CLAIMED BY MY HOCKEY ALPHA

Chapter Three

Nate’s pov

As I glided across the ice, my stick handling the puck with ease as usual, I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching me. I scanned the crowd, my eyes sweeping over the sea of faces, until I saw her. A human, sitting among the other spectators, her eyes fixed intently on me. But it wasn't admiration or adoration that I saw and felt in her gaze - it was a scowl, as if she didn't like me one bit. I looked at her for a few seconds, trying to see if she was someone I knew but she wasn’t.

I tried to concentrate on the game, but my mind kept drifting back to her. Who was she, and why was she looking at me like that? I couldn't remember the last time someone had stared at me with such hatred. Usually, it was the opposite - women fawned over me at every chance they got, throwing themselves at my feet.

But there was something about this girl that intrigued me. Maybe it was because I hadn't gotten laid in a while, and my hormones were acting up. Whatever the reason, I found myself glancing up at her again and again, wondering who she was, and why she seemed to dislike me so much.

As the game came to an end, I couldn't wait to get off the ice and find out more about this mysterious girl. I scanned the crowd after the game, my eyes searched for the girl who had caught my attention earlier.

Finally, I spotted her leaving with two other people, and for some reason, I felt an overwhelming urge to hurry and meet her, before she would disappear. My wolf, sensing my excitement, stirred and agreed within me, also very eager to get closer to her.

I quickly made my way through the throngs of people and fans who catcalled me, my eyes were fixed on her retreating back. And just as I thought I was going to lose her, I saw her heading backstage, and I felt a rush of happiness. I couldn't explain why, but I was inexplicably drawn to her.

As I started to follow her backstage, my coach called out to me, his voice firm but filled with caution, almost like he was warning me. "Nate, hold up. I need to remind you to behave yourself back there. No yelling at fans to get out, okay? I know you're not a fan of the meet-and-greets, but some of the other players are actually enjoying themselves. Don't chase them away." He said.

I nodded, a sly smile spreading across my face. "Don't worry, Coach. I'm feeling quite chatty today. I might even sign an autograph or two." I said, trying to sound as innocent as possible while I desperately hid how urgently I wanted to find this human girl.

My coach raised an eyebrow, clearly he was not convinced. "Nate, I mean it. You need to be on your best behavior. These fans have paid a fortune for those VIP tickets, and they deserve some respect." He added.

Without uttering a word, I nodded again, but my coach's warning fell on deaf ears. I was too focused on finding out what was going on with that human. There was something about her that had piqued my interest, and I was determined to figure out what it was.

With a mischievous grin still plastered on my face, I walked away from my coach, ready to take on whatever the backstage area had in store for me.

When I finally got backstage, my initial thought was to look for Matt, my teammate and friend, before searching for the mysterious girl. But something about the memory of her scowl and those piercing eyes made me change my mind. I couldn't afford to miss her, not now that I had finally found where she was.

I changed my direction, heading towards the area where we usually met with fans. As I turned a corner, I was greeted by the faint sound of a voice, chatting away on the phone. The words themselves were not very distinct and I couldn’t make out anything, but the tone was soft and sweet, like music to my ears.

And then, my nose caught it - the scent of honey and cinnamon, sweet and spicy, familiar yet unfamiliar. It was a scent that seemed to awaken something deep within me, I recognized it immediately but I couldn’t explain it.

My heart rate quickened, and my senses went on high alert. Could it be that my mate is in this building? I followed the scent, my heart racing with excitement, and then I caught sight of a female with her back to me. She was on the phone, completely absorbed in her conversation. I watched, mesmerized, as she turned around, still chatting away, and then turned again.

And that's when our eyes met.

It was her - the human who had been scowling at me throughout the game. I felt a jolt of electricity run through my body as our gazes locked. For a moment, we just stared at each other, the air thick with tension.

And then, it hit me - the realization that shook me to my core. Could it be that my mate was this girl? That the one person destined to be mine was standing right in front of me? A human?

No, it just couldn't be. Humans couldn't have mates, could they? The thought of it was completely unheard of. Wolves mated with wolves and definitely not humans.

But as I looked into her eyes, I knew. I knew that she was the one. My mate. My human mate.

"Wait, a human?" I thought, my mind reeling in shock. "My mate is a human? My f*****g mate is a human?" The implications were too much to wrap my head around. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath knocked out of me as my heart rate increased.

I stood there, frozen in shock, as the human - my mate - continued to chat away on the phone.

My initial curiosity about the human who was somehow my mate was quickly replaced with anger and irritation. I couldn't believe that the moon goddess had seen fit to pair me with a human. It was unthinkable, unacceptable and it annoyed me.

As my frustration grew, my body began to react to the anger. My eyes, normally a bright blue, darkened to a deep, piercing yellow. My fists clenched at my sides, my nails digging deep into my palms. A low growl rumbled in my chest, escaping my lips in a warning snarl.

The human, turned sharply to face me, her eyes wide with shock and alarm. Her face was a perfect mirror of her emotions, she was obviously afraid, and for a moment, we just stared at each other.

But as I looked at her, like really looking at her, I felt my anger falter. She was beautiful, stunningly beautiful. From afar, while I was playing, I had only caught glimpses of her, but seeing her up close was a game changer. Her features were very delicate, yet deeply striking. It was the kind of beauty you couldn’t ignore, with high cheekbones, a small nose, and full lips that seemed to curve downward.

But it was her eyes that really caught my attention. They were a deep, rich brown, that I immediately got lost in. As I gazed into them, I felt a lot of attraction, a sense of connection that I just couldn't ignore. Was she really my mate?

For a moment, I forgot about my anger, my frustration, and my doubts. All I could think about was the human standing before me, the one who was somehow, inexplicably, my mate.

Immediately, the reality of the situation came flooding back and my irritation swiftly returned, pushing away any form of my distraction.

I took a step closer to her, my eyes narrowing as I growled, "What kind of i***t let you wander in here?"