Claimed by the Ice Alphas

Elara’s POV The cold rain slammed hard against the front window of my small SUV, blurring the bright streetlights into long streaks of yellow and white. My hands gripped the leather steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turned completely pale. Today was my very first day as the head physical therapist for the Frost City Titans. They were the most famous professional hockey team in the city, but everyone in the sports world knew the secret truth. The entire team was made up of powerful werewolves from the local packs. "You can do this, Elara," I whispered to myself, watching my anxious reflection in the rear-view mirror. "Just focus on the job. No mistakes." A painful memory flashed through my mind. Two years ago, I failed to save an injured pack member during an emergency field treatment. The guilt of that night still made my heart ache, but I needed this job to rebuild my career. I parked my car in the massive private parking lot of the Titans Training Center. The tall building was made of silver metal and thick dark glass. Large black banners showing the team logo hung high on the walls, moving slowly in the cold wind. I grabbed my heavy medical bag, opened my car door, and stepped out into the freezing rain. The moment I pushed through the front glass doors of the facility, the strong scent of ice, leather, and sharp pine hit my nose. A sharp woman with short black hair and a dark suit walked up to me immediately. Her heels clicked loudly on the shiny white floor tiles. "Ms. Elara Vance?" she asked, her voice cold and professional. "I am Brenda, the team manager. You are five minutes early. I like that." "Good morning, Brenda," I said, giving her a small polite nod. "I wanted to make sure I had enough time to set up my medical equipment." "Follow me," Brenda said, turning on her heel. "I will give you a short tour of the primary medical bay, the weight room, and the main locker rooms. After that, you will meet the primary players." "Sounds great," I replied, walking right beside her down the long, bright hallway. As we walked past the heavy wooden doors of the primary locker room, four massive men stepped out into the corridor. The air in the hallway instantly became heavy and warm. My skin prickled with a sharp electrical current. That was the raw power of pure werewolf alpha blood. The tallest man stepped forward first. He had broad shoulders, short dark hair, and piercing gray eyes that looked like smooth steel. He wore a black Titans training shirt that stretched tightly over his massive chest. This was Lucian Cross, the team captain and the undisputed Alpha of the Silver Moon pack. "Brenda," Lucian said, his deep baritone voice rumbling softly in the narrow hallway. "Is this our new therapist?" "Yes, Lucian," Brenda replied, stopping near the wall. "This is Elara Vance. She will be handling all muscle rehab and injury treatments this season." Lucian turned his heavy gray eyes toward me. His gaze moved slowly over my face, taking in every small detail. "Welcome to the team, Elara," Lucian said smoothly, stepping closer until he stood just two feet away. "We play very rough on the ice. I hope your hands are strong enough to fix us." "My hands are more than strong enough, Captain Cross," I said, looking straight into his eyes without flinching. "I assure you, I do not break easily under pressure." A small, dangerous smile touched the corner of his lips. "I like a woman who stands her ground," Lucian murmured softly. Standing right behind Lucian was a massive guy with short jet-black hair and cold blue eyes. He had heavy silver tattoos covering his entire neck and arms. That was Zane Vance, the team's silent goalie. He did not say a single word. He just leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, watching my every breath with predatory focus. Before I could say anything else, a third player pushed past Lucian with a bright, troublemaking grin. He had messy brown hair, green eyes, and a sharp jawline. This was Jaxson Reed, the team's most aggressive enforcer. "Well, well," Jaxson chuckled, his eyes flashing with a bright golden light for a split second. "They finally hired someone beautiful. I am Jaxson, Doc." He reached out and deliberately brushed his warm fingers against my wrist as he walked by. A sudden jolt of intense heat shot straight up my arm, making my heart skip a beat. "Please keep your hands to yourself, Jaxson," I said, stepping back to keep my distance. "We are in a professional