Desired By The Hockey Captain Alpha

20. Make Bianca Happy

Damien

I slowly wipe the blood from my cheek with my thumb and glance at the red stain on my finger. The cut is already closing. My wolf heals fast. In a few seconds it will be like nothing even happened.

I lift my head and face him.

My father is standing behind his desk, tall and unmoving, his dark hair streaked with silver and his cold eyes fixed on me.

“You rejected Bianca,” his voice is calm but the anger behind it is obvious.

I lower my gaze slightly in respect. “Yes, Alpha.”

“Do you understand the insult you caused tonight?”

“Yes.”

Bianca.

The future Luna he chose years ago. The perfect alliance. Powerful bloodline. Wealth. Influence.

Everything a future Alpha should want.

Except she is not my damn mate.

My father’s fingers tap once against the desk. “You will fix this.”

My jaw tightens. “Alpha, I am not interested in her.”

His eyes harden. “That is irrelevant. Your personal interest does not come before the pack.”

Silence fills the study.

“You humiliated her family and the Crescent Moon Pack,” he continues. “You will apologize and make Bianca happy.”

My fists tighten slowly at my sides. “I cannot promise that.”

His gaze sharpens. “You can. And you will.”

I lift my eyes to him again. “Alpha, Bianca is not my mate.”

The room grows very still.

He studies my face carefully. “And how do you know that?”

“My wolf would know,” I answer quietly.

Another long silence follows.

“If you have found your mate,” he says at last, “you will bring her here.”

My chest tightens.

That cannot happen.

Emily standing in this mansion would only bring trouble. My father would never accept her. She's human and poor.

“Please,” I say carefully.

His expression turns colder. “This discussion is over. You will return to school and repair the damage you caused. Bianca must be satisfied. I will not tolerate further embarrassment.”

I bow my head slightly. “Yes, Alpha.” Then I look up again. “And my mother?”

“She will recover,” he replies shortly. “Return to school.”

The dismissal is clear.

“Yes, Alpha.”

Anger burns in my chest as I turn around.

The man does not give a damn about my mother. That much has always been clear.

And it still pisses me off every single time.

I walk out of the study without another word and head straight back down the hallway.

Instead of going downstairs, I turn toward my mother’s room again.

My mom is still sitting against the headboard. Her emerald eyes lift the moment she sees me.

She smiles softly. “You fought with him again, didn’t you?”

I sigh and walk over before sitting beside her. “Something like that.”

Before she can say anything else I pull her into a hug. Her arms wrap around me gently and she rests her head against my shoulder.

“Did anything happen?” she asks quietly.

I shake my head. “No. I just missed you.”

She smiles and squeezes me slightly. “I missed you too.”

I hold her for a moment before speaking again. “I love you so much, Mom.”

Her hand moves to the back of my head. “I love you too, Damien.” She pulls back slightly and studies my face. “Are you alright?”

I force a small smile. “Yeah.” Then I sigh quietly. “I’m sorry I’m not strong enough.”

Her brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

“I couldn’t get you out of this hell,” I say quietly. “You shouldn’t have to live like this.”

Her expression softens instantly. “Damien, no.”

“It’s my fault,” I continue. “If I was stronger maybe things would be different.”

She cups my face gently and forces me to look at her. “This is not your fault,” she says firmly. “Do not blame yourself. I’m fine as long as I get to be with you.”

My chest tightens.

“Damien, please do not become like me. Fight for your happiness.” Her eyes hold mine. “Whatever makes you happy, fight for it.”

“Yeah. I will.” I stand up after a moment. “I have to go. Dad wants me back at school.”

She smiles sadly but nods. “That’s alright. At least I got to see your face.”

I lean down and hug her again, holding her a little tighter.

Then I pull back.

“Take it easy, okay,” I tell her. “And call me if anything happens.”

“I will.”

I give her one last look before walking out of the room and closing the door behind me.

When I step out of my mom’s room the hallway suddenly feels colder.

Not physically. Just that empty kind of cold that settles in your chest when you leave someone behind who might not be there the next time you come back.

I shove my hands into my pockets and walk downstairs.

The mansion is quiet at this hour. Most of the staff keep their heads down when I pass and the guards straighten automatically. I barely notice any of them. My head is still stuck upstairs in that room with my mom sitting against that damn headboard looking like the wind could knock her over.

