Tamed and Claimed by the Hockey Alpha

5. Meet my Fiancée

Chapter 5:

Kestrel's Pov

I haven't been myself since his touch, Since that moment on the field when something deep inside me stirred awake for the first time in my life. I'm still lying there on the cold grass, staring at the spot where Zephyrius disappeared, when I hear footsteps approaching.

"Kess? What the hell are you doing on the ground?"

I look up to see Diego jogging toward me, his practice gear slung over his shoulder. His face is creased with concern as he reaches down to help me up.

"I..." My voice comes out as a croak. I clear my throat and try again. "He destroyed the whole project."

"What?" Diego's eyes blaze with fury, and I gasp at the sight. I know werewolves aren't supposed to show their powers, but the way his red eyes flash with supernatural light is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. "Who destroyed it?"

I point in the direction Zephyrius went, my hand trembling. "The new student. He... he tore everything apart."

Diego's jaw clenches, and for a moment I think he might shift right here in broad daylight. "That bastard. Don't worry about it, Kess. Just go back to your dorm and rest. I'll handle this."

I nod and stumble away, my legs still shaky from whatever the hell just happened to me. The memory of Zeph's touch burns through my mind, the way his fingers felt against my thigh, sent shockwaves through my entire body.

Mine, he had said. All mine.

I shiver and wrap my arms around myself, trying to push the memory away.

Back in my dorm, Sera takes one look at me and immediately starts fussing.

"Oh my God, what happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost!"

I collapse onto my bed and tell her everything….well, almost everything. I can't bring myself to mention the way he touched me, the way his fingers caressed me like he owned every inch of my body. That secret burns inside me like a guilty flame.

"He destroyed Diego's assignments?" Sera's eyes widen with shock. "Holy s**t, Kess. That's insane. How did Diego react?"

"His eyes were scary..." I trail off, remembering the supernatural fire in Diego's gaze.

Sera hisses through her teeth. "This new guy is seriously bad news. You need to stay away from him Kess though he's a fine piece of s**t, you won't be able to handle him."

But even as she says it, I can't stop thinking about the way Zephyrius looked at me. Like he could see straight into my soul. Like he knew secrets about me that I didn't even know myself.

School continues as normal, though I spend the entire morning looking over my shoulder. When we get to our 11 AM class, I'm relieved to see that Zephyrius isn't sitting near me. In fact, he's not in class at all.

Good Goddess, thank you.

By noon, the entire campus is buzzing with excitement. Today is the big hockey game against Amlek Gould University, one of our biggest rivals and the most brutal team in the league. This isn't just about hockey; it's about dominance and power on the ice.

"Come on, Kess!" Sera bounces around our dorm room, applying makeup and adjusting her cheerleading uniform. "You should really try to join the team. It's so much fun, and you get to see all the hot players from the rival schools."

I wave her off. "You know they don't want me. I'm not cheerleader material."

"Whatever. Just come support me, okay? This is going to be an epic game."

The arena is packed when we arrive. I find a seat in the bleachers while Sera joins the other cheerleaders on the sidelines. Victoria Blackthorne shoots me dirty looks from across the rink, but I ignore her. She can glare all she wants but I'm not going anywhere.

The teams take the ice, and immediately I can feel the tension. The Amlek Gould players are massive, their movements are predatory as they warm up. But our team looks ready for war until I see him.

Zephyrius glides onto the ice like he was born there, his movements fluid and deadly. Even from the stands, I can feel the power radiating from him. He's not just playing hockey, he's hunting.

The game starts, and within minutes I realize something is very wrong. Diego isn't focusing on the rival team at all. He's targeting Zeph, checking him into the boards and trying to provoke fights.

However I noticed that if Diego is a maniac on the ice, Zephyrius is a monster.

He owns that rink. Every time Diego comes at him, Zephyrius simply sidesteps and continues his assault on the opposing team. He slams players into the boards like they're made of paper, his stick work so precise it's almost artistic.

Then he scores.

The crowd erupts as the puck flies past the goalie with impossible speed. I find myself on my feet, cheering along with everyone else. I've never seen anything like it.

