Chapter 2: Practice Makes Perfect

SIERRA

I didn't sleep.

How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Asher's hand in mine, that terrifying rightness of the mate bond snapping into place.

By morning, I'd convinced myself it was a fluke. Stress. Too much coffee. Maybe I'd imagined the whole thing.

Then my phone buzzed.

Asher: We need to talk. Practice is at 10. Come early.

Me: I'm not part of the team.

Asher: You are now. Bring skates.

I stared at the message. Skates? I hadn't been on the ice in years, not since Dad used to let me mess around after practice when I was a kid.

Me: This is a terrible idea.

Asher: Trust me.

Two words. That's all it took to get me out of bed and digging through my closet for old hockey gear.

---

The arena was empty when I arrived at nine-thirty. Early morning light filtered through the high windows, catching on the freshly zambonied ice.

Asher was already on the rink, skating lazy circles. He moved like the ice was made for him, each stride powerful and controlled.

He spotted me and glided over. "You came."

"You said to bring skates. I brought skates." I held up my ancient pair. "Though I can't promise I won't fall on my ass."

"I'll catch you." He vaulted over the boards with easy grace. "Come on."

I laced up my skates, hyperaware of him watching. When I stepped onto the ice, my ankles wobbled immediately.

Asher was there in seconds, his hands steadying me. "Easy. You remember how?"

"In theory." I took a tentative glide forward. Rusty, but muscle memory kicked in. "Okay, why am I here?"

"Because we need to sell this relationship. My team knows I don't date. If I suddenly have a girlfriend who never shows up to practice or games, they'll get suspicious." He skated backward in front of me, making it look effortless. "Plus, the elders expect my mate to be involved in pack life. Hockey is pack life."

"I'm not your mate. We're fake dating, remember?"

His expression darkened. "About that. We need to establish some ground rules."

"Such as?"

"No touching unless necessary. The bond gets stronger with physical contact." He kept his distance now, and I hated that I missed his steadying hands. "And we tell your parents. Today."

I nearly lost my balance. "Are you insane? My dad will lose his mind."

"Your dad deserves to know his daughter isn't human. And your mom…" He paused. "Your mom might have answers about why you manifested so late."

He had a point. I glided in a slow circle, finding my rhythm. "Fine. But you're there when I tell Dad. He can't kill you in front of witnesses."

"Deal." Asher pulled a puck from his pocket and dropped it on the ice. "Now show me what you've got."

"You want me to play hockey?"

"I want to see if the wolf gives you any advantages. Speed, reflexes, that kind of thing." He skated to the goal, positioning himself. "Take a shot."

I stared at the puck. I'd never been good at this, even as a kid. But something felt different now. My vision felt sharper, and the ice beneath my skates more familiar.

I lined up the shot and fired it.

The puck flew past Asher's glove, top shelf, so fast he barely moved.

We both stared at the goal.

"That was..." Asher started.

"Impossible," I finished. "I can't shoot like that. I've never been able to shoot like that."

"Your wolf can." He retrieved the puck, his expression thoughtful. "Try again. This time, I'm ready."

The next shot, he blocked. Barely.

The third time, I faked left and went right, and the puck sailed past him again.

"Okay, stop." Asher skated over, breathing hard. "You're a natural. Better than half my team."

"That's the wolf?"

"That's the bond." His eyes met mine. "True mates enhance each other. Your abilities are stronger because you've found your match."

The words hung between us, heavy with implication.

"This is moving too fast," I said quietly. "Two days ago, I thought I was human. Now I'm your mate and apparently I can play college-level hockey."

"I know. I'm sorry." He looked genuinely apologetic. "If there was any way to slow this down—"

The arena doors banged open. Jace and Tyler walked in, already suited up.

"Kane, you're here early," Jace called. Then he spotted me. "And you brought your girl. Cute."

I skated toward the boards, suddenly self-conscious. But Asher caught my wrist.

"Stay. Practice with us."

"Asher, I can't—"

"You just scored on me three times. You can." He raised his voice. "Matthews, Bennett's joining practice today."

Jace's eyebrows shot up. "Coach's daughter plays?"

"She does now," Asher said firmly.

The rest of the team trickled in over the next twenty minutes. Most looked surprised to see me, but no one objected. This was Asher's ice. What he said went.

Dad arrived last, his expression shifting from confusion to shock when he saw me in gear.

"Sierra? What are you doing?"

"Playing hockey, apparently." I skated over to him. "Asher thought it would help sell the relationship if I were around more."

Dad's eyes narrowed, flicking between us. "We need to talk. After practice."

"Already planning on it," Asher said, joining us. "Your office. Noon."

Dad nodded slowly, then blew his whistle. "All right, ladies. Let's see what you've got. Sierra, you're with Asher's line."

I expected to embarrass myself. Instead, I kept up. More than kept up—I anticipated plays, found open ice, and even assisted on two goals during scrimmage.

Jace skated past me after the second one. "Where the hell has Coach been hiding you?"

"In college, mostly."

"You should transfer. We could use a player like you."

I laughed, but the compliment warmed me. For the first time in days, I felt like I wasn't completely drowning.

Then Sebastian walked in.

He stood in the entrance, arms crossed, watching practice with those cold amber eyes. Several players noticed and the energy shifted, tension crackling through the rink.

Asher skated to the boards. "This is a closed practice, Crane."

"Just observing. Making sure you're ready for our game on Friday." Sebastian's gaze found me. "Your girlfriend plays. Interesting."

"She's full of surprises."

"I bet she is." Sebastian smiled, and it didn't reach his eyes. "You know, Kane, I've been thinking about our last conversation. About territorial agreements and pack boundaries."

"Not the time or place."

"Isn't it? Your whole team is here. Your coach. Your girl." Sebastian's voice carried across the ice. "Seems like the perfect time to make things official."

Dad's whistle cut through the tension. "Crane, you're disrupting my practice. Either suit up or get out."

"I'm leaving. But Kane?" Sebastian turned back to Asher. "Friday's game. Let's make it interesting. Winner takes bragging rights and.." his eyes slid to me again, “…loser backs off on territorial disputes for the season."

Asher's whole body went rigid. "You want to bet pack territory on a hockey game?"

"Why not? Your team's undefeated. It should be easy." Sebastian's smile widened. "Unless you're not confident."

It was a trap. I could feel it. But every player on the ice was watching, waiting for Asher's response.

"Fine," Asher said. "But when we win, Silvermoon stays out of Blackpine business for the rest of the year. No challenges, no territorial disputes, nothing."

"Deal." Sebastian headed for the door, then paused. "Oh, and Kane? I'd keep a closer eye on your mate. I would hate for anything to happen to her before the big game."

He left before anyone could respond.

The team exploded into nervous chatter. Dad was already skating toward Asher, his expression furious.

But I was still standing at center ice, a terrible realization washing over me.

Sebastian knew. Somehow, he had figured out I was Asher's mate.

And he was going to use it against us.