Beneath the Ice : Claimed by My Three Hockey Alphas

chapter 3

Riley~

~Three Years Later~

~Present~

I stepped off the bus onto the Redwolf University campus with my bag clutched tight against my side and was welcomed with the sight of stone covered in red-and-black hockey banners that moved in the cold wind.

People walked around and I took a deep breath of air. It smelled like ice and money and power. The cold felt different now that I was eighteen and I had grown into loving my body with all its curves. The price was just that my self confidence was dead.

My fingers brushed the scholarship letter folded in my coat pocket. I touched it like it was the only real thing I owned. This letter was the only reason I was standing here. After the entire ordeal, I had sold every single thing my parents had owned, changed schools and moved away till I decided I was strong enough to face my demons again.

I quickly graduated and applied for a scholarship to the prestigious Redwolf University that was famous for the art and most importantly, opportunities. My plan was simple: stay small, paint cute landscapes, keep my head down and get enough power to get revenge for my father’s ruined name.

However, there was one last thing left, never trust an Alpha. That was the only plan I had left, and I was going to hold onto it with both hands.

I kept my eyes on the ground and walked toward the art building, hoping no one would look at me long enough to remember who I used to be. My face was pretty popular and coming back to the same town where I had lost it all was risky and crazy but I couldn't care less.

***

The orientation tour of the Fine Arts building was quieter than I expected. Most students seemed more interested in the hockey arena than in paint and canvas. I was fine with that. The less attention, the better. I needed to stay invisible. Visibility had only ever brought pain.

A girl with short purple-streaked hair and a sharp grin fell into step beside me.

“You look like you’re planning to disappear into the walls,” she said. “I’m Ash. Ash Mercer. You’re the scholarship kid, right? The one who actually knows how to paint?”

I nodded carefully. “Riley.”

“Cool. Stick with me. I’ll keep the worst of the wolves away.” I didn’t know how to answer so I just smiled, nodded and stayed close to her for the rest of the tour and let her do most of the talking.

Later that evening we were forced to attend the opening hockey celebration in the arena. Orientation requirement.

This f*****g irritating sport. I felt a wave of annoyance wash over me as I sat high in the stands beside Ash, trying to make myself as small as possible. My hands were already sweaty. I kept telling myself I would leave the second it was over. I would go back to my dorm, lock the door, and pretend none of this existed.

Then I saw them.

Jax Callahan skated out first. Taller than I remembered. Broader. More scars cut across his skin. The captain’s “C” stood out clearly on his jersey like a warning. Theo Laurent followed, golden hair catching the lights, laughing with the crowd like he still owned every room he walked into. Kai Nakamura came last. Silver hair longer than before, eyes colder, already scanning the stands instead of watching the ice.

Recognition hit me so hard I felt sick.

The fear came first and something hotter and sharper followed it. Anger. Real anger. These were the boys who had watched my family fall. The ones who had laughed while I was called a traitor. The ones who had made every day of my childhood feel unsafe and now they were here, still shining, still powerful, still untouched and I couldn't even stand in front of people because of how much they f*****g hurt me

My hands started to shake. I stood up so fast the seat banged against the row behind me.

“I need air,” I muttered to Ash, and turned to leave before any of them could look up and see the girl they used to torment.

However, while I was almost out of the arena, someone bumped into me hard. A broken glass from a dropped drink sliced across my palm. Blood welled up fast and bright against my skin.

Then, something very strange happened. Three distinct threads slammed into me at once but I recognised them and their faces filled my head. Jax’s raw, heavy dominance pressed against my mind like a weight. Theo’s bright, burning heat slid under my skin. Kai’s silent, almost unbearable pull settled deep in my chest.

My knees buckled in terror as I caught myself on the nearest railing, blood dripping between my fingers, and forced the words out in a shaking voice that somehow still carried across the sudden silence.

“No. This can not be happening.”

The goddess had to be playing a f*****g joke on me.

I was mated to those bastards?!!

The three of them rushed towards me and the moment they saw me, Jax’s eyes went completely black. Theo’s easy smile died on his face. Kai took one step forward through the crowd and then stopped, as if the force of my refusal had physically held him in place.

Somewhere in the mass of people I caught a flash of platinum-blonde hair. Elara Hayden stood frozen, her face white with pure fury.

I turned and pushed through the crowd before any of them could reach me, clutching my bleeding hand to my chest. My heart was racing so hard it hurt. I couldn’t breathe properly. All I could think was that this could not be happening. Not them. Not after everything.

I locked myself in my dorm room the second I reached it and pressed my back against the door.

My skin already felt too tight. The scent of the three of them clung to my clothes even though I had barely been near them. Unwanted heat-like symptoms crawled under my skin—low and frightening and completely out of my control. I slid down to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees, trying to breathe through the panic.

This was not part of the plan.

I had come here to stay invisible. To paint. To slowly find a way to clear my father’s name and make the people who destroyed us pay. I had not come here to be claimed by the same boys who had once made my life a living hell. The bond felt like another trap. Another way for them to take something from me.

Eventually I forced myself to stand and walked to the small desk. I pulled out the sketchbook I had sworn I would only use in private. The pencil moved before I could stop it. The frozen lake appeared again, dark and cracked. Four wolves this time. The fourth one was clearer now. White-haired. Standing slightly apart from the others.

I covered the face of the fourth figure with thick, frantic strokes before I could see it fully. I didn’t want to know. Not yet. Knowing had never protected me before.

A soft knock sounded at the door, interrupting my frenzy.

“Riley? It’s Ash. You okay? You looked like you were about to pass out earlier.”

“I’m fine,” I called back, my voice rough. “Just tired. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She hesitated for a moment, then left.

I sat alone in the quiet room, staring at the blood still seeping from the cut on my palm.

They couldn't have me. There was no f*****g way in hell this was actually happening to me.

How could the people who were responsible for my hell be my f*****g mates?!