Chapter Two> Noah Pov

“Congratulations.”

My voice warm as I hug Adrian tightly, clapping his back.

“You know I’m happy for you,” I added quietly near his ear. “But if you ever hurt him, I will personally leak pictures of you crying in the locker room after that playoff loss.”

Adrian snorts against my shoulder.

When we pull apart, his fiancé—Leo Vale, my younger brother bursts out laughing.

“You’re unbelievable, Noah.”

The restaurant is glowing with soft golden light. Adrian rented the entire place for tonight’s celebration. Teammates from the Aurora Wolves, their partners, and a few of Leo’s music industry friends fill the room with laughter and music.

Leo is radiant tonight.

His dark hair is styled neatly, and he’s wearing a cream-colored blazer that makes his warm skin glow under the lights. The engagement ring on his finger sparkles every time he moves his hand.

Seeing him this happy makes something warm twist inside my chest.

For years, it was always the two of us against the world.

Now someone else is taking care of him.

And strangely…

I don’t hate that.

Adrian pulls me into a quick hug.

“Thanks for organizing everything,” he says sincerely. “It means a lot.”

I shrug lightly.

“You’re marrying my brother. I had to make sure you didn’t mess up the proposal.”

Leo rolls his eyes.

“You were the one who made him rehearse it six times.”

“Seven,” Adrian corrects.

Leo groans.

“You two are impossible.”

Our mother suddenly waves from across the room.

“Photos before dinner!”

Leo squeezes my hand.

“One second,” he says before dragging me toward the quiet entrance hallway near the restaurant doors.

The moment we’re out of sight of the guests, he turns toward me with narrowed eyes.

“You’re avoiding me.”

I blink.

“What?”

“Don’t pretend,” Leo says. “You ignored my messages all day.”

My stomach tightens instantly.

Because I know exactly what he’s talking about.

The team announcement yesterday.

The new player joining the roster.

The name I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since.

Leo crosses his arms.

“Luca Vance is on the team now, Noah.”

My stomach drops.

“I know.”

I barely slept last night.

My cheating, manipulative, narcissistic ex-boyfriend is now playing for the team I work for.

And to make matters worse—

I’m assigned as his physiotherapist.

Leo’s voice softens.

“What are you going to do?”

I inhale slowly, forcing calm into my chest.

“I’m going to do my job.”

“You don’t have to stay.”

“Yes, I do.”

I shake my head firmly.

Working for the Aurora Wolves is a dream opportunity. The senior medical staff are incredible mentors, and the experience I’m gaining could help me open my own sports therapy clinic one day.

Leaving now would be stupid.

“I was here first,” I say quietly.

Leo studies my face.

“He hurt you.”

My jaw tightens.

A memory flashes through my mind.

A university party.

Crowds whispering.

Luca laughing while someone else’s arm wrapped around his waist.

And the words he said to me afterward.

Words that burned themselves into my brain.

I shake the memory away.

“I’m not running.”

Leo’s expression softens with worry.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

I smile lightly.

“It’s your engagement party,” I say. “Please don’t make it about my terrible dating history.”

He snorts.

“Fair point.”

I give him a gentle push toward the dining room.

“Go enjoy your night before I embarrass you with childhood stories.”

He laughs and walks back into the restaurant.

I follow a moment later—

And immediately collide with something solid.

Or rather…

Someone.

“Sorry—”

My words stop.

Stefan Kovacs.

Captain of the Aurora Wolves.

The most dangerous man in professional hockey.

And unfortunately…

The most irritating man I’ve ever met.

He’s wearing a dark tailored suit that fits his tall, broad body perfectly. His black hair is slightly messy, like he ran a hand through it too many times.

His icy blue eyes drop to mine.

“Well,” he says slowly, his voice rich with amusement.

“There you are.”

My stomach flips annoyingly.

Stefan Kovacs has that effect on people.

Charismatic.

Confident.

Infuriatingly attractive.

I hate it.

I hate him.

And I definitely hate that stupid arrogant smile he’s wearing right now.

“You look good tonight,” he says casually, his eyes traveling down my outfit.

Heat creeps up my neck.

I’m wearing a fitted black suit jacket over a soft grey shirt.

Nothing special.

But the way he’s looking at me makes it feel like something else entirely.

“Thank you,” I say quickly. “Excuse me.”

I try to step around him.

He steps sideways.

Blocking my path.

“Admit it,” he says.

“You dressed up because you knew I’d be here.”

I laugh dryly.

“Wow, Kovacs. That ego of yours must need its own zip code.”

His grin widens.

“Come on. At least tell me I look good too.”

I glance at him briefly.

He looks annoyingly perfect.

“I’m pretty sure you already know that.”

Before he can reply, Adrian’s mother suddenly appears beside us with the photographer.

“Oh perfect!” she says brightly.

“You two look great together. Let’s take a photo.”

Before I can protest, Stefan’s arm slides around my waist.

My entire body freezes.

He smells warm and sharp.

Something like cedarwood and spice.

“Relax,” he murmurs softly near my ear.

“You’re tense.”

The camera flashes.

“Beautiful couple!” the photographer says.

I choke.

“We are NOT—”

Flash.

Another photo.

I quickly step away from Stefan.

He just watches me with that amused expression.

“Let’s go out sometime,” he says casually.

I stare at him.

“You’re joking.”

“No.”

“You’re the captain of a professional hockey team.”

“And?”

“And I don’t date hockey players.”

His eyebrow lifts slightly.

“You dated one.”

“That was a mistake.”

His expression shifts slightly.

Then his voice lowers.

“About Luca.”

My chest tightens.

“Please don’t.”

He studies me carefully.

“I can talk to the coach,” he says quietly. “We can assign him to another physio.”

My heart skips.

For a moment…

The concern in his eyes almost looks genuine.

But I shake my head quickly.

“I don’t need a bodyguard.”

“I wasn’t offering that.”

“Yes, you were.”

He exhales slowly, running a hand through his hair.

“You don’t have to deal with him.”

“I do,” I say firmly. “This is my job.”

Silence stretches between us.

Then Stefan nods once.

“Okay.”

But something in his eyes tells me he isn’t convinced.

Not even close.

Later that night, while everyone is eating dinner and celebrating Leo and Adrian’s engagement…

I glance across the long table.

Stefan is sitting at the far end.

Watching me.

Not with his usual arrogant grin.

But with a thoughtful, protective expression that makes my chest feel strangely tight.

And I have the uneasy feeling that tonight…

Something between us just changed.