chest tighten unexpectedly.

He looks like he's about to cry and I hate that I care, I didn't even say anything!

***

I'm staring at myself in the mirror like I'm trying to solve a complex equation.

Which is always the same routine.

"God, Kess, you look fine," I mutter to my reflection. "Stop obsessing."

But I can't help it. Today is game day, which means I'll be sitting in those bleachers staring at him like the pathetic stalker I've become. The hockey captain. The golden god who doesn't even know I exist.

I tried out for the cheerleading team last month, thinking maybe if I was part of his world, he'd notice me. The tryouts were a disaster.

"Sorry, sweetie," the head cheerleader had said with that fake smile they all wore. "You're just not social enough. And the dancing... well, you can't really dance, can you?"

“But I'm Twenty, I fit the age description and–”

“Chop chop away darling, Twenty or thirty…you still look like a Mama bear in that glasses. You're not sexy and we need sexy girls to cheer the players.”

She wasn't wrong. I have the coordination of a newborn giraffe and the social skills of a rock. But God, how I wanted to be out there on that field, cheering for him, being part of something bigger than my laptop screen and energy drinks.

"She's too much of a nerd," I heard one of them whisper as I gathered my things. "Probably still has her V-card. I bet her p***y's drier than the Sahara."

"Nothing about her is interesting," another one added. "She's like... aggressively boring."

It stung because it was true, I am boring. I do still have my V-card, and yes, I'm probably dry as hell down there because no guy has ever looked at me twice.

But you know what? I don't give a s**t about their opinions because I'm a tech badass and I earned my place here.

Sally Royal Academy offered me a full scholarship after seeing my test scores from my previous school. I hacked into their security system just to prove I could, then sent them a detailed report on their vulnerabilities along with my application. Three days later, I had an acceptance letter and a personal invitation from the dean.

I love this school. I just hate most of the people in it.

"Kess! Stop staring at yourself and let's go!"

I turn to see my best friend bouncing into my dorm room wearing her cheerleading uniform. Seraphina Rodriguez, Sera for short - is everything I'm not. Bright, social, gorgeous, and currently the only person in this entire school who gives a damn about me.

She's also the hockey captain's little sister, which is both a blessing and a curse.

"Sera, quit tugging my hair!" I yelp as she yanks on a strand that's sticking up weird.

She giggles, completely unbothered by my glare. "Sorry, but you look like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket. We can't have you looking crazy when you're staring at my brother like a lovesick puppy."

"I do not stare at him like a lovesick puppy," I protest, even though we both know I absolutely do.

"Right. And I don't spend two hours every morning perfecting my makeup routine." She rolls her eyes. "Kess, he's not even going to notice you. He's too busy with hockey and his stupid teammates."

"That's why I need to look beautiful at all times," I say, applying more lip gloss. "Maybe if I try hard enough—"

"You learned how to do makeup for my brother?" Sera bursts out laughing. "Oh my God, you're so pathetic it's actually adorable."

I throw a pillow at her head. "Shut up."

"Look, I love you, but Diego is a total fuckboy. He's going to stomp on your heart and not even realize he's doing it." Her expression softens with concern. "I just don't want to see you get hurt."

But I don't care about the warnings. I've been in love with Diego Rodriguez since the moment I saw him on the ice during my first week here. He's the youngest captain in the school's history, and he's led the team to more championship wins than anyone thought possible.

And he's nice to me. Actually nice, not fake nice like everyone else.

"Come on," Sera says, now fully dressed in her blue and gold uniform. "Let's go watch my i***t brother play and commands hockey."

The ice rink is packed when we arrive, the stands filled with screaming fans wearing team colors. I find my usual spot in the back corner where I can watch without drawing attention to myself.

And then he skates onto the ice to address the team, and my heart forgets how to beat properly.

Diego Rodriguez is a god among mortals. Golden-brown eyes that seem to glow under the arena lights, an athlete's body that moves with deadly grace, and confidence that radiates from every pore.

"Alright, team!" he shouts, his voice carrying across the ice. "Watch yourselves out there! These guys play dirty, so keep your heads up and your sticks ready!"

I watch him like he's the only person in the entire arena. The way he moves, the way he commands respect from players twice his size, the way he seems to anticipate every play before it happens.

He's perfect. Absolutely, devastatingly perfect but suddenly, attention was divided. The new asshole in class was present, watching the game with a blank stare, all eyes were on him and it was disturbing at how someone could wield authority without doing anything, he just arrived.

The game is intense, our team trading goals with the visiting team until the final period. I'm cheering so loud my throat hurts until I see her.

Victoria Blackthorne , the Alpha's daughter and Diego's girlfriend which was rumored to be his ex - lover glides down from the VIP section like she owns the place. Which, technically, she does. Her father practically runs this city, wielding more power than most people can even comprehend. He's the reason werewolves are accepted in human society, the reason schools like this exist here in New York.

Victoria is everything I'll never be, tall, blonde, confident, and beautiful in that effortless way that makes other girls hate themselves.

She reaches Diego just as he's taking off his helmet, and she kisses him like she's marking her territory.

He kisses her back.

My heart twists in my chest, that familiar ache settling in my ribs like a broken bone that never healed properly. Of course he kisses her back. She's perfect for him - powerful, beautiful, everything an alpha male could want.

I need to leave. Now.

I'm pushing through the crowd, trying to escape before I do something embarrassing like cry in public, when someone slams into me hard enough to send me crashing to the floor.

"Watch it, loser!"

I look up to see Victoria standing over me, her perfectly manicured hands on her hips and fury in her ice-blue eyes.

"I—" I start to apologize, but she cuts me off.

"You what? You're sorry for being a clumsy b***h who can't watch where she's going?"

The girls surrounding her, her little pack of wannabe alphas….immediately start jeering at me.

"Apologize to Victoria, nerdy b***h!"

"Say you're sorry!"

"What's wrong with you?"

I open my mouth to give them the apology they want, to just make this stop, when a familiar voice cuts through the noise.

"That's enough... Leave her alone."

Diego appears beside me, his game jersey still damp with sweat and his expression harder than I've ever seen it.

"But baby, she—" Victoria starts.

"I saw what happened," he says firmly. "It wasn't her fault. You walked into her."

He reaches down and helps me to my feet, his hand warm and strong around mine. "You okay?"

I nod, not trusting my voice. My weak wolf stirs in my chest, responding to his presence, and I have to fight to keep her contained.

Diego tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, and I swear my heart stops beating entirely.

"Meet me in the lobby after your last class tomorrow," he says quietly. "I want to talk to you about something."

I nod like an i***t, watching him walk away and trying to process what just happened. He wants to talk to me. Actually talk to me!