environment." "I love a challenge," Jaxson whispered, winking at me playfully before leaning against the wall. "Jaxson, behave yourself," Lucian warned sharply, his gray eyes darkening with immediate possessiveness. "Relax, Captain," Jaxson laughed, holding up his hands. "I am just being friendly." The fourth player stepped up with a warm, friendly smile. He had bright blonde hair and clear blue eyes. That was Leo Miller, the fast new rookie. "Ignore those two, Miss Elara," Leo said quickly, giving me a genuine smile. "I am Leo. I am really glad you are here. My left shoulder has been feeling a little sore since yesterday." "I will take a look at it right after the morning practice, Leo," I offered kindly, feeling a bit relieved by his friendly attitude. "Thank you, Doc!" Leo said happily. Brenda led me toward the thick plastic glass surrounding the private ice rink. The cold air hit my face, mixing with the heavy heat coming off the players. "Stay here and watch their movement patterns," Brenda instructed, checking her watch. "I have a meeting with the board. Do not let them distract you." "I won't," I promised. The team hit the ice, and the silent building erupted into loud, aggressive noise. Heavy sticks slammed into the rubber pucks, sharp metal skates sliced through the ice, and heavy bodies slammed against the glass walls. Lucian moved across the ice with terrifying speed and control. He was pure power in motion. Every time he skated past my side of the rink, his gray eyes locked onto mine, silently checking to see if I was watching him. Zane stood in front of the net, blocking hard shots without breaking a sweat. But even while stopping pucks, his cold blue eyes stayed glued to my face. Suddenly, Jaxson pulled up short right in front of my section of the glass. He let out a loud groan, holding his right thigh and falling to one knee on the ice. "Ah, Doc!" Jaxson called out, looking up at me through the glass door. "I think I pulled my hamstring. It hurts really bad. I need your hands on me right now." I narrowed my eyes and walked onto the ice side. I looked at his leg alignment. His muscles were completely relaxed, and he wasn't sweating at all. He was totally faking it. "Stand up, Jaxson," I said firmly, crossing my arms over my chest. "Your hamstring is completely fine. Stop playing games and get back into the drill." Jaxson instantly stood up straight, his wide grin returning as he stepped close to me on the slick ice. "You caught me," Jaxson whispered, leaning down so his hot breath touched my ear. "You are way too smart, Elara. But I really wouldn't mind if you checked my legs anyway." "Back off, Jaxson," Lucian's voice boomed across the ice as he skated over at full speed, sliding to a stop between us. "She told you to get back in line." "I was just teasing her, Lucian," Jaxson growled softly, his green eyes flashing with sudden threat. "Go," Lucian commanded, his Alpha aura filling the entire arena with heavy tension. Jaxson rolled his shoulders and skated away, leaving me alone on the ice with the Captain. Lucian turned to face me, his tall body blocking out the bright stadium lights above us. "Are you okay?" Lucian asked, his voice dropping into a low, protective tone. "I am fine, Lucian," I replied softly, my heart beating fast at his extreme proximity. "I can handle myself." "I know you can," Lucian said, his eyes tracking the movement of my mouth. "But as long as you are under my roof, nobody touches you without your permission." After practice ended, I retreated to my private office near the back of the medical wing to review my notes. The room was dark and quiet. I sat down behind my wooden desk, taking a deep breath to calm my racing pulse. As I reached out to turn on my desk lamp, I noticed something resting on my leather blotter. It was a small, white piece of paper, folded twice. I picked it up with trembling fingers and opened it under the dim light coming from the window. Written in bold, dark ink were four simple words: They will claim you. My breath caught in my throat, and I dropped the note onto the desk. Before I could even stand up, the heavy wooden door behind me suddenly clicked, and a tall silhouette stepped into my office, shutting the door firmly behind him. I spun around in my chair, my heart hammering against my ribs. Standing in the dark doorway, his dark gray eyes glowing with a faint, primal light, was Lucian Cross. "Did I scare you, Elara?" Lucian asked softly, locking the door with a loud, metallic click.