By the time I step outside the night air hits my face and helps clear some of that heavy feeling.

Reece is standing near the steps waiting.

Tall guy. Broad shoulders. Deep voice that always sounds like it is rumbling out of his chest.

“You’re already leaving, Alpha Damien?” he asks.

I nod once. “Yeah.”

He studies my face for a second. Reece has been around long enough to read the mood in this house.

“Thanks, Reece,” I say.

He straightens slightly. “For what, Alpha?”

“For looking after her.” I hold his gaze for a moment. “If anything happens to my mom you tell me immediately. I don’t care what time it is.”

Reece bows his head respectfully. “Yes, Alpha Damien.”

Reece might technically be one of my father’s warriors but his loyalty has always leaned toward my mom. They grew up in the same extended family line. Cousins. That is probably the only reason my father tolerates him hovering around her as much as he does.

Reece glances toward the driveway. “Which car will you be taking tonight, Alpha Damien?”

I open my mouth to answer and then stop.

Shit. My f*****g car.

I left it parked outside Emily’s dorm.

My phone too

It's probably sitting in the pockets of the clothes I ditched when I shifted earlier.

I rub the back of my neck and exhale.

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell him. “I’ll run. Could use the burn anyway.”

Reece nods.

He follows me toward the edge of the woods where the trees grow thick and dark.

The forest is quiet except for the wind brushing through the branches.

I start pulling off my clothes. Shirt first. Then boots. Pants. I hand everything to Reece who folds them neatly like he has done this a thousand times before.

“Take care of her,” I say again.

“I will.”

I nod once and let the shift roll through my body. My wolf pushes forward.

Normally the transformation fills me with energy. Strength. That wild rush that makes you want to tear through the forest like a damn storm.

Tonight it feels heavier. My wolf feels it too.

Leaving her behind does that to us.

Still, the moment my paws hit the dirt I take off running. The trees blur past as I cut through the forest.

Thirty minutes later I reach the edge of campus where the woods thin out behind the dorm buildings.

I slow down near the same spot where I left my clothes earlier.

Thankfully they are still there.

I shift back into human form and grab the clothes quickly before anyone can wander back here and get a free show.

Shirt. Pants. Shoes.

Once I am dressed again I reach into my pocket for my keys.

My hand comes up empty.

I frown and check the other pocket. Nothing.

Fuck.

Then I remember…Emily.

I pull my phone out and turn it on.

The screen lights up with a flood of notifications. Twenty missed calls. Half of it from Emily.

I stare at the screen for a second.

Was she calling because my car is still parked outside her dorm?

Or because I left my keys in her room?

Yeah. That is probably it.

I glance at the time. 10:10 PM. It is late.

Still, I need those damn keys.

I shove the phone back into my pocket and start heading toward the dorm building.

The campus is mostly quiet now. A few lights glow through the windows and some students are still wandering around but nobody pays much attention to me.

I climb the stairs to her floor and stop in front of her door.

Then I knock. No answer.

I knock again.

A second later I hear movement inside and her voice floats through the door. “Who’s there?”

“It’s me,” I say. “Damien.”

The door swings open almost immediately.

Emily stands there staring at me with wide eyes.

Her hair is tied up in a messy bun and she is wearing a pink satin nightgown that barely reaches mid thigh.

Fuck.

She looks soft. Warm. Way too damn pretty.

And the moment her scent hits my nose my wolf instantly settles down.

Standing in front of her feels strangely calming after the shitstorm back at the estate.

For a second I just look at her.

She blinks at me. “Where have you been? I’ve been calling you.”

Then she turns and grabs something from her desk before walking back over.

She holds out my keys. “Here.”

“Thanks.” I take them from her fingers. Then I glance around the room. “What about Nicole?”

“She’s out,” Emily says. “Some party or something.”

I raise an eyebrow. “So you’re alone.”

She hesitates slightly. “Why?”

Instead of answering I walk past her and jump straight onto her bed.

The mattress dips under my weight as I stretch out comfortably.

“Great,” I say.

Emily spins around, staring at me like I just lost my mind. “What the f**k are you doing right now?”

I fold my arms behind my head and close my eyes. “Sleeping.”

“In my f*****g bed?”

“Yep.”

“Damien!”

I crack one eye open and look at her. “I’m staying here tonight.”