The game continues, brutal and beautiful, with Zephyrius dominating every play while completely ignoring Diego's attempts to engage him. It's like watching a predator toy with lesser creatures.

When the final buzzer sounds, we've won 4-1, with Zephyrius scoring three of the four goals.

I'm heading back to my dorm, still buzzing from the excitement, when I see it.

A black sedan parked in front of the principal's office which is literally at the center of the school. My blood turns to ice as I recognize the license plate, the tinted windows, the way the driver sits perfectly still.

That's my father's car.

No, no, no f*****g way.

The passenger door opens and my father steps out, his cold eyes scanning the campus until they land on me. Behind him, his bodyguard Miguel emerges from the driver's side, six feet of pure muscle and barely contained violence.

"KESTREL!" my father's voice booms across the courtyard of the school and I'm running before I even realize I've moved. My feet pound against the pavement as I flee toward the academic building, my heart hammering against my ribs.

"Get her," I hear my father command.

Miguel is fast, faster than any human should be. I can hear his footsteps gaining on me as I weave between groups of students. Some of them yell at me as I slam into them, calling me a b***h, but I don't care. I just need to get away.

But where can I go? The bathroom? My dorm? Nowhere is safe if my father is determined to drag me home to marry that monster Alpha Malik.

I see Diego in the distance, but he's too far away. Then I spot Zephyrius heading toward the boys' locker room, still in his hockey gear.

I don't think at all, I just act.

I sprint toward him and grab his shoulders, pulling him down to my level. Before he can react, before I can lose my nerve, I press my lips to his and crashed my lips on him.

The kiss is electric. It was like Fire and ice with something wild that makes my body stir restlessly. This is my first kiss! My first real kiss and it's with the most dangerous asshole man I've ever met.

Zeph goes completely still, shocked into silence but I don't stop. I can't stop now, Marcus is right behind me, my father is approaching, and this is my only chance.

I pour everything into that kiss, my desperation, my fear, my strange attraction to this mysterious man who seems to know me better than I know myself.

When I finally break away, I'm breathing hard. Zephyrius stares at me with those dark eyes that seem to see straight through me.

"Sorry, baby," I say loudly, making sure my father can hear. "I just wanted you to meet my father."

I turn to face the man who's been trying to control my life since the day I was born. "Dad, this is my fiancé. You don't need to worry about me marrying some old man with three wives. Once I finish college, we're getting married. So don't even think about taking me away from this place."

My father's face turns purple with rage. "That is absolute bullshit!" He reaches for me, but something stops him.

Zeph steps forward, and the look in his eyes makes my father actually back down. I've never seen anyone intimidate my father before, but Zeph does it with just a glance.

"You started this game," Zephyrius murmurs in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "You better finish it."

Then he kisses me back.

This kiss is nothing like my desperate attempt. This is hot, demanding, possessive, I could hear a growl as his lips move against mine with practiced skill, and I melt into him completely. When his tongue traces my lower lip, I gasp and open for him.

"It's okay, baby," I manage to say when we break apart and wipe his lips as if we were the perfect couple to exist. "We're getting married."

Zephyrius turns to my father, and when he speaks, his voice carries an authority that makes everyone in the vicinity stop and listen.

"Why would you come to a school full of students to embarrass my mate?"

The word hits me like a physical blow. Mate? He said mate.

My father sputters, but before he can respond, Zephyrius continues.

"Kestrel is under my protection now. If you have a problem with that, you can take it up with my Pack."

The threat in his voice is unmistakable. My father, for the first time in my life, looks genuinely afraid.

"Who the hell are you young twart? If you cherish your life, you will back off," he says shakily, but he's already backing toward his car.

As the sedan pulls away, I realize what I've done. I've just claimed Zephyrius as my fiancé in front of half the school. They're all looking at me weirdly. I turn to look at him, expecting anger or confusion. Instead, I see something that makes my blood run cold.

It was Satisfaction,like this was exactly what he wanted all along.

"What have I done?" I whisper.

Zephyrius smiles, and it's the most beautiful and terrifying thing I've ever seen.

"You've just sealed your fate, little wolf. There's no going back now."