CLAIMED BY MY HOCKEY ALPHA

Chapter Two

Ella’s pov

In less than thirty minutes, we arrived at the arena for the hockey game, buzzing with excitement, as we prepared to watch the Ice Hawks take on their arch-rivals. As we stepped out of the car, Gab couldn't resist rubbing it in our faces that she was the only one with a driver's license.

"Hey, look at me, I'm the only adult here!" Gab teased, grinning mischievously as she jiggled her car keys in the air. Since Gab got her driver's license, she had made sure to always rub it in our faces.

Ann rolled her eyes carefully. "Can't you cut me some slack since today is my birthday?" she asked, pretending to be annoyed.

I chuckled at their playful banter. "Your brain is definitely still that of an eight year old, don’t let the driver’s license deceive you," I chipped in, laughing.

Gab pouted her lips at me. "You can talk to me when you have yours too." She said.

We all laughed and joked as we were ushered into the arena and soon found our seats. The energy in the crowd was electric, and we were all thrilled to be there, cheering on Michigan’s favorite team. As we settled in for the game, we bought some supporter's gloves, caps, and popcorn for refreshments.

I quickly pulled out my AirPods from my purse and announced to my friends, "I'm going to wear these so I don't doze off during the game. I don't exactly watch hockey, you know." I said and they nodded.

But just as I was about to put my AirPods in, my eyes scanned the rink and landed on one of the players, who left me speechless. I quickly nudged Annabelle, asking, "Who's the dude in the 'C' jersey?"

Annabelle pulled out a granola bar from her pocket and started munching on it before she responded. She looked up, following my gaze, and a sly grin spread across her face. "Ah, you mean Michigan’s finest? That’s Nate Crosby, he is the captain of the team and, might I add, the most handsome player on the ice." She said proudly.

Gab and I exchanged a look, both of us raising an eyebrow at Annabelle's summary, Gab looked like there was more to it than she was letting on. Annabelle continued like she read Gab’s mind.

"But be warned, he's extremely prideful and doesn't let anyone except his teammates speak to him. Still, he's an awesome player." She said.

I watched, intrigued, as he moved around the ice with ease. Annabelle added, "He's also super private. He's rejected several fan meet-and-greets over the years, and rumor has it that he's only had a handful of phone calls in public. Honestly, I think he would have been kicked off the team if it weren't for his talent." She finished, taking another bite of her granola bar.

I couldn't help but feel drawn to the enigmatic captain. There was something about him that seemed mysterious, and I found myself wanting to know more about him.

Annabelle continued to dish out the dirt on the captain like she was one reporter on the radio, "And to make matters worse, he usually brings bad press for the team with his snobbish attitude. I mean, who does he think he is, anyway?" She asked.

She turned to me with a sly grin, "So, Ella, have you fallen for him like all the other girls? I swear, they all swoon over him, even though he's got a reputation for playing with them privately but ignoring them publicly. Like, he'll hook up with them, but then act like they've never met before. What a jerk, right?" She continued.

“I hate the sight of him,” Gabs added.

I immediately shook my head, trying to play it cool, "No way, Annabelle. I'm not interested in him at all." I said, my voice laced with disgust. But deep down, I had to admit that I was totally smitten with him at first glance. There was something about his face and the way he moved on the ice, with confidence and precision, that had caught my attention.

However, after hearing about his treatment of women, my admiration quickly turned to disgust. I wore a scowl on my face as I watched him play for the rest of the game, trying to reconcile the very talented player with the arrogant jerk that Annabelle had described. By the time the game was over, I was more than ready to leave and forget all about him. Or so I thought.

As the game came to an end, I was relieved to be leaving the arena because I was really exhausted, I wondered how the fans managed to stay in high spirits with so much energy. Thanks to Annabelle’s uncle's VIP ticket, we had access to go backstage and meet the players. Annabelle was thrilled to see her favorite player, number 11, and eagerly waited in line to get his autograph, alongside other people with VIP tickets.

While Annabelle chatted with player number 11, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from my aunt. I immediately excused myself and strolled down the hallway to a quiet corner so I could answer the call.

"Hey, Auntie! How are you?" I asked, trying to sound cheerful.

"I'm good, sweetie. Just checking in on you. How's the game?" she replied, her voice warm and concerned.

"I'm having a great time, thanks for asking! We're actually backstage right now, getting some autographs before we head home," I said, glancing around at the bustling hallway.

“That sounds fun, but it’s getting late. You need to get home soon.” She said and I smiled.

“Yes auntie.” I replied.

As I continued to chat with my aunt, I suddenly heard a low, rumbling growl behind me. I turned sharply, my heart skipping a beat, to see a towering figure looming over me. He was at least 6 feet tall, with a broad, muscular build that seemed to radiate an aura of power.

But it was his eyes that truly caught my attention. They seemed to be glowing brightly with a piercing light that made my skin crawl. I felt a chill run down my spine as I clutched my phone tightly against my shoulder, holding it up like a shield between us.

And then, it hit me - I knew who this guy was. It was Nate Crosby, the captain of the hockey team. The same guy I had been scowling at just hours before, thanks to Annabelle's stories about his arrogant attitude and treatment of women.

I swallowed hard, trying to process the fact that I was now face to face with him, alone in a deserted hallway. My aunt's voice was still chatting away in my ear, oblivious to the sudden tension. I tried to respond, but my voice got caught in my throat.

“Ella! Are you there?” My aunt called out but I was too terrified to speak.