FAKING IT ON ICE: DATING THE SPORT KING

MIKKA

The letters came at 4:02AM. My wolf was already awake.

She always was when Levi was in danger, even when the danger was him.

LETTER ONE. UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO.

“Full Scholarship. Master's in Kinesiology. In-person acceptance required by March 14th.”

LETTER TWO. CBSA.(Canadian border service agent)

“Study Permit Cancellation. Unauthorized employment. 72 hours to depart. 5-year re-entry ban.”

I sat on my bed on the cold floor as both papers fell from my hands.

For a moment, I lost my breath, my heavy eyes from wetting my bed last night with tears burning the most.

My wolf whimpered, crouching in a corner inside me.

"What do we do, Mikka?"

More tears clouded my eyes because two years ago, I paid my own tuition. For two years I starved for this scholarship. 

And I lost it because the man who once slept in my bed told the world I never existed.

Levi Weston.

My mate.

Or he was, before his agent told the League: “He has no private coach. No woman. No liability.” 

We were dating secretly for two years. He said his PR team would “bury us” if it got out. "After playoffs, Mikka, then you"

I believed him.

Until he chose Nicole Vance for the gala and declared her his mate last night after he won the league, to upgrade his status to an alpha.

Until his agent erased me to protect him from cap circumvention charges.

Now the scholarship I earned was going to burn because of his cover-up.

At 5:17 AM, I stood outside his Liberty Village penthouse with dust in my braids and both letters in my fist to meet him after the long walk from my apartment.

My wolf howled. "Ours. Ours. Ours" but I'd shoved her down even though it hurts me.

His doorman knew me. He had seen me at 2 AM, sneaking up with tap and film notes for Levi.

But this morning, he wore a disdainful look at me, like I wasn't worth being here.

“Ms. Rowan. Mr. Weston said no visitors.” he bitterly connotes obstructing me.

I swallowed, raised my chin and said; 

"He'll see me"

The doorman scoffed unbelievably at me. "He said specifically..."

“If you don’t buzz me, I’ll sit here until he comes down. And I’m very stubborn.” I threatened holding my breath.

His face hardened as we stared at each other in a heated glare but his hand gave in and he buzzed me anyways.

Using the elevator to get to him, I knocked at his door.

Staring around the hallway, it smelt alcohol, sweat, rot and platters of furs were around.

I didn't need to think hard to know he had a party of his lifetime for his wins.

At last, the door opened after the third attempt and when my eyes landed on him, my heart broke all over again.

He was shirtless, his dark hair wet, his jaw tight and looked exhausted.

For a second, his face softened when he saw me, then it hardened.

His scent flared, pine, ice and rage, so intoxicating.

"What are you doing here!" He coldly snapped but his throat bobbed.

"Breathing the same air as you. For now" I countered in a shaky tone, anger had brewed up as tears in my eyes.

I held up the CBSA letter, squivering.

“Your agent told Immigration I don’t exist. 

So CBSA is cancelling my permit. If I’m not in Canada by March 14th, I lose this"

I shoved the scholarship in his face, like I'd blind him with it.

“This is $60,000. My tuition fees. My PR. I earned it. Levi"

He glanced at it, his jaw ticked but he looked away fast like it burned him.

“You’re not supposed to be in this country in the first place.”

Cold flushed down my spine, my wolf retracted her teeth but I still forced myself to appear strong.

“Yeah. I noticed.” 

Levi crossed his arms, lowered his head at me and when his breath touched my face, I melted.

I lied, a part of me still wanted him, when we ended it just 12 hours ago.

“Why are you here at 5AM? You want money?” he rasped, with a gruesome look at me.

"No"

“Then what? You want to yell at me?”

There was no remorse in his tone and he was hurting me the most with his nonchalant attitude like everything I explained was nothing.

“I want a signature.” 

I pulled out the affidavit. "Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Partnership."

It was a good thing I tagged it along while coming here.

“You sign this. You swear we’ve been cohabiting six months and I'm your coach. Immigration drops the case. I stay and I take my scholarship. We end the contract after convocation.” I petitioned in anger.

He stared at it, his fingers twitched, for a moment, I thought he'd take it.

Then he shoved his hands in his pockets and scoffed.

“You’re out of your mind.” 

“Probably.” I confirmed holding my breath.

He studied me, my bruised eyes, my shaky hands and his eyes diluted but he killed it.

Levi stepped closer, his breath poured on my face and suddenly, I felt how it was to want him.

"You've been outside the rink, calling my agent and that's stalking" he grit his teeth, staring at me like a difficult puzzle "That’s stalking, mikka"

He grabbed my jaw, his thumb dug into the spot he used to kiss.

“You’re obsessed. You can't let go after I chose someone else.”

My wolf snapped "Mate. Liar."

"Say it again" I breathe. Anger steam up as tears in my eyes.

"You're a leech"

The words ripped me apart as I snapped his hand away.

"A leech?" I squeezed. The pain was so sharp that breathing became difficult. “I was your mate, Levi. We left Australia for a greener pasture two years ago!” 

His fangs grew, he hated that I said it.

“Remember? You were benched. Blacklisted. No pack would take you after you fractured Keller’s jaw. Your dad cut you off. You had $400 and a rage problem.”

My voice cracked as the emotions spurred. “I sold my first scholarship deferral. I cashed out my mum’s life insurance to buy our tickets to Toronto, Canada. You said. ‘Where no one knows us.’” 

His jaw ticked, and his vein tightened around his neck. “Don't" he muttered "Don't do this to me right now”